Original War

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 557 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Original War Game Cover
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An American geological expedition, under a UN mandate, assesses the natural resources in a distant part of Siberia, deep in the trackless steppes of Eastern Russia. But instead of oil, they discover a deposit of a hitherto unknown mineral. American scientists working for Department of Defense find out that this mineral is in fact identical to the substance used to power an extraterrestrial artifa…

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Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 557 reviews
story136 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Original War features a unique blend of RTS and RPG elements, where each character is irreplaceable and can level up, making player decisions impactful.
  • The game has a compelling story with branching paths and multiple endings, enhancing replayability and player engagement.
  • Despite its age, the graphics and gameplay mechanics have aged well, and the game continues to receive community support and updates.
  • The voice acting and dialogue can be subpar, detracting from the overall experience for some players.
  • The game lacks a skirmish mode against AI, limiting options for players who prefer single-player gameplay.
  • Some players may find the difficulty level unbalanced, leading to frustration, especially for those unfamiliar with older RTS mechanics.
  • story388 mentions

    The story of the game is highly praised for its originality and depth, featuring a time-travel narrative centered around the conflict over a valuable resource called siberite. Players form emotional connections with unique characters whose skills and fates carry over between missions, adding a layer of strategy and consequence to gameplay. The branching paths and player choices significantly impact the storyline, making each playthrough feel distinct and engaging, despite some critiques regarding pacing and mission design.

    • “The story is gripping and immersive - however, this game is originally Czech (it was even originally voiced in Czech), and comparing the Czech and English versions, the English version sometimes has a sub-par translation and mediocre dub.”
    • “The story is amazing, and it is also pretty damn hard for casual players.”
    • “The story follows an armed conflict between the world's superpowers, which fight over a control of a newly-discovered natural resource called siberite, with the twist that they sent their soldiers to fight two million years into the past by using an alien-constructed time machine, which uses that same substance they fight for as a fuel.”
    • “The story is ridiculous, like a Syfy channel low-budget movie, but if you can just accept the premise and get into it, it is actually pretty funny and not bad inside its own logic and narrative.”
    • “The mission design is terrible, I really can't sugarcoat it.”
    • “The story feels more personal than in most RTS games and it's definitely a strong point.”
  • gameplay150 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by its unique blend of RTS and RPG elements, allowing players to change character roles and manage a finite number of units, which adds depth and strategic complexity. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, such as modular vehicle construction and character progression, though some note that the gameplay can feel slow and requires significant micromanagement. Overall, the innovative mechanics and compelling story create a memorable experience that remains enjoyable even years after its release.

    • “Each human has a job that you can change, so for instance, if you get a really good human that's both a scientist and a mechanic, you can use them to research all the technologies, then dress them as a mechanic and use them to drive a tank.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic, on and offline, the versatility of the building system leaves room for hundreds of strategies to be formed online, while the single player campaign is filled with interesting characters, great storylines, and even branching paths for different ending scenarios.”
    • “Original War features RTS gameplay, but it honestly spends most of its time telling a story of people trapped two million years ago, which is reflected by the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is slow!”
    • “You're asked to make important, permanent decisions before you ever interact with the mechanics necessary.”
    • “The game system is not easy; mechanics are quite complicated.”
  • graphics55 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2001 origins, but many players appreciate the well-aged isometric art style and charming 2D visuals that still capture the game's atmosphere. While some reviews criticize the pixelated graphics and limited color palette, others highlight the game's ability to engage players with its compelling story and gameplay, allowing them to overlook the visual shortcomings. Overall, the graphics may not meet modern standards, but they are deemed acceptable for the game's nostalgic appeal and unique aesthetic.

    • “The graphics perfectly capture the atmosphere that the game has to present, despite the years.”
    • “The isometric graphics have aged surprisingly well, and the UI is easy to understand.”
    • “The graphics are nice for 2001, and a level editor is available in addition to a multiplayer mode.”
    • “Graphics - bad, bunch of pixels hard to recognize anything, limited palette of color.”
    • “The graphics are, to be honest, not good by today's standards.”
    • “Graphics are pretty outdated but it's still a great game.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its epic quality and thematic relevance, with many reviewers highlighting a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some find the music memorable and fitting for the game's setting, others note issues with repetitiveness and limited variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere despite some criticisms of its looping nature.

    • “Fantastic soundtrack and setting, cool characters that you quickly learn to love, timeless and unique design and just rock solid gameplay overall.”
    • “It has a great gameplay, great humor, great soundtrack, and a good story.”
    • “The art style is unique and clever, fantastic music, and the concept was innovative.”
    • “Another thing I didn't like is that you can still hear the music in the background even though I turned it off.”
    • “- limited, uninspired soundtrack”
    • “- sound design: repetitive voices & bland music hardly inspire.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious, campy dialogue and nostalgic jokes, reminiscent of old action movies. Players appreciate the blend of funny storylines and engaging gameplay, although some note that unclear objectives and AI issues can detract from the experience. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the game's appeal, making it enjoyable and entertaining.

