View source for Software:Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge

{{Short description|2007 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title         = Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge
| image         = Hired Guns The Jagged Edge cover.jpg
| caption       = European cover art
| developer     = GFI Russia
| publisher     = {{vgrelease|RU|GFI / Russobit-M<ref name="absolute"/>|EU|Peter Games<ref name="4P"/>|EU|[[Company:Kalypso Media|Kalypso Media]]<ref name="steam">{{cite web |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge |url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/33500/ |website=[[Software:Steam (service)|Steam]] |publisher=[[Company:Valve Corporation|Valve Corporation]] |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530080551/http://store.steampowered.com/app/33500/ |archive-date=30 May 2009}}</ref>|NA|[[Company:Tri Synergy|Tri Synergy]] / [[Company:Matrix Games|Matrix Games]]}}
| director      = Witalij Schutow
| designer      = Max Tumin
| programmer    = Leonard Wolik
| artist        = 
| writer        = Alexander Schatrow
| composer      = 
| engine        = 
| series        = 
| platforms     = [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| released      = {{vgrelease|RU|October 19, 2007|EU|March 20, 2008|NA|December 4, 2008|UK|May 22, 2009}}
| genre         = [[Software:Turn-based tactics|Turn-based tactics]]
| modes         = Single-player
}}

'''''Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge''''' ({{lang-ru|Джаз: Работа по найму|Dzhaz: Rabota po naymu|Jazz: Employment}})<ref name="absolute"/> is a [[Software:Turn-based tactics|turn-based tactics]] video game developed by GFI Russia and published by GFI / Russobit-M for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] in October 2007. The game has been called a spiritual successor to the ''[[Software:Jagged Alliance|Jagged Alliance]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meer |first1=Alec |title=Jagged Alliance: Back in Action Review |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/jagged-alliance-back-in-action-review |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=17 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dumitrescu |first1=Andrei |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Gets Patch 1.07.001 |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Hired-Guns-The-Jagged-Edge-Gets-Patch-1-07-001-100456.shtml |website=[[Softpedia]] |publisher=SoftNews NET SRL |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=19 December 2008}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
''Hired Guns'' is a turn-based tactics game. The player is in command of an elite unit of mercenaries in an attempt to depose an African dictator in a fictional country of Diamond Coast.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Younger |first1=Paul |title=Restaurant Empire II and Hired Guns On Steam |url=https://www.pcinvasion.com/restaurant-empire-ii-and-hired-guns-on-steam/ |website=PC Invasion |publisher=[[Social:Gamurs|Gamurs]] |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=28 May 2009}}</ref> The player hires and equips a group of mercenaries before starting a mission.<ref name="IGN"/> They are used in tactical battles to capture areas that generate income.<ref name="IGN"/> In battle, action points (AP) are used for movement and shooting.<ref name="IGN"/> The game also has a stamina system where running or carrying extra weight depletes the stamina meter and a character will collapse if it empties.<ref name="IGN"/>

