Developer: Eugen Systems
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Act of Aggression – Review
Act of Aggression is developed behind the makers of Act of War, War Game, and R.U.S.E. with the intent of pulling back RTS fans to the time of Command and Conquer Generals. If you’ve been waiting for a Command and Conquer: Generals 2 and were disappointed with the cancellation of the newest game in the series in 2013 then you are in luck. While it may not be an official game in the series Eugen Systems latest game proves there is still a desire for this kind of RTS.
Story
Act of Aggression throws you into the fray of the campaign as the enigmatically named Chimera faction as you go through globe trot around the world on missions set after the “Shanghai Crash”. Chimera’s objective is to uncover the truth behind what caused the Shanghai Crash and bring them to light, as you go further into the game’s campaign you’ll also unlock access to the other two game’s faction campaigns. While campy in that certain Command and Conquer Generals way, the story is nothing to write home about, it’s chock full of briefings between missions and has relatively well done cut scenes. Nonetheless, the campaign does little to draw you into wanting to complete it.
Graphics
If you have a computer beefy enough to run it Act of Aggression might not be the Crysis of RTS games but it’s no slouch. From the dust the explosions kick up, to the foliage of the environment and the craters of your opponents units, that used to be there a second ago, there are times where I found myself staring at this wasteland of crumpled buildings and plumes of smoke. The helicopters hover, the jets fly by, your buildings animate when constructing and processing your commands. We could not ask for that much more.
Sound
The sound design for your units are exactly what you would expect from an RTS, Sniper Rifles pop as they fire at distant targets, explosions have a good weight to them. Get enough varied units on the screen and the cacophony of sounds as you fire away at those faceless enemies who thought they could blow up your base is great. Everything from the guitar riffs on the main menu screen to the in game soundtrack sounds appropriately 90’s when considering the feel of the game they went for it perfect and the only fault I have with it is that it’s a little too generic 90’s video game music. Nothing sets it apart there is no Hell March track nothing that if you played it right now would I be able to tell that it came from this specific game. Then we come to the voice acting in the campaign, I’m unsure of whether they walked into the recording booth and simply told the actors to make it sound so bad that it’s great. One particular line reading sticks out to me in the campaign where a news crew are seemingly killed only to have the news anchor call out asking if they were okay in the most disinterested voice I have ever heard.
If they were going for a so bad it’s hilariously great then they have nailed it.
Gameplay
I’ve brought up Command and Conquer: Generals in almost every single possible spot you could think of and once again when it comes down to gameplay Act of Aggression reminds me immediately of it once again. You have three unique factions that while unique they all play similar enough that once you get the hang of one faction you’ll be able to pick up and play the other two more or less. Every map is littered with resources that each faction needs to mine for money and the closer the resources are to your factions mining facility the faster you will get them. If you need more cash you can always capture banks that are littered around the city the more soldiers you have holding down a specific bank the faster and more money will come in. What’s more after a skirmish with the enemy you may find wounded soldiers or pilots who have ejected from their vehicular death traps capture them for a nice quick income as prisoners.
Conclusion
Act of Aggression might not be a new way to play an RTS but what it is, is a languished formula that Eugen Systems has brought back and polished to a mirror sheen. If you wanted an improved and well done sequel to Command and Conquer: Generals you’ll find a lot to enjoy with Act of Aggression.
Act of Aggression - Review,
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