Conclusion and final thoughts
Now I know that in the overall scheme of things, playing games is just a way of killing a bit of free time and having some fun, but Joint Task Force feels like you’re wasting time because you just want to waste time. You spend far too much time battling against the stupid bloody AI that controls your own units. This takes the emphasis off the point of the game, which is to battle the enemy AI and win the game. The more I played Joint Task Force, the more I realised that I was getting half my satisfaction from just getting my units to do what I wanted which rather defeats the object of an RTS game. You’re supposed to get a sense of satisfaction and achievement from beating the game, not from coercing the AI into doing what it should.
Click for larger imageThe actual interface is as easy to navigate as you could ask for and there’s none of the research tree or micromanagement rubbish that bogs down other RTS titles. There’s no base building, there’s no resource collection and the storyline isn’t half bad either. It’s just the whole game is overshadowed by rotten path finding and AI that honestly seems to just give up and go and have a quick cup of tea instead of getting on and working.
Click for larger imageSo where do we stand with Joint Task Force? On the one hand, you’ve got all the makings of a great RTS, with plenty of real world units, cracking graphics and a good storyline that takes a different approach from most military type games. The ‘hero’ system, though nothing new, adds a nice dimension to the game as does the progression of other units should they survive the previous missions. The resource system with cash rewards for completing objectives takes a refreshing angle but can also be a hindrance because if you hash things up and leave yourself without the equipment to achieve the next objective you’ll have to restart the level.
So overall, is Joint Task Force worth your cash?
I so want to tell you that this is worth buying as, if you can persevere with the crappy path finding, you’ll find a game that’s an enjoyable play and offers up a not inconsiderable challenge, even on the easy difficulty setting. But I think that for many, the AI sodding up the game is going to be a hurdle too high to get over. Perhaps it can be sorted out with a patch but until then, this is one to leave on the shelf.
Pros
Great Graphics
Easy interface
Great storyline
Novel resource system
Cons
Terrible AI path finding ruins gameplay
If modern war was really like this, Saddam would’ve won.
HEXUS Awards
Joint Task Force
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