Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Act of War: Direct Action delivers a modern real-time strategy experience that blends high-stakes tactical engagements with innovative resource mechanics. Unlike traditional RTS titles where multiple resources must be harvested, Act of War uses money as the sole currency. Players can secure funding through a variety of methods—from building and defending oil derricks in Texas to capturing enemy prisoners or raiding bank vaults in urban environments. This focus on monetary gain forces you to think like a paramilitary operator, weighing each risk and reward before entering the fray.

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The game encourages players to employ combined-arms tactics, balancing infantry squads, armored vehicles, and air support to achieve objectives. Infantry can occupy buildings for defensive bonuses, making city assaults a thrilling chess match of positioning and timing. Anti-tank teams tucked into high-rise windows can halt armored thrusts, while helicopters provide vital reconnaissance and quick reaction strikes. The fully destructible environments add depth to each skirmish, as walls crumble and streets become impassable, altering the tactical landscape in real time.

Campaign missions are wide-ranging and varied, taking Task Force TALON from the oil fields of Texas to the bustling streets of San Francisco, then overseas to the deserts of the Middle East and the cityscapes of London. Each map introduces unique objectives—escort VIPs through hostile territory, secure energy facilities, or mount precision hostage rescues. The AI opponents adapt to your tactics, pressing flanks, and establishing ambushes, ensuring that no two plays feel the same. With built-in skirmish and multiplayer modes, the gameplay longevity is solid, offering hours of strategic depth for both solo commanders and competitive players.

Graphics

Released in the mid-2000s, Act of War: Direct Action still holds up visually thanks to its detailed unit models and realistic environments. Tanks, helicopters, and infantry animations exhibit a surprising level of polish, with smooth transitions between marching, firing, and reloading. Explosions and smoke effects bring the battlefield to life, while dynamic lighting casts realistic shadows across urban night missions.

One of the standout features is the fully destructible environment. Buildings that once provided cover can be reduced to rubble by sustained artillery fire or precision air strikes. This level of environmental feedback not only looks impressive but also directly impacts gameplay, as roads become blocked and new sight lines are created through collapsed walls. The attention to architectural detail—cracked concrete, shattered glass, and debris piles—adds to the sense of immersion.

The game’s cinematic cutscenes and voiceovers drive the narrative forward with a Hollywood flair. While character models in these sequences may appear a bit blocky by today’s standards, the dramatic angles, atmospheric lighting, and stirring music score still capture that techno-thriller excitement. Overall, the graphics strike a fine balance between visual fidelity and performance, ensuring smooth frame rates even during large-scale engagements.

Story

Set in a near-future America reeling from a crippling energy crisis, Act of War: Direct Action thrusts players into a world on the brink of collapse. Gasoline prices soar above $7 per gallon, the economy teeters, and terror cells exploit the chaos. In response, the U.S. Army forms Task Force TALON, a special direct-action unit led by the controversial Brigadier General Jason Richter. From the first mission, the story propels you into high-octane confrontations against well-armed insurgents.

As you guide Task Force TALON through missions across domestic oil fields, major cities, and foreign hotspots, a deeper conspiracy unfolds. Behind every attack lies the shadowy Consortium, an organization financing terrorism for reasons unknown. Each operation peels back another layer of intrigue, revealing betrayals, double agents, and corporate machinations. The narrative pacing keeps your curiosity piqued, with mission briefings and in-engine cutscenes delivering plot twists at regular intervals.

Fans of techno-thrillers will appreciate how the game draws on Dale Brown’s novelistic background to craft its compelling storyline. Characters are drawn with broad strokes—tough-as-nails special ops leaders, ambitious politicians, and mysterious villains—but their motivations feel believable within the tense geopolitical setting. While the story sometimes veers into familiar military tropes, it remains engaging enough to drive you from one mission to the next.

Overall Experience

Act of War: Direct Action offers a robust package for RTS enthusiasts seeking a modern military setting. Its unique money-based economy, destructible environments, and diverse mission objectives provide strategic variety that keeps gameplay fresh. Whether you’re fortifying a downtown block against waves of enemy infantry or launching a precision strike on a desert compound, the game challenges you to adapt and overcome.

The audiovisual presentation, though rooted in mid-2000s technology, still impresses with detailed models, atmospheric lighting, and memorable cutscenes. The story, built around an energy crisis and a nebulous terrorist Consortium, delivers enough intrigue to complement the action without overwhelming it. Characters like General Richter add a human element that grounds the high-tech warfare in relatable stakes.

For players interested in both single-player campaigns and competitive skirmishes, Act of War brings solid replay value. The skirmish and multiplayer modes let you test your tactics against human opponents or refine strategies against adjustable AI difficulty. If you’re looking for an RTS that combines engaging storytelling with deep tactical gameplay, Task Force TALON’s debut mission is well worth your time.

Retro Replay Score

8.1/10