Want to talk about a game with sucky combat? Fallout 1 or 2.
WTF? While maybe not quite as complex as Jagged Alliance 2, the combat in Fallout was an excellent turn-based tactical game. Fond memories of taking out Metzker and his slavers by holing up in Mom's Diner. I initiated the whole thing by planting dynamite on Metzker himself then went to the diner as the clock ticked down. Once Metzker blew up into tiny little pieces I started firing bursts at the external slaver guards with my SMG. If anyone came through the door they got a blast from my double barrelled shotgun. Managed to take out the slavers despite being only like level 8 or so. Ah good times.