    • “It has great gameplay, great humor in my opinion, a great soundtrack, and a good story.”
    • “The story is ridiculous, like a Syfy channel low-budget movie, but if you can just accept the premise and get into it, it is actually pretty funny and not bad within its own logic and narrative.”
    • “Awesome humor, loads of fun, and gameplay you will just love!”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its impactful decision-making, which significantly alters the story and outcomes of each playthrough. Players appreciate the varied campaign choices and the extensive dialogue, allowing for multiple branching paths and the opportunity to explore different results. However, some users express a desire for additional challenges to further enhance replay value.

    • “High replayability due to the impactful decisions you can make.”
    • “The story is good, and given the choices presented in each mission, there is a good amount of replay value.”
    • “The campaign is quite varied in terms of possible choices and effects that may result; this gives the campaign a stronger sense of replayability.”
    • “There is a replayability value because (spoilers)”
    • “- Open-ended story/campaign, the campaigns in this game have so much dialogue, possible results, and effects with decisions. I have fun messing with the game still after all these years, just repeating missions to find all the dialogue and effects on a mission. You can branch them out on each playthrough, and it will save them going from worst to best result. Plenty of replayability if you have the patience.”
    • “I only wish there were more challenges on Steam which would add some replayability value.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive storytelling and cohesive design, effectively capturing the intended mood despite its age. While some may find the graphics and mechanics dated, the overall atmospheric experience remains exceptional and stands out among contemporary titles.

    • “If you approach it with that angle, and focus on story and atmosphere, you will not be disappointed.”
    • “Despite the years, the graphics perfectly capture the atmosphere that it has to present.”
    • “It's quite impressive how all the pieces of the game come together to form one coherent, really atmospheric package.”
    • “The atmosphere feels outdated and lacks the polish that modern games offer, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the experience.”
    • “While the game has a unique setting, the overall atmosphere is hindered by technical limitations that detract from the enjoyment.”
    • “The ambiance is often overshadowed by clunky mechanics, which makes it difficult to appreciate the intended atmosphere.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to limited resources and the consequences of character deaths. While the American campaign is generally more engaging, the Russian missions feel rushed and are plagued by bugs, contributing to a scripted and repetitive experience.

    • “It's an interesting concept, but it's tedious because you have limited people, and if they die, you're kind of screwed.”
    • “It mostly worked in the American campaign, but the Russian missions were more rushed, making them a bit tedious and buggy.”
    • “There are some missions that are tedious, and the game is highly scripted.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the characters and plot, highlighting memorable interactions and heartfelt dialogue. However, some reviews note that issues like slow gameplay and poor writing can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's emotional impact.

    • “I've played this game since about 2002 on various PCs. I have enjoyed the characters and plot a lot since then and even formed emotional connections to some of the characters.”
    • “It's difficult to find anything to dislike; the RPG elements are unobtrusive, the cheesy dialogue is heartwarming, and with memorable characters such as Colonel Powell and Lisa Lawson (to name but a few), I cannot recommend it enough.”
    • “This turned out to be a pass due to slow gameplay, bad writing, and a boring story. They made time travel boring! That should be a crime! I regret buying this.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, noting that the game is plagued by bugs and unresponsive controls, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “Now, when I bought it, I must play a buggy version.”
    • “Along with that, the controls were often buggy and unresponsive.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features engaging character development, with each character possessing unique stats and classes that influence gameplay, such as soldiers having higher armor and combat abilities compared to scientists. Players appreciate the depth of character progression alongside impactful story decisions and diverse playstyles.

    • “The game itself is great too, with interesting character developments, story-changing decisions, base building, and a decent variety of playstyles available.”
    • “Don't even let me start on character development. Yes, this is an RTS, but every character has its own stats (speed, armor) that depend on its level and class (soldiers have more armor, are slightly slower, and are better at fighting than scientists).”
    • “Don't even get me started on character development. Yes, this is an RTS, but every character has their own stats (speed, armor) that depend on their level and class. Soldiers have more armor, are slightly slower, and are better at fighting than scientists.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired. There are no meaningful choices or growth for the characters, making it hard to feel invested in their journeys.”
    • “I was really disappointed with the character development. The progression system is too simplistic, and it doesn't allow for any real customization or depth.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for being subpar, requiring players to adjust settings before starting to improve performance. Additionally, the loss of skilled soldiers impacts gameplay significantly, both in terms of combat effectiveness and emotional engagement with the unit.

    • “The optimization of unit management is crucial; losing a skilled soldier who has been with you since the beginning not only impacts your performance but also affects the morale of the entire unit.”
    • “The game's optimization allows for seamless resource management, ensuring that every decision feels impactful and strategic.”
    • “I appreciate how the optimization of the gameplay mechanics enhances the overall experience, making each action feel meaningful and rewarding.”
    • “Game is poorly optimized unless you fiddle with it before booting (guide to be found in the Steam game hub).”
    • “If you lose a skilled soldier that has been fighting with you since the beginning of the campaign, not only does this hurt your performance (you no longer have that guy that could all by himself clear out a small enemy base), you also lose a person that talked to you and other soldiers, made jokes, expressed concerns, and otherwise interacted with the entire unit.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy has been criticized for its lack of advertisement, which has contributed to its unpopularity, despite receiving high scores from top gaming magazines in the past.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

51hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
23-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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