Joint Task Force

About

Joint Task Force is a real-time strategy game that simulates commanding various military forces. Players can build and manage their bases, create and execute tactical plans, and engage in military operations in diverse environments. The game features a wide range of units, weapons, and equipment from multiple nations, providing a rich and immersive military experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 158 reviews

story13 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience with engaging gameplay and a unique take on modern warfare, making it a hidden gem among RTS titles.
Players appreciate the tactical depth required, as the game emphasizes planning and strategy over mindless combat, with a variety of units and missions.
The graphics and sound design are commendable for a game of its age, providing an immersive experience that still holds up well today.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including frequent crashes and poor pathfinding for units, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Many players have reported that the game requires outdated drivers and fixes to run properly on modern systems, which can be a barrier for new players.
The AI is often criticized for being unresponsive and lacking in tactical awareness, making some missions feel unfairly difficult and leading to a reliance on constant micromanagement.

story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
5%
The game's story is described as interesting yet somewhat generic, featuring a mix of military-themed missions that evolve in complexity but ultimately leave many plot threads unresolved. While the campaign offers a variety of engaging missions and tactical challenges, it suffers from an abrupt ending and a convoluted narrative that feels patched together, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among players. Overall, the story provides a solid backdrop for gameplay but lacks the depth and resolution that many players desire.
- “Brilliant story mode and a good choice of military troops, tanks, choppers.”
- “What I like about the game is how you should try to save your generals because once they die you can't get them back. Amazing tactical strategy game.”
- “Really fun game, the missions are fun and challenging, the campaign is really cool, what I like is you go from fighting cartels in Colombia to fighting Somali pirates in Somalia to fighting terrorists in the Middle East and more.”
- “Also, the story goes places but never gets there, if that makes sense. And wow, does it spam a load of plot hooks that remain unresolved at the end.”
- “The game was a bomb and a sequel never got made, so the story ends up feeling like complete nonsense.”
- “It feels like the game went through several rewrites, and the different plots ended up being sloppily patched together to make missions fit in the end.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality, especially considering its release date in 2006, with many users noting that they hold up well against contemporary titles. While some reviews mention the need for updates or remasters, the visuals are often described as impressive, with detailed models and effects that enhance the gameplay experience. Users appreciate the nostalgic charm of the graphics, which blend well with the game's engaging story and mechanics.
- “The graphics are excellent.”
- “The graphics are great and the interface is manageable yet intuitive.”
- “The graphics are awesome for a game of that time.”
- “This game is an obsolete title with almost pixelated-looking graphics.”
- “The graphics could use a bit of work.”
- “I couldn't get the game to work even with the helpful reviewer providing a download link to patch the game's graphics.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The gameplay is praised for its fun and unique mechanics, emphasizing micro-management and tactical elements without base building, akin to "World in Conflict." Players appreciate features like unit experience and the ability to customize vehicle crews, which add depth and strategic options, despite some occasional frustrations. Overall, the gameplay is considered a standout aspect of the game, making it a favorite among real-time tactical enthusiasts.
- “Tons of cool game mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is fun and unique, no base building, very micro intensive, similar to other games like 'World in Conflict' but mixed with hero units.”
- “The gameplay is arguably some of my favorite in a real-time tactical game (which this is more of than it is an RTS, as there is no base-building); the options are many and nice.”
- “Frustrating moments like these are basically part of the gameplay.”
- “Game mechanics never really bothered me, though I have heard complaints in the past.”
- “It's the gameplay that counts and that's what this game has.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers noting it as better than average for its genre and release period, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some find it merely adequate, others appreciate the energetic and fitting soundtrack that enhances gameplay. Overall, the sound effects and music are considered solid, though there is room for improvement.
- “As a baseline for the release year, it might appear fine with clear objectives, simple controls, and energetic music.”
- “Game could do with a remaster; it's got a 20+ hour campaign with a good story. The graphics hold up relatively well, and the music and sound effects are pretty good as well.”
- “Sound is good, and the music is better than most RTS/RTT games set in this time period.”
- “The music is so-so, though.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by a quirky physics system that causes amusing interactions, such as bullets sending characters flying. While the cinematics are considered lackluster, the voice acting is intentionally poor, adding to the comedic effect, and the troops provide entertaining commentary throughout.
- “There's a funny physics system where bullets can send people flying.”
- “The voice acting is hilariously done, adding a comedic touch to the overall experience.”
- “The sound is great, featuring a lot of funny comments from your troops.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for frequent screen freezes and performance issues, including animation glitches, which detract from the overall experience. While the time-freezing mechanic allows for better command execution, it highlights the underlying AI shortcomings and performance inconsistencies.
- “The performance could be better, and there are animation glitches.”
- “Then the screen freezes for a second.”
- “The space bar freezes time, allowing you to issue commands fast enough to almost counter your soldiers' awful AI.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues, including stuttering frames and animation glitches. Users suggest toggling the 'hardware cursor' setting as a potential workaround for frame rate problems. Overall, there is a consensus that the optimization could be significantly improved.
- “The performance could be better, and there are animation glitches.”
- “To avoid stuttering frames, turn 'hardware cursor' on, then off (or off, then on, then off if you have it on already).”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and stressful, often requiring cheats to manage the experience.
- “I had to have all cheats running all the time, and still found these scenarios just too tedious and stressful.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, as it encourages experimentation with different strategies and approaches to missions, enhancing the overall enjoyment and engagement.
- “The graphics are nice, the missions are fun, and there's a lot of replayability because if something doesn't work, you can back up a little and try a different approach.”
- “Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making it easy to dive back in and explore different strategies.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two runs are the same, keeping the game fresh and engaging.”