Retro Roadtest: Jagged Alliance

In their latest "Retro Roadtest" feature, Games On Net has turned their attention over to Sir-tech and Madlab's classic turn-based strategy/RPG, Jagged Alliance.
Jagged Alliance tasks players with gaining control over the island of Metavira, an island where Fallow trees with special medical qualities grow. Your job is to secure the island for Jack Richards and his daughter, Brenda who have both realised that it probably wasn't a good idea to allow Brenda's former scientific partner, Lucas Santino to share the island. In order to do this, you must hire operatives and manage resources (guards, workers, and cash) in order to secure sectors of the island and ensure that the scientific research can continue.

The game blends turn based strategy and role playing elements, with players able to recruit a vast team of mercenaries to clear the island, sector by sector. Each mercenary has a unique skill set, creating a lot of indecision when deciding who to take on a mission to liberate a particular sector. As long as you've got a few people capable of using firearms efficiently, and a medic or two, there shouldn't be all that many problems. If there are, you can always wait for your characters to gain new skills as you fight your way through the island.
Yet another masterpiece that's been sitting on my replay list for the last couple of years. If only I had the time.