The news may be a day late (there is a lot of news to cover, folks) but there was definitely a need to give a shout-out for the release of Kalypso Media's Jagged Alliance: Back In Action, which is currently available on Steam for the not-so-bad price of $39.99.

Jagged Alliance: Back in Action actually isn't a new game based around the franchise made famous from indie Canadian developer SirTech, instead it's a complete remake of the entire game, Jagged Alliance 2.Whether you like the remake treatment or not, there are a few striking changes made to the gameplay, such as the institution of plan-and-go over the typical turn-based action-point mechanics. The game is also in full 3D so players can zoom-in and get a good look at all the characters and surroundings and how a lot of the action looks up close.

All your favorite mercenaries from Jagged Alliance 2 will also make a return, including Biff, Nails, Shadow and Blood, to name just a few. The game also maintains its role-playing mechanics so players can still level-up, modify and micromanage their teams as they see fit.

While many of these features seem groundbreaking and exciting for fans of the classic turn-based, military war sim, there are a few downsides. Some gamers are reporting that the environments aren't fully destructible like in JA2 and JA2: Gold and things such as climbing, stealth and action-interrupts seem to be missing. Yikes.

Still, if you're looking to rekindle a bit of nostalgia you can try out Jagged Alliance: Back In Action but I would suggest you read a few user reviews first. For a complete list of features check e'm out below or visit the Official Website to learn more.

Key Features

 Unrivaled mix of combat (tactics), roleplay, business and strategy
 Innovative “Plan & Go” combat system combines RTS gameplay with turn-based elements
 Realistic war setting with authentic-looking firearms
 Laptop/computer menu as a central anchor point for the player
 Assemble your own unit of mercenaries from numerous unique mercenaries
 Simultaneous control of multiple squads using a strategic map
 Convincing characters who interact with and comment on the game events
 All the dialog has audio
 Acquire resources by capturing mines and encampments