Act of War: Direct Action

The main pros of the game

• Engaging Campaign: Many users praised the campaign for being fun, well-paced, and featuring a good story with live-action cutscenes.
• Nostalgic Appeal: The game is considered a classic and holds nostalgic value for players who enjoyed it in the past.
• Unique Gameplay Mechanics: Players appreciated the detailed unit abilities and urban combat mechanics, which offered a different experience compared to other RTS games.
• Fun Base Building: Users enjoyed the base-building aspect and the diversity of units among the factions.
• Solid RTS Experience: The game is considered a solid and fun RTS, with a good balance of action and strategy.

The main cons of the game

• Dated Graphics and Mechanics: Some players noted that the game feels dated and primitive by modern standards.
• Limited Multiplayer: Official multiplayer support is reportedly dead, which limits replayability for some users.
• Technical Issues: Problems with optimization for multiple monitors were highlighted, causing frustration for players with dual setups.
• Flimsy Economy System: The economy was criticized for being simplistic and relying heavily on taking prisoners of war rather than traditional resource management.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Lack of Depth in Story: Some users felt that the story could have benefited from more context and character development, particularly for the antagonist.
• Absence of Additional Factions: Players expressed a desire for a fourth faction, such as a Middle Eastern or Russian faction, to enhance the gameplay experience.
• More Campaign Content: While the campaign was generally well-received, some users wished for a longer experience or additional missions.
• Modern Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions included better mouse locking for multi-monitor setups and general updates to improve compatibility with current systems.

Summary

• Overall, "Act of War: Direct Action" is regarded as a nostalgic classic with a solid campaign and unique gameplay, but it suffers from technical limitations and a desire for deeper storytelling and modern enhancements.

Summary generated on: October 29, 2025