==Development==
In June 2004, [[Company:Strategy First|Strategy First]] and Game Factory Interactive (GFI) announced a deal to develop ''Jagged Alliance 3D'' and ''[[Software:Jagged Alliance 3|Jagged Alliance 3]]'' with Russian-based developer MiST Land South working on the games.<ref name="gspy">{{cite web |last1=Fudge |first1=James |title=Jagged Alliance 3, Disciples 3 Announced |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/jagged-alliance-3/521272p1.html |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=4 June 2004}}</ref> In September 2005, GFI lost the rights to develop ''Jagged Alliance 3''.<ref name="absolute-interview">{{cite web |last1=Goryachev |first1=Vladimir |last2=Fomin |first2=Konstantin |title=Interview: Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge |url=http://www.ag.ru/articles/interviews/hired_guns_the_jagged_edge/3743 |website=Absolute Games |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418031603/http://www.ag.ru/articles/interviews/hired_guns_the_jagged_edge/3743 |archive-date=18 April 2008 |date=11 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2006, the development agreement was terminated but GFI was still under contract to develop ''Jagged Alliance 3D''.<ref name="EG1">{{cite web |last1=Bramwell |first1=Tom |title=Disciples III changing devs |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news120106disciples3 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=12 January 2006}}</ref> In August 2006, GFI dissolved MiST Land South and merged it with itself.<ref name="pelit-history">{{cite web |last1=Nirvi |first1=Niko |title=Jagged Alliancen perintö - Paha saa poikasia |url=https://www.pelit.fi/artikkelit/jagged-alliancen-perinto-paha-saa-poikasia/ |website=Pelit |publisher=Fokus Media Finland |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=Finnish |date=1 October 2008}}</ref> In September 2006, GFI also lost the rights to publish ''Jagged Alliance 3D''.<ref>{{cite web |title=STRATEGY FIRST TERMINATES THEIR AGREEMENT WITH GAME FACTORY INTERACTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JAGGED ALLIANCE GAMES. |url=http://www.strategyfirst.com/press/DisplayArticle.asp?sLanguageCode=EN&iArticleID=3299 |website=[[Company:Strategy First|Strategy First]] |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118033517/http://www.strategyfirst.com/press/DisplayArticle.asp?sLanguageCode=EN&iArticleID=3299 |archive-date=18 November 2006 |date=1 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Goryachev |first1=Vladimir |title=GFI осталась без Jagged Alliance |url=http://www.ag.ru/news/02-09-2006#16480 |website=Absolute Games |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402234716/http://www.ag.ru/news/02-09-2006#16480 |archive-date=2 April 2008 |language=Russian |date=2 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A few days later GFI announced that it would release the game with a new title.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goryachev |first1=Vladimir |title=GFI потеряла JA3D, но не сдается |url=http://www.ag.ru/news/03-09-2006#16481 |website=Absolute Games |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426195705/http://www.ag.ru/news/03-09-2006#16481 |archive-date=26 April 2008 |language=Russian |date=3 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2006, the game was renamed to ''Jazz: Hired Guns''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goryachev |first1=Vladimir |title=Jagged Alliance 3D обрела новое имя |url=http://www.ag.ru/news/08-11-2006#16668 |website=Absolute Games |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418053306/http://www.ag.ru/news/08-11-2006#16668 |archive-date=18 April 2008 |language=Russian |date=8 November 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="pelit-history"/> On August 10, 2007, the game was given the English title ''Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge''.<ref>{{cite web |title=GFI Announces Three New Names for Three Great Games |url=http://www.gfi.su/index_text_and_img.php?idt=827&langid=2&categ_id=34&men_id=7 |website=GFI |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107005906/http://www.gfi.su/index_text_and_img.php?idt=827&langid=2&categ_id=34&men_id=7 |archive-date=7 November 2007 |date=10 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=News |url=http://www.gfi.su/news_shabl.php?page=news&langid=2&categ_id=34&men_id=7 |website=GFI |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417124057/http://www.gfi.su/news_shabl.php?page=news&langid=2&categ_id=34&men_id=7 |archive-date=17 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game was showcased at Games Convention 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=GFI goes to GC 2007 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gfi-goes-to-gc-2007-a |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=16 August 2007}}</ref> It was released in Russia on October 19, 2007, and in other mainland European countries on March 20, 2008.<ref name="absolute"/><ref name="gstar"/> [[Company:Tri Synergy|Tri Synergy]] and [[Company:Matrix Games|Matrix Games]] released the game in North America on December 4, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge - GFI's turn-based mercs game signed by Tri Synergy for North America. |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-gfi-s-turn-based-mercs-game-signed-by-tri-synergy-for-north-america |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=31 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A New Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Video Now Available |url=https://www.matrixgames.com/news/a-new-hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-video-now-available24-11-08 |website=[[Company:Matrix Games|Matrix Games]] |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=24 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Now Available From Matrix Games! |url=https://www.matrixgames.com/news/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-now-available-from-matrix-games-04-12-08 |website=[[Company:Matrix Games|Matrix Games]] |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=4 December 2008}}</ref> The game was released in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge - An overview of GFI's mercs RTS, out in the UK on May 22nd. |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-an-overview-of-gfi-s-mercs-rts-out-in-the-uk-on-may-22nd |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=7 May 2009}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 58/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref>
| 4P = 58/100<ref name="4P">{{cite web |last1=Kleffmann |first1=Marcel |title=Test: Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/4504/58428/0/Hired_Guns_The_Jagged_Edge.html |website=4Players |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=German |date=5 April 2008}}</ref>
| GStar = 74/100<ref name="gstar">{{cite web |last1=Siegismund |first1=Fabian |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge im Test - Strategiespiel mit Elementen aus Jagged Alliance |url=https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/hired_guns_the_jagged_edge,1943804.html |website=GameStar |publisher=Webedia |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=German |date=21 March 2008}}</ref>
| IGN = 5.9/10<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last1=Butts |first1=Steve |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/12/12/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-review |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215182159/http://pc.ign.com/articles/938/938107p1.html |archive-date=15 December 2008 |date=12 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''Absolute Games''
| rev1Score = 55%<ref name="absolute">{{cite web |last1=Khromov |first1=Mikhail |title=Рецензия на Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge |url=http://www.ag.ru/reviews/hired_guns_the_jagged_edge |website=Absolute Games |access-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405204028/http://www.ag.ru/reviews/hired_guns_the_jagged_edge |archive-date=5 April 2008 |language=Russian |date=4 November 2007}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''Armchair General''
| rev2Score = 79%<ref name="armchair">{{cite web |last1=Levandowski |first1=Larry |title=Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge – PC Game Review |url=http://armchairgeneral.com/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-pc-game-review.htm |website=Armchair General |publisher=Weider History Group |access-date=17 March 2023 |date=12 March 2009}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''Computer Bild''
| rev3Score = 3.5/5<ref name="Bild">{{cite web |title=Hired Guns – The Jagged Edge |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cbs-Tests-PC-Hired-Guns-The-Jagged-Edge-Strategiespiel-Jagged-Alliance-3D-2455621.html |website=Computer Bild |publisher=Axel Springer SE |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=German |date=14 April 2008}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''Pelit''
| rev4Score = 84/100<ref name="pelit">{{cite magazine |last1=Nirvi |first1=Niko |title=Paha puhuu saksaa |journal=Pelit |date=October 2008 |issue=10/2008 |pages=40–41 |url=https://www.pelit.fi/artikkelit/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge-pc/ |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=Finnish}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''Vandal''
| rev5Score = 6.3/10<ref name="vandal">{{cite web |last1=Pastor |first1=Alberto |title=Análisis de Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge (PC) |url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/analisis/pc/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge/8600#p-13 |website=Vandal |publisher=El Español |access-date=17 March 2023 |language=Spanish |date=11 May 2009}}</ref>
}}
''Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge'' received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.<ref name="MC"/>

