Frontlines: Fuel of War Reviews

• IT'S HIGH-OCTANE AND YET IT STILL KNOCKS

  
  By A74TA8X5YQ7NE on 2008-03-02
  I think re-reading Orwell's 1984 right about now would be a great idea. Because in a true Orwellian fashion FRONTLINES:FUEL OF WAR envisions yet a...newer world order where the US and the EU (Western Coalition, aka "Oceania"?) face off Russia and China (Red Star Alliance, aka "Eastasia"?). It is set in (the no so near I hope) future so new weapons and front-line tactical technology are employed.
  
  This is a fast-paced First Person Shooter built around capturing points and getting territory rewards. It bears great similarities to BATTLEFIELD, yet I felt more like playing COMPANY OF HEROES from a FPS perspective. Various objectives are to be completed in order for the entire battlefield territory to be captured.
  
  The graphics are good, although, not exceptional: CoD4 is much more impressive. The sound was nothing to complain about: your usual battlefield whizzing bullets, staccato automatics and loud explosions.
  
  I really liked the feature which allows soldier and weapons customization - which, in an RPG twist, can get upgraded (up to level 3) as the game progresses. This is a game with a lot going for it. Unfortunately, the story does not end here.
  
  The first star was withheld because of the short duration. FPS games keep getting shorter and shorter but 6-7 hours is way too short even for an expansion, let alone a standalone game! At this rate, in a couple of years, games will not run longer than a movie and will cost ten times a movie ticket.
  The second star was withheld because of the weak Single player campaign. The missions were rudimentary designed and, even if there are challenging moments, it was painfully obvious that FRONTLINES is a game designed mainly as a multiplayer. Now, this is a risky way to set up a game since it depends on the number of onLine participants. If UT3 failed to attract a crowd, I cannot see FRONTLINES fairing any better. By the way, if THQ wants to boost onLine participation, they should offer more than the 8 maps currently available.
  
  All in all, FRONTLINES is a good game that will leave Single player gamers with a mild unsatisfied aftertaste, whereas multiplayer gamers will enjoy more, provided they find enough companions to make it interesting.
  
  

• Frontlines...Play it on 'hard' to get the most out of this game

  
  By AUX9KZUUB3YCE on 2008-03-02
  A good game that has some interesting features.
  
  I purchased this game from 'Steam' and after a long, sporadic download (off and on over 24+ hours) and then some difficulty getting it to load, I FINALLY got to play this game. (I suggest, before buying, that you visit the forums to see some of the troubles people are having.)
  
  I initially played this game on 'normal' difficulty and found that it was fairly easy; the enemy were not that strong, my buddies although useful at times, didn't seem to do much, and my character seemed to be able to take a pounding before getting killed. However, playing on 'hardcore' difficulty, gave this game a entirely new dimension; it was a real challenge (but a doable challenge).
  
  Some comments on what I liked and didn't like: (played on single player)
  
  1.)Excellent smooth flowing graphics, good audio (even a good 'heroic-type' music tract [usually I turn the music off in games as I find it annoying]) that was pleasant to listen to. Also, some interesting 'cut-scenes' (which you can skip).
  
  2.)There are the usual large variety of weapons; rifle, explosives, rocket launcher etc., but there are some interesting new remote controlled 'drone' robots (both ground and airborne) that do add a new twist to the FPS concept. These units can be used either as 1st or 3rd person and once you get the hang of manipulating these robots skillfully, they are exceptional pieces of weaponry.
  
  3.)Although specific objectives must be obtained to complete a game segment, there is no order in which tasks have to be done and furthermore you usually have several ways of approaching a target, giving the game a certain amount of non-linear play to it.
  
  4.)You get to operate a number of vehicles (both ground and air) and their weapons. Most of these vehicles can be played in either 1st person or 3rd person with a toggle key; obviously 1st person is the most realistic, but the 3rd person is extremely useful for looking around to get your bearings and to see where the danger is.
  
  5.)There are no quick F5/F9 game save/loads; you must reach a game check point to autosave (which basically means completing a specific objective). If you died you can 'redeploy' (up to 5 times) somewhere near where you died. This feature seemed to work well and checkpoints were reasonably spaced apart.
  
