Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Counter Action strips away the traditional base-building and resource-gathering mechanics common to many real-time strategy titles of its era, focusing the player’s attention squarely on tactical battlefield command. Rather than juggling harvesters, power plants, and construction yards, you leap straight into controlling your infantry squads, armored divisions, and artillery pieces on the Eastern Front of World War II. This approach delivers a concentrated, adrenaline-fuelled experience where every decision—whether to flank an enemy tank column or position anti-tank guns in a hidden ravine—carries weight.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The game offers two distinct campaigns: one for the Soviet Red Army and another for the Wehrmacht, each comprising 14 missions that progressively introduce new units, terrain challenges, and strategic goals. Early missions serve as rudimentary tutorials, teaching you how to exploit cover, set up ambushes, and execute the famous “tank rush” tactic reminiscent of Command & Conquer. As you progress, mission objectives evolve into complex multi-pronged attacks, defensive holds under heavy bombardment, and daring counter-offensives across frozen marshlands.

Without macromanagement, Counter Action places the onus on micro-level control and quick thinking. You’ll need to issue rapid unit orders, balance threats from enemy infantry and tanks, and adapt to mission-specific constraints like limited reinforcements or time-sensitive objectives. The challenge lies not in maintaining an economy but in reading the battlefield: spotting hidden anti-tank emplacements, timing artillery barrages, and coordinating combined arms assaults. For players who relish hands-on tactics over long-term base planning, this streamlined gameplay delivers consistent excitement.

Graphics

Visually, Counter Action embraces a mid-’90s aesthetic, featuring colorful 2D sprites and isometric terrain rendered with crisp detail. Units are easily distinguishable—German Panzers boast dark green hues and distinctive turret shapes, while Soviet T-34s carry their signature angular profiles and red star insignias. The Eastern Front setting is brought to life through varied mission environments, from snow-blanketed forests to muddy river crossings and bomb-scarred villages.

Terrain plays a subtle but crucial role in both strategy and presentation. Pine forests cast realistic shadows that can conceal advancing infantry, while roads and rail lines guide your armored columns with minimal graphical clutter. Explosions and gunfire effects are satisfyingly chunky, emphasizing the destructive power of artillery strikes and tank shells. Though the visuals may appear dated by modern standards, they retain a certain charm and clarity that aid tactical decision-making.

The user interface is straightforward, with unit icons and health bars clearly displayed at the bottom of the screen, allowing for quick selection and responsive command inputs. Tooltips provide concise unit statistics, helping you weigh options when choosing whether to commit your precious anti-aircraft guns or hold them in reserve. While there’s no zoom function or advanced lighting effects, the consistent frame rate and clean presentation ensure gameplay remains smooth even during the most chaotic encounters.

Story

Counter Action’s narrative unfolds through brief but evocative mission briefings, accompanied by period-appropriate photos and maps. Each campaign mission is prefaced with historical context, grounding your objectives in real events from the Eastern Front. Whether you’re tasked with defending Stalingrad’s shattered outskirts or spearheading the drive toward Moscow, the text-based storytelling effectively conveys the stakes of war without disrupting the gameplay flow.

Voice-over narration, though sparing, adds authenticity: a gravelly German officer barking orders over crackling radio static, or a Soviet commissar rallying troops with fiery rhetoric. These audio snippets, combined with the accompanying mission goals, create a concise yet compelling framework that keeps you invested in each scenario. The absence of lengthy cutscenes means the pace remains brisk, but aficionados of historical detail will appreciate the accurate unit rosters and mission names referencing real battles.

While there’s no overarching cinematic storyline tying the campaigns together, the gradual escalation of difficulty and the shift in strategic focus—from defensive holds to large-scale offensives—mirrors the historical ebb and flow of the Eastern Front. You witness, in bite-sized chapters, how terrain, weather, and shifting supply lines influenced the fate of both armies. For players seeking narrative depth, Counter Action offers a lean but focused presentation that underscores the brutal reality of World War II combat.

Overall Experience

Counter Action stands out among mid-’90s RTS clones by honing in on pure tactical command rather than sprawling base management. Its streamlined gameplay will appeal to veterans of Command & Conquer who crave faster-paced, micro-intensive battles set against a gritty historical backdrop. By removing the resource economy, the game ensures that every minute on the battlefield is about unit placement, coordinated attacks, and quick tactical adjustments.

The Eastern Front setting offers a refreshing change of pace from the sci-fi landscapes of its contemporaries, immersing you in snow-bound villages, marsh-strewn plains, and ruined towns. With 28 missions across two contrasting campaigns, there’s ample variety and replay value for enthusiasts of World War II strategy. The learning curve remains accessible—early missions steadily ramp up complexity—while later scenarios provide genuine test-your-skills moments.

Though Counter Action’s graphics and sound design reflect the technical limitations of its time, they complement the game’s focused design. The clear visuals, intuitive UI, and concise mission briefings all serve the core experience: tactical mastery on the Eastern Front. For players seeking a no-frills, historically grounded RTS that emphasizes battlefield command over economy juggling, Counter Action delivers a satisfying and memorable wartime simulation.

Retro Replay Score

6.3/10