Warzone 2100 Project
| Developer: Warzone 2100 Project | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Warzone 2100 Project | Sound: |
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| Year: (depuis) 2005 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Real time strategy | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1* | Rating: |
8/10 | |
Multiplayer mode includes “skirmish” battles for 2 to 10 players.
My review is focused on single-player mode (version 4.3.5, 2023). I’ve avoided multiplayer ever since Warcraft 2 because, well, let’s just say my ego is a bit … delicate.
This is a free, open-source reissue of Warzone 2100, following the code’s release by the original developers in 2004. The goal was to keep the experience alive on modern systems (beyond just Windows) while addressing some of its original flaws. Over time, this initiative grew into a community effort, fueled by the work of dozens of enthusiasts—coders, modders, musicians … a Nexus of volunteers, so to speak, united as a Collective, with the Project of establishing a New Paradigm… Okay, forget it.
This project has been evolving for over twenty years now, with multiple balance adjustments along the way, though I had trouble finding precise details. Their website does host a forum, albeit in a near-comatose state. I suspect discussions have moved over to GitHub or Discord, two “sophisticated” platforms that I am about as adept with as Granny AOL…
So, here’s a list of the main differences from the original game, based on my narrow feelings.
Visually, the graphics are crisper, the animation smoother, while still remaining true to the original game. My only quibble is with the background illustrations in the design module and the title screen, which feel a bit too generic to me.
Additionally, the wider resolution makes camera control easier. Previously, the camera was almost ground level. The downside is that now you see a lot more sky, which is a bit too bright. Eventually, I realised why: the lack of fog. This was used to hide the limited draw distance of the 1999 3D engine. While it may no longer be necessary, I consider this effect iconic, and suggest turning it back on in the graphics options (which I neglected to do before taking the screenshots on this page).
Another must-have setting: Music Manager. Check all the boxes to enable additional music. It’s impressive that a semi-amateur project has paid such attention to the soundtrack!
The menu interface seems ugly and poorly organised to me (not the game interface, which remains identical to the original). In particular, the key customization table; it is such an important function that I advise you to look past the presentation and take the time to configure your favorite keyboard shortcuts.
Now, in the “crayfish-peeling ergonomics” category: try the screenshot shortcut (F10, unchangeable) and have fun figuring out where it saved the image on your computer! And thanks for defacing my precious screenshots with notifications at the top of the screen. I’ll be looking for alternatives…
The French translation? Mostly unfinished. If you understand English (as I suspect you do), stick to the original version.
It seems the AI has improved … a little. Units are better at maneuvering around obstacles or passing each other in sufficiently wide spaces. Of course, if it’s too tight, don’t expect miracles. Flow management is part of the strategy in a tank game (ask a Russian officer…). However, I’m still utterly outraged by the traffic jams in front of the repair center. I recommend building two of them, side by side.
An energy bonus is finally awarded based on the time left at the end of the previous mission. No more waiting! Personally, I would’ve gone even further, doubling the energy bonus to encourage players to move faster and take risks. Imagine starting a mission fully loaded with resources but without a prepared army, right under enemy fire!
And by the way, repairs are now free. If energy runs out, at least we still have this option to plan another assault, rather than waiting helplessly in front of the TV.
The enemy is also much more aggressive, attacking harder and more often. I had a terrible time on my first playthrough, squandering resources just to try out all the units. I got to the last mission of the first campaign “practically naked”, with no energy to rebuild my army. So, I started over and played frugally (heavy tanks, retreat for repairs at the slightest damage, carefully preserving my artillery). The result? I steamrolled through the game. Almost zero losses. I only spent energy on research. We are still talking about the first campaign!
Midway through the second campaign, the focus shifts from tanks to long-range artillery. It’s exhilarating when you have the advantage, frustrating otherwise, and the strategic depth drops off sharply. The following missions are practically decided in the opening minutes, where the challenge is to set up enough defenses quickly to survive the initial enemy assaults. Woe to you if you didn’t bring the right units, or enough of them, from the previous mission. Sometimes, you’ll need to slow down the game speed and reload a save if your construction trucks get wiped out by aircraft right at the start.
There are a number of what I’d call bullshit missions (military slang) that, in my opinion, take some of the fun away. The kind where you’re dropped with ten units on a tiny map, right under the enemy artillery’s nose. It’s impossible to win on the first try because you have to know how the AI will respond in advance. Like knowing that if you don’t go in a particular direction, its air force won’t attack you, or its factories won’t produce more units. That’s exploiting the system, not strategy. It reminds me of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, which thinks that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you either.
The third campaign… Honestly, it gets very tough. I couldn’t find a better solution than to carpet the region with guard towers (same strategy I used in Warcraft 2, by the way). You can tell this game has been developed over twenty years by and for veteran fans, probably balanced with a focus on multiplayer.
Still, I managed to finish the game on “normal” mode, painfully, but be aware there’s an “Easy” mode and even a “Super Easy” mode, ideal for the faint-hearted, also known as casuals.
So, if you’re looking for an old-school real time strategy game where the AI truly tests your defenses, you’ll be fully satisfied.
On a personal note, despite frequent bouts of frustration, it felt good to be genuinely invested in a game for a few weeks. I even went back and played the original 1999 PC version for comparison. Before that, I’d just spent a hundred hours searching jars and missing my targets in Baldur’s Gate 3. Honestly, I’d forgotten what it felt like to actually have fun!
The version published on Steam is apparently fraudulent. The link below leads to the official website.
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