  On the negative side;
  
  1.)Learning to fly and control a helicopter was an exercise in perseverance and frustration; I'm not sure the time I spent on this was worth the mediocre results.
  
  2.)This game had a LONG load time from icon click to actual playing, however the restarts after dying (redeploys), were fairly fast.
  
  3.)With the 'Steam' download there were two concerns;
  
  A.)there was no manual available; this would have been very useful for general info and also for the different key combos that the different modes (infantry, driving, flying etc.) required . (these keys designations are available in options>controls but are inconvenient to look up in the middle of battle)
  B.)there was no key code to unlock the 'extras' which apparently contained some extra levels and cheat codes.
  
  4.)This is a fairly short game; only 8 campaigns (that have 4-5 sections each). I finished this game in two days of intermittent play. Not much playing time for $50 US.
  
  Conclusions:
  A short game, that graphically was well done, and it does have some interesting scenarios and ideas. And although it doesn't quite have that visceral intensity of Call of Duty 4, it is still an interesting and complex FPS. This game, played on 'easy' or 'normal' difficulty resulted in just a so-so rating, BUT on 'hardcore' it required some thinking and planning (and using your fellow soldiers), and thus making it intriguing FPS to play! 3 1/2 - 4 Stars
  
  Sys Specs; Played on Vista with a Dual core processor, P5K motherboard, 2 GB RAM and nVidia 8800 GTS card
  
  

• Do you like PC Online Multiplayer...

  
  By AGFKZPRUIN9D5 on 2008-03-06
  Look, this game is a multiplayer on-line game first. All the other reviewers are focused on the single player. It is a 6-8 hour tutorial and that is it !! Battlefield 2 or 2142 anyone? It takes the Battlefield experience and expands on it, health regenerates. The single player campaign is short, but good and like a tutorial to learn the advanced weapons. Drones are sweet (control 3 at once is crazy fun) (they even act like UAV), so are air strikes (best described as fireworks), and so are the mounted shieleded guns the infantry role can build at any location (deadly, try a grenade launcher 8 stories up). C4 and special ops are included but now quite long in the tooth, when compared to the new toys of FFOW!!
  
  Play in a squad of up to 4 to achieve map domination. Move the front line forward to win the game, there is a ticket system if you cannot advance the line. Spawn to any owned base or your squad leader. Do you want to defend or be agressive. Work together with customizable load outs to achieve your group goals. Also the rocket launch can take down the copters, no problem (2 required). Large variety of destructible environments, big and small, vehicles and infantry maps.
  
  If you do not have friends, play COD4 the "one man war" game that has amazing graphics and strong solid feel, but does not focus on team work. I have done all I can in COD4 and am ready for good teamplay.
  
  This game did launch with issues, but if you are reading this, they have all been corrected. 8800GT is amazing with this game.
  
  

• Like Battlefield, minus fun and strategy

  
  By A2FTC8U1C22XLF on 2008-03-17
  Negatives
  -Small Maps (less strategy)
  -Frontlines system detracts from gameplay
  -Underslung Grenade Launcher (cheapens play)
  -Incredibly frustrating multiplayer
  -VERY glitchy
  
  Positive
  -Sometimes exciting
  
  The single player (as many people have previously pointed out) is not that long or challenging although it is fun. However, this game is not an improvement from Battlefield 2142 or just 2 even from a multiplayer standpoint. The main reason is the new "frontlines" system, which allows for less running time but on the whole makes the game less fun.
  The system works much like the point capture version does in Battlefield (stand by a point for a period of time without dying) except, instead of being all uncontrolled by teams, they are split evenly between the two, with only the front set of the opposing team's points being able to be captured. This is a problem for three reasons-
  1. All fighting is done within a very closed area, making for exciting gameplay, but not as much thought as the Battlefield 2142 titan play (for the non-nerds, giant flying ship that needs to be assaulted then destroyed)
  2. Often you will die the second you spawn
  3. Incredibly frustrating for new players
  
  Another gripe I have is with the weapon loadouts and the glitchiness of the game.
  
  Mostly the loadout that is problematic is Assault. Normally, this is my favorite class to play, but with the addition of a fast-reloading, high ammo capacity underslung grenade launcher (a mouthful I know, for future reference- the noob-tube) that leaves many maps annoying to play in. This is because many players use the noob tube excessively, making any sort of attack-defense dynamic that the Frontlines game system would normally excel at void. This makes many maps seem like one giant explosion.
  
