Original War
Release Date: June 15, 2001
Strategy, science fiction, RTS, RPG elements, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
This is a very interesting strategy game by Altar Interactive, which, thanks to a skillful combination of RTS and cRPG game elements, definitely stands out from competitive productions.
The game developed by Altar Interactive company, skilfully combining features belonging to the RTS and RPG genres. The unusual and at the same time absorbing story takes us to the year 2010, when Russia has once again fallen into the trap of nationalism. The country is on the brink of an economic and political crisis, threatening all of civilised Europe militarily. To prevent the growing crisis, the Americans send an expedition to Siberia to discover new oil reserves. Instead, they find huge deposits of a strange mineral. It turns out that it is a practically inexhaustible source of energy.
The Americans decide to act quickly before the Russians realise what is going on. So they send special units into the past to extract the mineral and store it in Alaska. Unfortunately, the Arab governments, fearing falling oil prices, stole a sample of the mineral, called EON, and also sent a team into the past to destroy its deposits. Years later, the Russians find the remnants of these two expeditions, along with half depleted deposits of the mineral. When they realised what had happened, they decided to send an expedition themselves in time to defend EON from attack by Americans and Arabs.
Thus, non-linear and demanding missions await us, whose diverse objectives may consist, for example, of capturing a prominent scientist working for the enemy side of the conflict. We have at our disposal a fixed, limited number of soldiers, who are characterised by individual factors and features, increasing with gaining war experience. The game is characterised by rare freedom in configuring new units, and a large number of vehicles and weapons used by our people. The system of acquiring resources is also interesting.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
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Videos and Screens
The main pros of the game
- Unique Concept and Story: Many users appreciate the game's original narrative that combines elements of strategy and science fiction, involving time travel and resource management in a historical context.
- Rich Gameplay Mechanics: The game is praised for its deep gameplay that merges real-time strategy (RTS) with role-playing game (RPG) elements, allowing units to gain experience and develop skills.
- Multilingual Support: The inclusion of voice acting and text in multiple languages, including Spanish and Japanese, enhances accessibility and enjoyment for a wider audience.
- Community Support: A dedicated community continues to create mods and custom scenarios, which extends the game's longevity and replayability.
- Visual and Audio Appeal: Although dated, the graphics and sound design are noted to have a certain charm, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.
The main cons of the game
- Clunky Controls and Interface: Some users find the controls and gameplay mechanics to be cumbersome and not as refined compared to modern RTS games.
- Limited Skirmish Mode: The absence of a robust skirmish mode with multiple maps is a common complaint, as players feel restricted in their ability to practice or experiment with strategies against AI.
- Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the game challenging due to its complexity and the need to manage limited resources and unique units carefully.
- Pacing Issues: The game is described as slow-paced, which may not appeal to players looking for fast-paced gameplay.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Zoom Functionality: Several users expressed a desire for a zoom feature to get a closer view of the action, as the current perspective can be tiring over long play sessions.
- More Diverse Game Modes: Players wish for additional game modes beyond the campaign, such as more varied skirmish options or multiplayer experiences.
- Improved User Interface: Suggestions for a more modern and intuitive interface were mentioned, as some players found the existing one to be outdated and difficult to navigate.
- Better Localization: While the game supports multiple languages, some players noted that not all elements are fully translated, which can be a barrier for non-English speakers.
Summary
- Overall, Original War is recognized as a hidden gem with a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay, but it has areas that could benefit from modernization and improvement based on user feedback.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 3767 votes.
Original War Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Altar Interactive
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Original War System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Pentium II 300MHz, 64MB RAM
Original War: Sands of Siberia Finally With Version 1.6. It Includes Final Missions of the Ares Campaign
Sands of Siberia, the most important mod for the classic RTS Original War, received version 1.6. It brings the Ares campaign to completion, offering, among other things, five new story missions.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
July 30, 2024
Original War Was So Good I Can't Appreciate other RTS games
Probably each of you knows such a game. A production that made you so addicted that you could no longer look kindly on other representatives of the genre. For me, and a handful of other hardcore fans, such bar was set by Original War.
video games
Hubert Sosnowski
April 22, 2022
Sand of Siberia Mod Original War Version 1.5.2 Launches With New Missions
Sand of Siberia, the biggest mod for the RTS Original War, has received an update. It introduces additional missions to the new story campaigns.
Files and Mods
Adrian Werner
January 7, 2022
Original War - Iconic RTS Gets New Update
Original War, an iconic real-time strategy game from Altar Games, has received a new update, numbered 3.0.8.246. It includes a number of fixes and improvements to ensure better performance on newer equipment. The title can now be purchased with a high discount on GOG.com.
video games
Milosz Szubert
July 14, 2020