Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire retains the series’ signature turn-based tactics and mercenary management, yet elevates the challenge through extensive map overhauls and tougher opposition. With over 80% of the original maps redesigned—including vegetation, buildings, roads, and military facilities—each encounter feels fresh and demands new strategies. Landing your team in a revamped jungle clearing or infiltrating a fortified compound now requires careful scouting and adaptive tactics you might not have used in the vanilla release.

The expansion’s designers have doubled enemy numbers in key sectors and improved AI behaviors, so foes flank more intelligently, deploy suppressive fire, and react to alarms in force. Snipers now occupy watchtowers, minefields guard approach routes, and perimeter lighting means you can’t simply waltz into an enemy base under cover of darkness. Planning becomes crucial: smoke grenades, stealthy approaches, and coordinated overwatch shifts are no longer optional but essential to survival.

On the equipment front, Wildfire introduces an array of new weapons—USP, Uzi, HK33, G36, VSS and more—while rebalancing existing gear toward realistic ballistics and ammo limitations. As a result, every bullet counts, and ammo conservation is paramount. Whether you’re swapping a Mini-30 for a heavier AN-94 or evaluating the benefits of a compact MP7, gear selection is a tactical decision that can tip the scales of any skirmish.

Graphics

Though built on the Jagged Alliance 2 engine, Wildfire’s visuals feel markedly refreshed. The team replaced weapon sprites and sound effects for a grittier, more authentic presentation: you can almost hear the difference between an MP5A3’s rapid burst and the muted crack of a VAL. Every gun boasts updated muzzle flash animations, and recoil is more pronounced, lending each firefight visceral weight.

Map redesigns also breathe new life into Arulco’s landscapes. Dense underbrush can obscure hidden landmines, while newly erected fences and watchtowers cast longer shadows in the golden hour. Abandoned villages appear more weathered, and military compounds are now cluttered with realistic defensive emplacements—sandbags, searchlights, alarm panels—that enrich the atmospheric tension.

Beyond static visuals, lighting and weather effects have been subtly tweaked to heighten immersion. Dawn patrols feel chillier, dusk assaults carry an unsettling glow from perimeter lamps, and indoor firefights in warehouses spotlight dust motes dancing in searchlight beams. These ambient touches underscore the expansion’s push toward a more cinematic, grounded depiction of guerrilla warfare.

Story

Wildfire preserves the core narrative of Jagged Alliance 2—liberate Arulco from a despotic regime using a ragtag band of mercenaries—but reframes each operation through the lens of heightened difficulty and moral consequence. Civilian loyalty is more fragile than ever, and killing non-combatants inflicts severe support penalties that can hamper reinforcements and supplies later on. This makes rescue missions and hostage situations particularly nerve-racking.

The expansion also replaces eight original mercenaries with new faces, each bringing unique personalities and voice lines that freshen dialogue scenes. Whether you’re coaxing intel out of a grizzled sniper or managing the temper of a hot-headed heavy gunner, these interactions carry more weight when you remember a stray round could cost you both mission success and local support.

Although the main storyline progression remains unchanged, the new challenges spur emergent narratives: a planned night raid goes awry when alarms trigger and reinforcements pour in, or a carefully laid ambush collapses under the weight of new minefields. Such unpredictable outcomes ensure that your personal saga in Arulco feels distinct, even if the overarching plot beats are familiar.

Overall Experience

Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire is a must-play for veterans seeking a grittier, more unforgiving take on a beloved classic. The expansion’s wealth of map changes, revamped weaponry, and tougher AI combine to deliver a tactical experience that both honors and refreshes the original. Every decision—from loadout selection to route planning—carries real consequences.

Newcomers may find the steep difficulty curve daunting, but for those willing to invest time mastering Wildfire’s systems, the rewards are substantial. The satisfaction of pulling off a flawless stealth insertion or turning the tide of a firefight against overwhelming odds is unmatched. Plus, the added emphasis on civilian safety and local loyalty introduces a layer of moral complexity that keeps you emotionally engaged beyond mere kill counts.

In sum, Wildfire transforms Jagged Alliance 2 into a more realistic, intense battlefield simulation without sacrificing the series’ humor and character-driven storytelling. If you’re looking for a tactical RPG expansion that tests your ingenuity and adaptability, Arulco’s wild terrains and fortified defenses are ready to meet the challenge.