Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Under Fire! delivers a deeply engaging tactical simulation that places the player right in the midst of WWII land combat. From the moment you deploy your first squad, you’re challenged to make meaningful decisions about movement, cover, and unit placement. The game’s turn‐based mechanics allow for thoughtful planning, but the outcomes can change in an instant, especially in close‐quarters house‐to‐house scenarios where one stray bullet can turn the tide.

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The nine included scenarios offer a wide variety of mission types, from sprawling open‐field engagements to tight, claustrophobic urban fights. Each scenario feels distinct thanks to varied objectives and terrain layouts—destroy an enemy gun emplacement one moment, then clear a ruined farmhouse the next. There’s no hard “win/lose” screen; instead, Under Fire! tallies losses and objectives achieved, leaving you to interpret the results and debate your own performance.

Multiplayer options add another layer of excitement. You can go head-to-head with a friend over a modem connection or hone your tactics in single-player mode against the AI. Single-player battles can be swift ten-minute skirmishes or marathon five-hour clashes involving dozens of squads. This flexibility makes Under Fire! ideal for both quick tactical fixes and immersive all-afternoon sessions.

Graphics

Although Under Fire! dates back to an earlier era of PC gaming, its visuals remain functional and clear. Unit sprites are easily distinguishable, with U.S., German, and Russian soldiers sporting their respective uniforms and weaponry. Terrain tiles—fields, forests, roads, and ruined buildings—are rendered with enough detail to convey environmental advantages like cover and line of sight.

The top-down perspective gives you a comprehensive overview of the battlefield, which is crucial when coordinating multi-squad maneuvers. While you won’t find cutting-edge textures or dynamic lighting, the game makes up for its age by keeping the action crisp and legible. Animations for firing, reloading, and casualties are simple but effective, providing just enough feedback to keep you immersed.

Map designers took care to vary scenarios visually as well as tactically. One mission’s snow-covered fields feel starkly different from another’s bombed-out cityscape, and the change in terrain always affects how you approach objectives. If you appreciate functional, no-nonsense visuals that serve gameplay first, Under Fire! will not disappoint.

Story

Under Fire! doesn’t offer a traditional narrative campaign with cut-scenes or character arcs. Instead, its “story” emerges organically from the scenarios themselves. Each mission is framed by a brief historical context—dates, unit composition, and strategic goals—that grounds the action in WWII’s vast and brutal theaters of war.

This method of storytelling can feel sparse if you expect cinematic flair, but it also places you in the role of a real battlefield commander. You’re not following scripted dialogue; you’re reacting to evolving tactical situations. The absence of a forced storyline allows your own decisions and improvisations to become the most memorable part of the experience.

For history enthusiasts, the game’s focus on authenticity is a strong selling point. Weapons handle differently, squad morale can fluctuate under fire, and suppression effects force you to think like an officer managing exhausted troops. While there’s no linear plot, the emergent narratives you create—heroic last stands, daring flanking maneuvers, or narrow escapes—are often more compelling than any scripted tale.

Overall Experience

Under Fire! shines as a pure tactical wargame. It strips away flashy presentation to focus on the cold, methodical thinking required in real combat situations. The subjective victory system encourages post-battle debate, letting you and your opponent—or yourself—decide whether you truly succeeded or merely survived.

The game’s steep learning curve rewards patience and experimentation. Initial battles may end in routs, but as you become familiar with cover odds, line-of-sight mechanics, and squad capabilities, your strategies grow more sophisticated. The ability to play short or long engagements means you can tailor your experience to fit a lunch break or a weekend marathon.

While graphics and sound won’t wow modern gamers, Under Fire!’s depth and replayability make it a lasting addition to any tactician’s library. If you appreciate historical accuracy, multiplayer skirmishes, and the intellectual challenge of commanding infantry squads under fire, this classic title remains well worth the investment.

Retro Replay Score

null/10