Review
Played on: Xbox Series X
Released: 2008
Xbox 360 is probably my most played console of all time. I literally played over 100 titles, spending countless of hours both offline and online. With favourites like Call of Duty and Battlefield: Bad Company being modern warfare focused titles at that time, similar scenarios in other titles usually didn't escape my attention. However, one title did and it was Frontlines: Fuel of War from 2008.
Fast forward to last week and I came across this title while browsing titles on a digital sale on my Xbox Series X. Ridiculously low priced, and somewhat intrigued by the setting, I decided to check out some YouTube videos and, sure enough, it was a title I felt I'd enjoy. Even better still, while not enhanced in any way, it had an uncapped framerate back on the Xbox 360 which means it runs 60fps on the Xbox Series X/S consoles!
I decided to give it go!
Strangely enough, Frontlines: Fuel of War has a futuristic story which has, surprisingly, become current state of affairs, it’s even set in 2024! With a full-scale world war, a result of an energy and oil crisis, between the west and east. Depicting modern power sources, like solar, wind and nuclear, aren’t sufficient. It’s a battle between NATO and, what the game describes as, the Red Star Alliance.
Xbox 360 is probably my most played console of all time. I literally played over 100 titles, spending countless of hours both offline and online. With favourites like Call of Duty and Battlefield: Bad Company being modern warfare focused titles at that time, similar scenarios in other titles usually didn't escape my attention. However, one title did and it was Frontlines: Fuel of War from 2008.
Fast forward to last week and I came across this title while browsing titles on a digital sale on my Xbox Series X. Ridiculously low priced, and somewhat intrigued by the setting, I decided to check out some YouTube videos and, sure enough, it was a title I felt I'd enjoy. Even better still, while not enhanced in any way, it had an uncapped framerate back on the Xbox 360 which means it runs 60fps on the Xbox Series X/S consoles!
I decided to give it go!
Strangely enough, Frontlines: Fuel of War has a futuristic story which has, surprisingly, become current state of affairs, it’s even set in 2024! With a full-scale world war, a result of an energy and oil crisis, between the west and east. Depicting modern power sources, like solar, wind and nuclear, aren’t sufficient. It’s a battle between NATO and, what the game describes as, the Red Star Alliance.
A classic cold war scenario, but with a modern outlook on the problem, where countries in Asia also play a significant role. It's like an ugly prediction of what could go wrong in current times, which indirectly makes it more believable.
The player takes role in a battle-hardened, elite, strike force named “Stray Dogs”. Cutscenes are depicted from a journalist's point of view, following this team of soldiers around the battlefield. It’s a somewhat generic presented story, with tough guy and rather anonymous main characters. However, the current world affairs make the story hit much closer than I’d imagined they would.
There’s a realistic tone to the way the game depicts warfare, reflected in the gameplay too. With the main focus is on taking over certain areas of the maps in the singleplayer missions. Securing bases and forward stations, then advancing. It’s indeed as titled on the box: about the frontline, in war about the shortage of fuel. The frontline can even lose checkpoints, as secured strategic points can fall back into enemy hands, although this rarely happened on my playthrough on normal.
Each story mission has a wide, corridor designed map. Here you need to advance forward and it gives the player this sensation of open world freedom, without going completely sandbox. Think of it as a level from the first FarCry in size, but with the battlefield intensity of the Bad Company titles or large battle in Halo 3.
The player takes role in a battle-hardened, elite, strike force named “Stray Dogs”. Cutscenes are depicted from a journalist's point of view, following this team of soldiers around the battlefield. It’s a somewhat generic presented story, with tough guy and rather anonymous main characters. However, the current world affairs make the story hit much closer than I’d imagined they would.
There’s a realistic tone to the way the game depicts warfare, reflected in the gameplay too. With the main focus is on taking over certain areas of the maps in the singleplayer missions. Securing bases and forward stations, then advancing. It’s indeed as titled on the box: about the frontline, in war about the shortage of fuel. The frontline can even lose checkpoints, as secured strategic points can fall back into enemy hands, although this rarely happened on my playthrough on normal.
Each story mission has a wide, corridor designed map. Here you need to advance forward and it gives the player this sensation of open world freedom, without going completely sandbox. Think of it as a level from the first FarCry in size, but with the battlefield intensity of the Bad Company titles or large battle in Halo 3.
There's a neat balance of freedom and game control over the player to feel the action and intensity of the frontline, but limiting it hold the progression going forwards on the map.
