Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Original War merges classic real-time strategy elements with role-playing progression, resulting in a uniquely rewarding experience. Instead of acquiring fresh units each mission, you carry your soldiers forward, nurturing their skills and stats as you advance. This persistent roster heightens the stakes of every battle—losing a veteran grunt isn’t just a temporary setback but a permanent scar on your growing army.

(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 👍)

Resource management is central to your success, but Original War flips the script on typical RTS base-building. Many missions focus less on sprawling construction and more on carefully scavenging and protecting valuable resources scattered across the map. Securing these supplies often involves split-second decisions: do you risk a small party to grab a vital cache, or patiently fortify your existing position and wait for the enemy to overextend?

Combat itself feels deliberate and tactical. Unit veterancy and specialized roles—engineers, medics, drivers—mean that every soldier you recruit serves a purpose. Older recruits boast better marksmanship or resilience, making them worth protecting. As you allocate experience points, you’ll tailor each unit to your preferred playstyle, whether that’s stealthy sabotage, all-out mechanized assaults, or intricate fortified defense lines.

Graphics

On its initial release, Original War’s visuals were modest but serviceable, employing pre-rendered 3D models on 2D tile-based maps. While not cutting-edge by today’s standards, the hand-crafted environments exude a gritty realism, from dusty desert outposts to snow-laden Soviet quarries. The color palettes and texturing give each locale a distinct atmosphere.

Character and vehicle animations are straightforward yet expressive. Squads shuffle into formation, vehicles grind over rough terrain, and explosions send up satisfying plumes of dust. It’s the attention to detail—like the way debris litters a destroyed building—that lends the game a lived-in quality, reinforcing the weight of every firefight and tactical maneuver.

Modern re-releases and fan patches have polished these visuals further, adding widescreen support, higher resolutions, and more vibrant effects. Though you won’t mistake Original War for a contemporary AAA title, its art direction remains compelling, favoring clear readability in the heat of battle over flashy but confusing spectacle.

Story

The narrative of Original War unfolds through a tightly woven time-travel premise: in the present day, dwindling oil reserves threaten global catastrophe. Your faction discovers a temporal gateway to the Alaskan tundra 200 years in the past. By relocating critical resources before rival factions can secure them, you aim to reshape the future and avert crisis.

Plot progression is delivered via mission briefings, in-game dialogues, and collectible datapads. Characters grow alongside your squad, revealing personal backstories, rivalries, and motives that deepen the stakes beyond mere resource acquisition. Despite the high-concept sci-fi hook, the game grounds its drama in the camaraderie and sacrifices of its soldiers.

Original War’s linear missions conceal a web of political intrigue: betrayals, shifting alliances, and moral quandaries challenge your role as commander. Do you prioritize the greater good of humanity at the risk of individual lives? These narrative choices, while not branching in a traditional sense, leave a memorable impression on how your campaign unfolds—and how you remember its heroes and losses.

Overall Experience

Original War stands out for its hybrid approach, seamlessly blending RTS foundations with persistent RPG elements. This fusion offers a long-term reward loop—you become invested in your soldiers’ fates, making tactical decisions carry emotional weight. The learning curve can be steep, but the payoff is an engrossing campaign that rewards thoughtful strategizing.

Despite its age, the game’s thematic cohesion—melding historical military hardware with a speculative time-travel narrative—feels fresh even today. The pacing varies mission to mission, balancing intense skirmishes with resource-gathering stealth ops and base defense. This variety keeps the experience dynamic and prevents fatigue.

For strategy veterans seeking depth and a memorable story, Original War remains a hidden gem. Its unique mechanics, strong narrative drive, and mod-friendly community ensure replayability. While it may require patience to master its systems and acclimate to its older graphical style, those who stick with it will discover a distinctive RTS adventure few other games can match.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10