Act of War: Direct Action (Windows)

Discuss Review + Want + Have Contribute

Description

In the near future, America is in crisis... In the midst of a worldwide energy crisis that has pushed gasoline prices to over $7 per gallon, worldwide economy is in a tailspin. Terrorists have taken advantage of this instability and inflicting heavy losses.

The US Army, with the task of ensuring homeland security, has created a new direct action operations group known as Task Force TALON. Armed with the latest technology and tactics, and lead by the controversial Brigadier General Jason Richter, TFT will perform whatever missions necessary to restore order.

In their way are the terrorists, elaborately financed and backed by a group only known as "the Consortium". Who is the Consortium, and why are they doing what they are doing? And most importantly, can Task Force TALON stop them?

Act of War: Direct Action is a modern real-time strategy game based on the novel and background by Dale Brown, noted techno-thriller author. You will command Task Force TALON in its battles against terrorists across America, from the oil fields of Texas to Streets of San Francisco. From deserts of Middle East to cities like London and Washington D.C., TFT is the most versatile direct action force ever created. But will it be enough to turn the tide?

Resource in this game is money, but unlike other RTS games, money can be generated in many ways. If you are in an oil-rich area, build an oil derrick and protect it, and watch $$$ roll in. Capturing and holding prisoners also generates $$$. What's better, when you try to take back Washington D.C. (or any other city) from the terrorists you get to raid banks and treasury buildings for even more $$$!

Buildings play an important role in AoW, as you can send infantry units into the buildings to hold them against all comers. With a couple anti-tank teams inside a bunch of buildings, and nothing will get through... Unless they decided to spend the time to blast your building(s) into rubble, or send in their own assault teams to clear you out. The environment is fully destructible.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Trailer

Alternate Titles

• "Act of War: Шок и Трепет" -- Russian spelling
• "Act of War: Direct Action - Tomorrow's War Is NOW" -- Steam tag-line

Part of the Following Groups

• Act of War series
• Gameplay Feature: Fog of War
• Gameplay feature: Freely destructible terrain
• Inspiration: Literature
• Live action cut-scenes
• Technology: amBX

User Reviews

Resurrection of a true RTS

MAT (191877)

Critic Reviews

Cheat Code Central	2005	4.75 out of 5	95
Pelit	Apr, 2005	88 out of 100	88
Gameswelt	Apr 08, 2005	86 out of 100	86
IGN	Mar 14, 2005	8.5 out of 10	85
Looki	Apr 01, 2005	85 out of 100	85
Game Watcher	Apr 25, 2005	8.5 out of 10	85
PC Zone	Mar 09, 2005	8.4 out of 10	84
PC Games (Germany)	Apr 20, 2005	84 out of 100	84
Jeuxvideo.com	Mar 16, 2005	16 out of 20	80
Thunderbolt Games	May 05, 2005	7 out of 10	70

Forums

There are currently no topics for this game.

Trivia

Novel

Dale Brown, noted techno-thriller author, came up with the backstory for this game. The main character, as well as Task Force Talon, will be featured in several of his future novels. A tie-in novel was released in May 2005.

If the name sounds familiar to gamers, Dale Brown's Flight of the Old Dog was the basis for Megafortress, a futuristic B-52 bomber sim from 360 Pacific way back when.

Awards

• PC Powerplay (Germany)
  • Issue 04/2006 - #4 Strategy Game in 2005 (Readers' Vote)

Related Web Sites

• Act of War ("Act of War" official Atari website)
• AOW Headquarters (Fanpage (German))
• Wikipedia: Act of War: Direct Action (Article about the game in the open encyclopedia)