Original War

This game feels like playing a pulp sci-fi serial! The dialogue, as oddly translated as it can be, is recited with incredible gusto and verve by every actor. The graphics are crisp and clean and pretty for an older game. You can't zoom in but you can always tell where everything is. This is a game you cannot select a bunch of soldiers and just send them in to overwhelm the foe because every soldier counts! You want to select individual units, make them crouch, set their land speed, hide in the brush, outmaneuver superior forces, track and extinguish stragglers before they can raise the alarm. This is the kind of game that people on the radio can LIE to you. You need to use your own judgement a lot of the time to survive stacked odds. It can be a bit finicky. Characters don't always pathfind well, there's a LOT of micromanagement, but the story is consistently surprising and entertaining, you get two full length campaigns, and if you keep your wits about you even superior enemy numbers can be outwitted and outfought and it feels firm but fair throughout.

Original War is one of the most underrated RTS games. It truly is a masterpiece, thanks to its branching storylines, as well as its extremely important character management (each character is unique and if one of them dies: it's impossible to bring them back later during the game, they are lost forever even if this specific character is supposed to have an important role during the story). The gameplay also has "something special" with exclusive RPG elements (don't forget to increase the speed of the game for a better experience) and all the 3 factions are amazing to discover. In addition, the graphics are nice for 2001, and a level editor is available in addition to a multiplayer mode.

The best strategy game ever made. I am sad that OW2 will never be created. A compelling story, funny additionally with the possibility of choices and identification with the heroes. A thoughtful balance between factions, and a brilliant unit limitation system. Every life matters there, every decision can be painful. The game is old, the graphics are not the same as today, games are being made, but I can easily recommend the game to any strategy fan. Big Fan

This game was one of the best RTS I have ever played, they story is very good, every soldiers has name and makes you care for them (i reloaded several times in order to avoid them die innecesary), the combination with RPG elements suits it very well. My only complain will be problems with pathfinding when commanding large groups of forces.

SUMMARY: Great concept and story/atmosphere ruined by frustrating, tedious gameplay. The reviews were great and I was excited for a unique and flawed gem. I wanted to like this game, and I do. - great cheesy 80s action movie atmosphere - persistent characters with trainable skills - ambitious, innovative design BUT.... I couldn't enjoy the gameplay. - the game design makes units precious but they die really easily. There's no cover/retreat option. - fog of war is terrible, I felt like I was stumbling blindly through soup. - pathing is really bad - the pace of the game feels slow AF. - resource and unit management is a pain. Guess I'll play spellforce 2 again.