Larry Levandowski of ''Armchair General'' summarized: "Hired Guns takes great pains to emulate its spiritual ancestor, Jagged Alliance; the result is a fun game that satisfies. Fans of the original game and those turn-based gamers who want a good gunfight can’t go wrong with this one."<ref name="armchair"/>

Fabian Siegismund of ''GameStar'' said: "It takes quite some time to get into the game and a lot of it will be spent loading saved games, but once you're over that stage, Hired Guns offers a lot of fun. The game feels like a graphically enhanced [[Software:Jagged Alliance 2|Jagged Alliance 2]], which isn't bad - quite the opposite. Hired Guns has its weaknesses, but is appealing nonetheless."<ref name="gstar"/><ref name="MC"/>

Steve Butts of ''IGN'' summarized: "Overpowered enemies, underpowered weapons, breathless mercenaries and a complete lack of range and accuracy information keep the game from competing with the other titles in the genre."<ref name="IGN"/>

Niko Nirvi of ''Pelit'' called it a good tactical strategy game and the best game in the genre since ''[[Software:Silent Storm|Silent Storm]]''. Nirvi criticized the lack of strong character personalities and attention to detail that are present in the ''Jagged Alliance'' series.<ref name="pelit"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|https://web.archive.org/web/20080327225952/http://jazz.russobit-m.ru/}} {{in lang|ru}} (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081208151305/http://www.gfi.su/index1.php?langid=2&idt=675&categ_id=38&men_id=11 ''Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge'' at GFI] (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090216013704/http://petergames.de/Hired-Guns-The-Jagged-Edge.47.0.html ''Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge'' at Peter Games] {{in lang|de}} (archived)
*{{moby game|id=/hired-guns-the-jagged-edge}}
*[https://games.softpedia.com/get/Games-Demo/Hired-Guns-The-Jagged-Edge.shtml Demo version download] at [[Softpedia]]


[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Turn-based tactics video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge}}