Act of War: Direct Action Review

AoW has plenty of full motion video clips; the first one begins playing while you are installing the game. This opening movie is a news program featuring two oil industry experts as they argue over the effect that a new high tech oil refinery will have on the world energy prices and the upcoming world energy conference that will be held in London. As the scene fades from the debate, the player gets control of his troops for the first time as he guides them through a military compound in the desert to capture a wanted terrorist. From there the scene changes back to video of a greasy, stereotypical Middle Eastern looking terrorist strolling past a fence outside an oil refinery in Houston. As the refinery blows sky high, the presumed terrorist, who looks to be about one hundred feet away from the burning wreckage, calmly answers a call on his cell phone. Soon after a tense exchange between General Kelly (who looks like he was the first senior citizen the producers found at the local Sizzler's early bird dinner special) and the National Security Advisor, Mr. Richter. Richter has decided the situation is so tense that the 'normal military' can't handle it so he activates an elite group called Task Force Talon. This group of highly specialized combatants will take you through the course of the single player game and the missions themselves are quite fun. The little unknown floaters in water glass of this meal come in the form of the full motion video sequences themselves.

We may have a minor traffic accident in the in the downtown area.

You like it how the words 'butter cup' roll off my tongue, you dirty, dirty man.

While no one ever said that the video sequences between the GDI and the Brotherhood of Nod were Oscar caliber performances, I at least thought most of those performances were done with a tongue in check quality. The videos in AoW strike me as taking themselves too seriously, while at the same time being a bit silly in the way they present the story. How so, you ask. OK, take this as an example: Early in the game, two important diplomats are on their way through a series of streets packed with angry protesters. The police are everywhere to keep the long hairs inline and keep a watchful eye out for the terrorists that are threatening the conference. Did I mention that the two diplomats that are in extreme danger are driving through the London streets with their car windows down? Yep, security is tight as a frog's ass, but screw the air conditioner; let's let our boys get some nice fresh air! OK, OK, I know it's stupid, but it's little things like that all through the video sequences that drove me up a wall and distracted from the enjoyable missions that were sandwiched between the silliness (Mmmmm, sandwich). It certainly blew the whole "chilling story" claim for me. Other small annoyances come from the sheer scope of the maps themselves. Sometimes it is hard to locate your units on the mini-map. Also, because the maps have so many environmental details, I found myself sometimes having to search for newly created units, as they tended to blend into the very building that manufactured them. Simply setting the rally point for newly created units a bit further away from the building corrected this problem, but when you are trying to lay your cursor on every available unit like trying to grab the last piece of sushi at an all-you-can-eat buffet during lunch rush, it can put you in a tight spot.

Thankfully, there are no video cut scenes for the multiplayer side of the game. Setup and configuration of a multiplayer game is very similar to Generals. Players can choose from three different factions, team up with each other or with different levels of computer AI and can opt to play via GameSpy or on a LAN. If playing by yourself is your thing, you can take on the computer in skirmish mode. You have 17 maps to choose from, the size of each is set by a recommended number of players. Each map has a finite number of oils fields that serve as the source of income for your military campaign, if you can hold them and extract their oily goodness. Additional money can be made by capturing enemy combatants on the battlefield. For each foot soldier you capture from your opponent, you receive an immediate cash bonus and they continue to generate additional income as you keep them in detention areas. (I wonder if things work like that in real life too. -Ed) The sticking point to this little feature is that it works against you as well as for you. Your enemy can leech money from your stockpile by capturing your troops, which is great incentive for you to play smarter. AoW also makes use of a persistent Fog of War in another nod towards realism. You will have to make use of recon vehicles and depending of which side you are playing, stealth units, in order to locate the enemies base of operations. While there is nothing earth-shatteringly new, multiplayer is enjoyable and is like carrot cake at the end of an enjoyable dinner.

While Act of War fails to fulfill its promise of a chilling story thanks to the silly video sequences, it does manage to bring an enjoyable single player campaign and a solid, if not familiar, multiplayer experience. The spectacular and detailed graphic engine can provide quite a show with fantastic explosions and other effects. RTS fans looking for something new and a bit more challenging to replace Command & Conquer: Generals, should give Act of War a shot. While the entire game may be likened to a trip to Chili's rather than Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, you should come away from the table satisfyingly full nonetheless. Just make sure to bring a breath mint to get rid of the lingering effects of the cut scenes.

OK, it's time to go get me a chicken pot pie, or something. (Or a therapist. -Ed)