Joint Task Force (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Joint Task Force


developer =Most Wanted Entertainment
publisher = HD Publishing Sierra Entertainment,
designer = Attila "Maci" Bánki-Horváth
engine =
released = September 12, 2006
genre = Real-time tactics
modes = Single Player , Multiplayer & Co-op
ratings = ESRB: Teen
platforms = Windows
media = CD-ROM
Steam
requirements =
input =

"Joint Task Force" is a PC real-time tactics game where players command military forces in combat situations based on modern day conflicts.

The game includes officially licensed vehicles and weapons systems from major defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky.

"Joint Task Force" was developed by Most Wanted Entertainment and was co-published by HD Publishing and Sierra Entertainment in September 2006.

etting

"Joint Task Force" is set in the near future, 2008 exactly. In the single-player campaign, players follow the JTF first battalion and its commander, Major O’Connell, in a fight for order and stability in missions based on actual combat situations. The single player campaign consists of 5 scenarios set in Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Colombia and Iraq.

Gameplay

The gameplay in "Joint Task Force" is focused around tactical decision making.

Instead of resource collection, players get money to spend per mission and per objective. Troopers and equipment are assigned at the beginning of each mission, and more may be ordered by helicopter and trooper transport. Heavily armoured vehicles such as the M1A2 Abrams tank and the M2A3 IFV are airdropped in by a Hercules transport plane onto a captured runway. Therefore if a player wants the upper hand in a mission, he must capture and control the runway for armoured support.

Troopers also gain experience and can be promoted to officer status. Officers have a skill tree that can be improved over time, similar to popular role-playing games. These officers will then give you a massive advantage on the battlefield depending on their speciality. For instance, a vehicle crewman gets a lot of experience from a mission, and is elidgible for promotion, this now makes him an officer and is most combat effective when in a vehicle.

The singleplayer campaign can be played cooperatively with another player; but reports are that this suffers heavily from synchronization issues, which also plagues multiplayer in general.

Units

Infantry

Infantry are an expendable force in JTF, mainly due to their cheapness and effectiveness.

"Abilities"

- Can go prone to increase defense against incoming fire.

- Can camouflage in thick grass, making them invisible to armoured vehicles with no gunner.

Ranger: The ranger is a durable infantry unit which can carry one single secondary weapon and an assault rifle.

Engineer: Engineers can clear mines and repair vehicles with the aid of the FRSV.

Combat medic: Combat medics heal other infantry units, at the cost of being less combat effective.

Marksman: Long range anti-infantry snipers are slightly more expensive but are good for reconnaissance. They also have camouflage gear making them harder to spot while prone.

Commando: The commando is a tougher version of the Ranger, equipped by default with a gas mask and nightvision goggles.

Vehicle crew: Vehicle crew are the default occupants of ordered vehicles. They cannot be purchased.

Pilot: Pilots are the default occupants of ordered aircraft. They cannot be purchased.

Light Vehicles

Light Vehicles are essential for combating large masses of enemy infantry or simply for fast transport. They are also good for hit and run missions.

"Abilities"

- Button up/down, the gunner (if the vehicle has a gunner) can drop down from the turret into the vehicle, safe from incoming fire.

Humvee: The humvee is a good recon/anti infantry vehicle which can be outfitted with one of three upgrades (Machine gun, Grenade launcher, TOW Rocket launcher)

Buggy: The buggy although very weak, has superb agility and speed. Good for hit and run missions.

Heavy Vehicles

Heavy vehicles are slow but powerful and strong. Most vehicles require 2 occupants - one to drive and one to fire the main gun.

"Abilities"

- Reverse

- Button up/down, the gunner (if the vehicle has a gunner) can drop down from the turret into the vehicle, safe from incoming fire.

- Pop smoke (Not available to the US Anti-Air vehicle) screens all movement within an area.

- Attack ground, most useful for artillery units.

- Mobile/firing position - (only for artillery units) toggles the firing mode of the unit.

M1A2 Abrams: The main battle tank for the US, powerful and includes two gunners on the turret, and a coaxial machine gun.

M2A3 IFV: Heavy anti-infantry vehicle. Has a 25MM chaingun and a coaxial machine gun. Unfortunately the TOW Missile launcher does not fire.

Howitzer: Light artillery, fires large explosive shells which are deadly to infantry and good at suppressing slow assaults.

MLRS Precision Artillery: Holds a lot less ammunition than the Howitzer (only 12 missiles) but each shot is 100% accurate and very powerful.