The choice to take objectives in your own order, moving about outdoors and indoors freely and using vehicles to your disposal, be it tanks, armoured cars or even helicopters, feels varied and entertaining. Gunplay has a solid feel to it, with heavy weapon sounds and loud explosions, my only gripe being the somewhat bullet sponge enemies. With such an open-ended take on the maps, choosing weapons best suited is crucial, however I wish I could've easier swapped out main weaponry on the go, as well as more choices to choose from.
Luckily, there's a bunch of special weapons to grab. From rocket launchers to clever remote-controlled vehicles. These RC units range from drones to mini helicopters, with rockets, to belt driven and even mini tanks with miniguns and mortars attached. Further putting variety into your attack method.
The choice to take objectives in your own order, moving about outdoors and indoors freely and using vehicles to your disposal, be it tanks, armoured cars or even helicopters, feels varied and entertaining. Gunplay has a solid feel to it, with heavy weapon sounds and loud explosions, my only gripe being the somewhat bullet sponge enemies. With such an open-ended take on the maps, choosing weapons best suited is crucial, however I wish I could've easier swapped out main weaponry on the go, as well as more choices to choose from.
Luckily, there's a bunch of special weapons to grab. From rocket launchers to clever remote-controlled vehicles. These RC units range from drones to mini helicopters, with rockets, to belt driven and even mini tanks with miniguns and mortars attached. Further putting variety into your attack method.
Visually, considering it’s a console game from 2008 running in 720p, I’m quite impressed. It really helps that the Xbox Series X/S brute forces it to 60fps, making it flow smoother and feel responsive. There’s an overall good amount of detail considering the open structure of the levels. I'm impressed to learn this is a Unreal Engine 3 title, once again proving the diversity and dominance that engine had in the seventh generation of consoles.
Aesthetically, there's a typical yellow tint from this era, but it uses some neat sunsets to capture a warm looking feel of it's locations. The detailed skybox and shiny surfaces on certain objects and buildings is a nice touch.
It sports an impressive number of buildings and detail when walking about urban areas, while the open nature, especially vehicle sections, are extremely sparse on detail. It’s not as impressive as a corridor shooter, like the COD titles, from this era, but it does a solid job balancing a large warzone and smaller detail.
There are quite a few downsides though, it wasn't exactly a triple A release back in the day, albeit the differences back then between budgets was perhaps less apparent. The overall cutscene presentation has a clear b-tier feel to it, while the physics and hit detection can be a bit unpredictable at times.
It sports an impressive number of buildings and detail when walking about urban areas, while the open nature, especially vehicle sections, are extremely sparse on detail. It’s not as impressive as a corridor shooter, like the COD titles, from this era, but it does a solid job balancing a large warzone and smaller detail.
There are quite a few downsides though, it wasn't exactly a triple A release back in the day, albeit the differences back then between budgets was perhaps less apparent. The overall cutscene presentation has a clear b-tier feel to it, while the physics and hit detection can be a bit unpredictable at times.
Mission maps are large, but they don't allow backtracking once the frontline is moved forward. Kind of diminishing feeling of the map size, should you want backtrack. Although missions are lengthy, even requiring a loading scene mid-way, they aren't that many and the whole game takes four to five hours to fully complete on normal, depending on your skill. I'm sure there's a lot of replay value here, considering open structure, offering a new experience each time.
Controls are on the cumbersome side, with a strange button layout. For instance, one trigger fires, but the zoom for aiming is on the right stick. Aiming down the sights will slow you considerably down too, almost forcing you to stand still. That said, it lets you move freely while hip firing, so I guess it's a realistic touch. Altering the controls would require you to go into the settings on your actual Xbox Series X/S. The controls did grow on me though.
Frontlines is a successful combination of ideas: modern, near future warfare, offering freedom in large maps, adds the intensity of a changing frontline, has successful vehicle sections and solid gameplay variety. Bringing back memories of playing titles like the first FarCry and Bad Company, or the large battles of Halo 3. It lacks the quality polish of those titles though, especially the presentation.
Frontlines is a successful combination of ideas: modern, near future warfare, offering freedom in large maps, adds the intensity of a changing frontline, has successful vehicle sections and solid gameplay variety. Bringing back memories of playing titles like the first FarCry and Bad Company, or the large battles of Halo 3. It lacks the quality polish of those titles though, especially the presentation.
If you enjoy military shooters from this era, with generic army banter in cutscenes and a game structure that isn’t just running from A to B, then check out this backwards compatible title, I found it to be a very enjoyable throwback, albeit lacking distinct memorable moments like the Call of Duty campaigns.
