Original War

Both GoG and Steam versions are missing the audio files for the original Czech dubbing, even though there's settings for different localisations. You can download the missing files here and just drop them into the install folder.

As for the game itself, it might come off as a Red Alert copycat, but that's way off the mark. With the typical eurojank ambition to outdo every possible competition in gamedesign it ends up being one of the most complex strategy games I've ever played. Over the years the jank parts of it also got ironed out and it's a higly polished, moddable game now (with workshop support!!!), with modernized graphics options, new interface, modern controls...

Least autistic eurojank strategy game be like:
>complex damage system instead of just HP for every unit
>every unit is a named unique unit with stats for physical and engineering ability
>you can level up all of them, making every single soldier like a warcraft 3 hero
>highground vision advantage, bushes and crawling like in Commandos
>you get RPG choices and branching in the campaign mode
>the more soldiers you keep alive the more veterans you'll have for the final mission
>1st mission, game is already trying to play mind tricks on you
>story is both americans and soviets going back in time 2 million years to cancel the 21st century

Yep, this game is absolute cinema.

I'm usually all for old RTS games, but this one just doesn't fit my fancy. the rose tinted glasses of nostalgia aren't here, because i never played this game as a kid, and not gonna lie, nostalgia is the only reason i like many of the RTS games from this era. i *could* get a hang of this game with great effort, but its not effort i have the energy to spend at the moment.

that being said, a modern remake or remaster of this game that would scrub out a lot of the old-school game-jank could go very well, but then again changing things like the pacing would probably turn down a lot of hardcore fans.

Unique older RTS/ARPG? with unit levels, fun retro story, plot decisions, fun tech progression. Nostalgia goggles maybe, but I enjoyed it as a teen and revisit from time to time.

Great concept of strategy with limited personnel, individual stories and incredible research tree.

Can only recommend the single player as, weirdly, the Polish have absolutely dominated the multiplayer and patching of the game. Where I like to play essentially War-themed Dollhouse, the Polish have perfectly mastered MASS HEAVY TANKS at minute 5.
https://www.owsupport.com/ for multiplayer (still updated as of 2024!)

Too much micromanagement - not fun, just a pain in the @ss.

One of the best old-school games

Let me preface- this isn't a good game, I do not recommend you pick this up if you're looking for a new experience.

So why recommend it all? It's enjoyable nostalgia, and OW community did a really good job to keep the game playable and even bringing a little extra too it with achievements.

The games graphics held up very well over time. You'll want a program like lossless scaling to resize it to a modern monitor.
The music is alright, all two tracks of it.
It has a lengthy campaign.
It introduced a lot of cool concepts for its time, and I feel like it is the uncredited grandfather of a lot of games we enjoy.
Original War mostly died due to poor advertising and a competition of Warcraft III for the RTS sector.
No co-op, multiplayer is a PvP skirmish that you'll probably just club each other to death in rather than build anything.

Good old classic

Truly an original game

Playing this game since 2004 and it's still goat.

GG

At first it feels a bit slow in terms of modern gaming standards, but it turns out to be so deep, so full of narattive content.

Old game that was original back then and is still original nowadays.
Graphics feel a bit outdated of course, but if you can get pass that, it's an enjoyable strategy game.

A very good game, I'm positively shocked how much content is in this hidden gem from 2001

10/10

Great to revisit it!

Just awesome :)

Game validated by the Holy Ordos, free from the stain of heresy.

Without any lens of nostalgia having never played this before, and getting it with silica since the price is cheaper that way - to me it is a clunky and obtuse RTS. There's not even really a skirmish mode with any maps to try and fight against the AI besides one map that seems to be it's own campaign-like scenario map.

Welp, shrug. Maybe back in the day it was cool for some RTS players. Now, not so much - there are better RTS's out there - and I say that as someone who likes oldschool RTS games.

Super gameplay and Cze dabing :)

Actual peak strategy game that i have been playing since around 2003 and i always return to.