FRSV: The FRSV is responsible for maintaining and reclaiming damaged vehicles. The FRSV must have engineers and supplies to be able to repair/rearm other vehicles.

Anti Air vehicle: The anti air vehicle is powerful not only to aircraft, but to other vehicles and especially infantry.

Aircraft

Aircraft can be devastating to any tank company or infantry squad, but are equally vulnerable to hidden Anti-Air sites.

"Abilities"

- Reverse

- Land/takeoff - all aircraft must land to be rearmed/repaired.

- Attack ground

Apache gunship: Heavy anti-vehicle chopper. Holds 16 hellfire missiles and one 25mm chaingun.

Harrier jumpjet: Anti-Air vehicle. Also has a 30mm chaingun for anti-infantry missions.

List of Equipment and Vehicles

JTF

Aircraft:
* Apache Longbow Attack Chopper
* AH-6 Little Bird
* AV-8B Harrier IIThe following support air strikes are called in by designating a target (area).
* F-117 Stealth Fighter
* A-10 Warthog
* Tomahawk Cruise Missile
* Predator UAV
* UH-60 Black Hawk (Only used for transporting troops and light vehicles)
* C-130 Hercules (Only for transporting armored units)

Ground Vehicles:
* HMMWV (Humvee) (M2 .50 caliber Machine Gun, TOW Missiles, 40mm Grenade Launcher)
* M2A3 IFV
* Self-propelled howitzer (Artillery)
* Flak tank
* M1A2 Abrams
* MLRS
* Recon buggy

Infantry Weapons/Equipment
* AT4
* C-4
* Grenade Launcher
* Hand grenades
* Night vision goggles
* Gas mask
* Mine Detector
* Portable AA Missiles
* Camouflage

OPFOR

Aircraft:
* Mi-35 Hind
* Mi-17 (For infantry transport only)
* Kamov Ka-50

Vehicles:
* BTR-80
* T-72
* ZSU-23-4
* T-55
* T-90
* BMP-2
* BMP-3
* Zodiac inflatable boat
* Technical

Weapons:
* RPG
* SA-7 Grail AA Launcher
* Mortar

Other
* ATV - Four-wheeled 1-man motorcycle.

This list is incomplete.

Officer Classes

*Engineer
*Pilot
*Sniper
*Commando
*Medic
*Ranger
*Armored Commander

Mission list

*Operation Swift Phoenix
*Operation Garden Light
*Operation Distant Sweep
*Operation Crimson Harvest
*Operation Decisive Shield
*Operation Noble Horizon
*Operation Infinite Response
*Operation Eternal Guard
*Operation Intense Harvest
*Operation Urgent Arms
*Operation Ghost Promise
*Operation Enduring Forge
*Operation Vigilant Arms
*Operation Fiery Star
*Operation Green Anvil
*Operation Quick Wind
*Operation United Thunder
*Operation Silent Hope
*Operation Golden Obelisk
*Operation Red Sentinel

Minimum System Specifications

*Windows 2000/XP Home or Professional/x64
*Intel Pentium 4 2 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 2000+
*NVIDIA GeForce 4 (non-MX) or ATI Radeon 9500, DirectX 9.0c compliant videocard with 128 MB RAM
*512 MB RAM
*3 GB of uncompressed hard drive space
*DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
*DirectX 9.0c (included)
*4x CD/DVD-ROM drive
*Microsoft-compatible mouse and keyboard
*56 kbit/s dial-up modem for online play; 10 Mbit/s for LAN play

Recommended System Requirements

*Windows XP Home or Professional
*Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz or AMD Athlon XP 3000+
*NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT video card with 256 MB RAM
*1 GB RAM
*24x CD/DVD-ROM drive
*Broadband connection for online play

Reviews

*Gamespot: 6.5 (Fair) [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/jointtaskforce/index.html?tag=result;title;0]
*GameSpy: 2.5/5 [http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/joint-task-force/736898p1.html]
*IGN: 5.7 [http://pc.ign.com/articles/738/738427p1.html]

ee also

*Sierra Entertainment
*List of strategy video games
*Real-time tactics
*Windows 2000 (Minimum suggested system requirement.)

External links

* [http://www.jointtaskforce.com/ Official Joint Task Force Website] The official game website maintained by HD Publishing.
* [http://www.sierra.com/ Sierra Entertainment] The official website of publisher Sierra Entertainment.