  The glitchiness of the game is incredibly annoying. Mostly these glitches involve loading screens (will load infinitely) or will not let you join multiplayer games for little to no reason (this is talking just post- 1.01 patch by the way). Also, rockets can get stuck on objects, making a player capable of firing his rocket launcher and hitting a target without the normal graphic that would normally indicate said players location.
  
  My last gripe is that the maps (even the largest ones) are tiny. This takes a huge chunk out of any strategy aspect that would normally be incorporated.
  
  On the plus side, the game can be exciting, if you live long enough for it not to be frustrating.
  
  

• I don't care what people say... I had a blast!

  
  By A349MGZV85SZPH on 2008-04-06
  I agree that there seem to be issues with the online part of the game, and patches are needed. However, I just finished playing through the single-player (offline) campaign, and I had a blast. In fact, I probably had a better time playing through this game than any other military first person shooter I ever played.
  
  I am not sure why I liked it so much, but it just seemed to flow well and have a good pace. I also like that they have those remote controled vehicles (drones) that add a nice twist to the game. I haven't seen that done anywhere else.
  
  Graphics are very good. The overall production values seem to be good. The whole "frontlines" concept with multiple next targets yet still some structure works very well and I really like it.
  
  I am sure I will spend time playing this game online, but even if there was no online component at all (or if they never patched it properly), I'd still give this game 5 stars just for the offline experience.
  
  
• FrontLines Fuel of War
  By AERK16IWJZ8HI on 2008-04-12
  The single player version is excellent. Great weapons, excellent graphics and quality AI. The online version has a lot of problems. Logging on takes forever, as does populating the server browser. The maps are too small for the number of players and spawn camping sometimes makes it nearly impossible to even spawn much less play. It seems obvious to me that the game was designed for console play with the PC version added as an afterthought. The game doesn't even have a joystick feature.
  
  
• Best Military Shooter Game Ever
  By AWVVPV0PDGVUW on 2008-03-16
  I thought that Call of Duty 4 was great and Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising was also very good although there is no single person use (you must play on the net as part of a group).
  
  However, Frontlines Fuel of War is far beyond any first person shooter, that I have ever played, in terms of sheer action, weapons, and fun. It is more realistic than any military fighter game that I have ever seen. Basically, the makers of this game thought of every problem with other games and fixed them. There are no nauseating tunnels to explore. There is no need to find health. There are no secret doors to find. There are no vehicles that you can't figure out how to control. It is just intense fighting, with the latest military devices that you have heard about in the news, and easy to use vehicles. It is very realistic and the game teaches you how to use each new device that as it introduces the weapon. I have only played single-person but multiplayer, over the net, is available.
  
  This is by far the best FPS that I have ever seen.
  
  
• Desert Combat Development Team
  By A210RLA2TYSMQL on 2008-03-08
  WIth the developeers of 1942 Desert Combat making FFOW you know it was going to be good. I loved it from the beginning. The weapons systems are new and innovative and if you loved the Battlefield games you will love this one. With the disappointment of 2142 and all of that spyware mess, I am geeked about this one. It plays, looks and sounds great! This one is definitely one to get if you have to have one of the best FPS out there. The vehicles, weapons and wide open spaces make this game one of the best i have purchased recently.
  
  Asus G2s Windows Vista Premium 4gb ram
  
  
• could be better
  By A2ZWI1773NNY12 on 2008-04-18
  for the most part the game is fun and the storyline is pretty good, but, make sure your rig can take it. My personal rig ran it fine in SP but everytime I tried to get online it would crash or freeze up or just couldn't coonect to a server though game was patched to most recent. I would wait for the price to come down though. My other rig though better than my personal rig would not play it at all.....mmmmmmmmm??
  
  
• Waste of Money!!!
  By A2W8QW91IA6CYS on 2008-03-07
  You will be lucky if you can even get this game to run on your PC. Developer is no help. Game was released prematurely with way too many unresolved issues. Waste of $50 at this time. Spend your money on something that actually works.
  
  

• Frontlines: Fuel of War Official Strategy Guide (Brady Games) (Bradygames Official Strategy Guides)

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
• Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
• Far Cry 2
• Crysis Warhead