Hi all, trying to get my head around the different expansions for JA2. They're all quite cheap on sale, but wanted to know if the recommendation is to buy them all; JA2, Unfinished Business and Wildfire.

I understand that they can affect each other in terms of gameplay features too (ie features from Unfinished Business added to the vanilla game)?

Get JA2

JA:UB is just a short sequel to JA2 and if you want to can use the 1.13 mod with JA2 to get access to all the new mercs and guns JA:UB added.

Wildfire is sort of a reimagining of JA2. I gave it a shot once a long time ago but I prefer JA2

Ah thank you, reading more into Wildfire it's apparently an officially distributed mod, rather than a sequel or expansion. Hmm, that helps me.

I'll probably get JA2 and UB in that case!

Wildfire is merely a mod which in the beginning made some changes on maps,
and combat related values, later it got some minor changes on code
and supported higher resolution than original JA2.

It attempts to make the game more difficult but players who know it
can abuse the knowledge e.g. about the many camper positions etc pp
to make it much easier than e.g. JA2 UB, or 1.13 on insane++ difficulty :D
Also voice acting of new wildfire mercs is far below original,
in matters of audio quality, and comment text combined with artists low competence to give characters a personality.

It should never have been a chargeable game, just a free mod,
therefore, and the above reasons, I never hire the WF mercs that are available in 1.13,
(except to send them immediately to the bloodcat lair without ammo >;) )
rather would prefer to replace them with self made portraits and voicesets.

btw you can get the WF v6.06 or v6.07 maps fror free,
iirc the bears pit user silversurfer has a link in his signature, and there is a WF subforum,
while WF on 1.13 is rather equal to original WF, JA2 UB is somewhat crppled on 1.13 regarding its original difficulty.


I recommend to buy JA2 and JA2 UB, in case later dld 1.13 and WF maps, and a dozen other mods;)
Play the original JA2 first, stay away from reloads else you wont refine tactics
and end up playing against the rng, besides it far more satisfying to win a campaign and know that you didnt cheat

JA2 has a high addiction potential if that is your type of game, and a huge replay value,
if you get hooked check the bears pit forum -> thread "Depris build and packages"
to dld the last version of stock 1.13, and make sure to carefully read the explanetions for new features
in thread "Flugentes Magika Workshop" and note the menu hotkeys, else your mercs may soon drown in their blood.
Then either continue with one of the major mods to get variety from new maps, or play with the improved AI exe by sevenfm.

Good luck!

Thank you for more details! I'll definitely get JA2 and UB. I'll leave WF for now and if I really want to can get it later.
The game sounds really fun, I haven't played too many of these types of games beyond the XCom remake, but I loved that and this looks really great.

Don't know if I'll get to play immidiately, but will buy today while the sale is on :)