Better, but at its heart it is a similar beast if you played FOT turn-based. JA2 combat is better - although I am not sure I can put my finger on why. I found myself being more "tactical" in placement of my squad, laying ambushes, maneouvring, using night combat etc. The AI also seems to go for you more in JA2 (in FOT it seems rather static). Also each combat is shorter in JA2, FOT could drag a little. Partly the maps are smaller (although you might need to clean out 4 maps to take a town). Also, I think it was allowing for real time that messed up FOT - you can do less in each turn in FOT than in JA2.Originally Posted by Lehesu
JA2s strategic layer - freely moving around the map, conquering mines and towns at will rather than going through preset missions - is much more substantial.
The RPG elements are superior - the game has more "soul", especially in terms of the personalities of your squad. Aesthetically, I much preferred the look and feel of JA2, even though it is the older game. It has very nice little touches - such as rare moments when you shoot an enemy soldier standing on the edge of a roof, his death animation shows him flailing his arms around trying to maintain his balance and then falls of the edge; if Grunty is in your squad, he will gasp "What a spectacular way to die!"
Bottomline: I would give FOT maybe 7/10, a decent game - worth playing but flawed; JA2 is a 9 or even a 10.
Bookmarks