Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

KKND2: Krossfire refines the series’ core mechanics by introducing an AI opponent that feels almost human in its tactical decisions. Gone are the days when you could rout enemy bases with predictable patterns. Here, the AI probes your defenses, retreats when outgunned, sets ambushes in chokepoints, and occasionally executes multi-front offensives that keep you on the back foot. The result is a true test of your strategic mettle from mission one through the final showdown.

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One of the standout features is the unit progression system. As your soldiers and vehicles see more action, they gain experience, increasing their damage output, accuracy, and even unlocking self-repair capabilities. This RPG-inspired wrinkle encourages you to preserve veteran squads—evacuating them from hopeless battles and reassigning them to critical fronts rather than simply grinding out mass-produced cannon fodder.

Resource management also takes center stage. You’ll juggle scavenged scrap, fuel, and power in an environment where every salvage harvester and refinery placement can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Combined with base upgrades, defensive emplacements, and scouting for hidden resource caches, each skirmish feels like a layered puzzle demanding constant adaptation.

Graphics

Though released in the late ’90s, KKND2: Krossfire’s visuals have aged better than most of its contemporaries. The isometric environments brim with detail—rusted out cars, scorched earth, and crumbling skyscrapers form a convincing post-apocalyptic backdrop. Unit sprites are well animated, with tanks belching smoke and infantry running with purposeful strides as they engage enemies.

A wide palette of terrain types—from sandy wastelands to verdant oases—ensures visual variety across the campaign. Each map features unique landmarks, letting you memorize choke points and resource deposits visually rather than relying on memorized coordinates. Even minor touches, like debris shaking when artillery shells impact nearby, add a level of immersion that keeps the battlefield feeling alive.

While modern gamers might miss high-definition textures or fluid 3D camera controls, the pixel art charm of Krossfire remains a significant draw for retro RTS enthusiasts. Subtle lighting effects, animated weather changes, and detailed unit death sequences all contribute to an aesthetic that, while dated, still conveys the brutal beauty of a world in ruin.

Story

Set in a devastated future where radiation and resource scarcity have split humanity into warring factions, KKND2: Krossfire picks up the narrative baton seamlessly. You command one tribe of survivors fighting to reclaim the planet from rival clans and mutated marauders. Each chapter in the single-player campaign unfolds like a battle-scarred diary entry, with mission briefings that drip with tension and dry wit.

Cutscenes between missions, rendered as comic-style panels, flesh out each faction’s motivations—be it vengeance for lost family, a thirst for domination, or simply the will to endure. These narrative beats, combined with audio logs and character voiceovers, create more investment in your troops and their struggle than you’d expect from a 90s era RTS.

Plot progression introduces twists that challenge your allegiance and strategic approach. Just when you think you’ve cornered a rival chieftain, they break out with new mutated units or raiding parties that force you to rethink long-held tactics. The campaign’s pacing feels deliberate, balancing moments of hard-fought victory with sudden reversals that keep the stakes high.

Overall Experience

KKND2: Krossfire delivers a deeply satisfying RTS experience that balances crunchy strategy with approachable mechanics. The hallmark feature—an intelligent computer foe that probes defences and mounts ambushes—offers a level of challenge that will have even seasoned veterans sweating. Add units that gain experience to improve damage potential, accuracy, and self-healing, and you have a recipe designed to make any PC commander drool.

Replayability is equally robust. Multiplayer skirmishes via LAN or modem (emulated today through third-party tools) breathe fresh life into familiar maps as you test your strategies against friends. The unit-leveling system encourages you to experiment with different squad compositions, keeping each match feeling novel no matter how many times you’ve reloaded a campaign mission.

Despite its age, Krossfire’s blend of tactical depth, memorable graphics, and post-apocalyptic flair creates an engaging package. If you’re looking for an RTS that challenges your wits, rewards careful planning, and delivers a solid narrative arc, KKND2: Krossfire remains a title worth your time—and one that still stands out in the classic strategy genre.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10