August 6 has always been a bit of a mixed bag in Aussie gaming history. It’s a date that gifted us everything from isometric mercenary mayhem to high-speed fisticuffs on two wheels, topped off with a rhythm game that made Steven Tyler a household name all over again. Whether you were commanding a squad of jaded guns-for-hire on an old beige monitor or shredding plastic guitars in your loungeroom, today’s lineup proves that August 6 was never afraid to be loud, weird, or wonderfully niche.
Jagged Alliance 2 (PC) 1999
At A Glance
Released in Australia in the twilight of the ‘90s, Jagged Alliance 2 arrived as a deep and demanding tactics game that asked more of players than most strategy titles of the time. It wasn’t just about commanding units on a battlefield. It was about managing personalities, politics, and supply chains in a hostile nation. With its blend of turn-based combat, RPG systems, and strong character writing, JA2 quickly earned cult status among strategy fans down under.
Gameplay Gist
Set in the fictional country of Arulco, Jagged Alliance 2 tasks you with liberating the region from a tyrannical ruler. You do this by hiring mercenaries, each with unique skills, flaws, and banter. The meat of the game plays out in tactical, grid-based battles where positioning and inventory management matter just as much as marksmanship. But the real magic lies in the mercs themselves. Some work well together, others will outright refuse to be in the same squad. Combat can be brutal and the stakes are high, but the freedom to approach missions your own way made it endlessly replayable.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
Jagged Alliance 2 was developed by Sir-Tech, a Canadian studio best known for the Wizardry series. The game used a heavily upgraded version of the engine from the original Jagged Alliance, allowing for better AI and more complex character systems. It also featured a then-rare level of mod support and became a darling of the modding community. In fact, the 1.13 Mod still sees active updates today, expanding mechanics and adding modern quality-of-life improvements.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Mercs have hidden traits and relationships that affect mission outcomes.
- Ammo types and weapon attachments play a crucial role in later missions.
- The game includes a full economy system for buying gear and paying wages.
- Players can create a custom merc with a psychological profile and unique dialogue options.
Any Controversies?
While it was beloved by critics and hardcore fans, Jagged Alliance 2 struggled with a steep learning curve and limited tutorial support. The game also suffered from bugs and pathfinding issues at launch, though later patches resolved many of them. Its commercial performance in Australia was modest, but word of mouth and dedicated fan sites kept it alive long after release.
Kinda Similar
X-COM: UFO Defense, Silent Storm, Fallout Tactics
Where To Play It Today
Search Jagged Alliance 2 on eBay Australia
Road Rash: Jailbreak (PS) 2001
At A Glance
Road Rash: Jailbreak skidded onto Aussie shelves at a time when arcadey racers were everywhere, but few let you throw a punch mid-drift. As the last Road Rash entry to land on a PlayStation, Jailbreak retained the franchise’s signature blend of street racing and bare-knuckle brawling while introducing new bikes, branching routes, and an actual plot with branching outcomes. It may not have topped the series’ 16-bit heyday, but it brought just enough chaos to stand out.
Gameplay Gist
Players jump into a criminal underground of illegal bike races, punching and kicking their way through traffic and rival racers alike. Every race is a battle for first place and survival, with hazards including cars, trees, cops, and your own poor reflexes. Jailbreak introduced a story mode and sidecar co-op mode where one player drives while the other throws hands. The arcade DNA is strong, but there’s a welcome sense of progression and variation between characters.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
This was the final Road Rash game developed by EA’s Redwood Shores studio before they moved on to projects like Dead Space. Jailbreak ran on a modified version of the engine used for Road Rash 3D, improving draw distances and framerates on PS1 hardware. Interestingly, the game was also ported to Game Boy Advance with scaled-down visuals but a surprisingly intact gameplay loop.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Charge up your punches by holding the attack button for stronger hits.
- Winning races in the Jailbreak mode unlocks more bike upgrades and alternate story endings.
- Riding close to traffic can trigger rival wipeouts without needing to throw a punch.
Controversies
Some long-time fans felt Jailbreak leaned too far into story and spectacle, drifting away from the series’ pick-up-and-play roots. The game also received mixed reviews for inconsistent AI and difficulty spikes. Despite this, it found a cult following among Aussie gamers who wanted their racing with a side of anarchy.
Kinda Similar
Twisted Metal, Burnout 3, Full Throttle
Where To Play It Today
Search Road Rash: Jailbreak on eBay Australia
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360) 2008
At A Glance
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith arrived as the first band-centric spin-off in the juggernaut music rhythm series. While it didn’t exactly reinvent the guitar-shaped wheel, it gave fans a backstage pass to relive the rise of Boston’s bad boys through a series of career-spanning performances and behind-the-scenes footage. It offered a mix of Aerosmith hits, guest tracks from bands who influenced or toured with them, and all the fret-fiddling fun fans expected.
Gameplay Gist
You shred through a reimagined version of Aerosmith’s journey from their first gig to superstardom. Each tier is themed around a real-life venue or major moment in the band’s history. Players still strum their plastic axes, hit note highways, and build up Star Power to boost their score. The note charts skewed slightly easier than Guitar Hero III, which made the game more approachable for casual fans.
Behind The Scenes Trivia
Neversoft worked closely with Aerosmith, digitally recreating the band members and scanning motion capture of their actual performances. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry provided commentary and lent studio time to ensure the game’s audio quality hit the right notes. Interestingly, the final tracklist includes a decent chunk of non-Aerosmith songs, chosen to reflect the band’s influences.
Connoisseur Cheat Sheet
- Playing through Career Mode with different instruments unlocks unique behind-the-scenes content.
- Star Power use is critical during long solos in songs like “Walk This Way.”
- Finish the game on any difficulty to unlock Joe Perry as a playable character in Quickplay.
Any Controversies?
Some fans felt the game was more of a glorified expansion than a full release. Criticism targeted the lack of variety in musical genres and the steep price tag compared to mainline entries. Others were frustrated by the limited number of playable venues and the fact that only about two-thirds of the setlist actually featured Aerosmith songs.
Kinda Similar
Rock Band, Guitar Hero III, Band Hero
Where To Play It Today
Search Guitar Hero: Aerosmith on eBay Australia
