RTS games have a nasty habit of taking place in ancient fantasy environments, so Atari's Act of War: Direct Action is a refreshing change of pace. A modern-day combat game that uses current and futuristic weapons/vehicles, it not only features a phenomenal graphics engine but also a story pegged by NY Times best-selling author Dale Brown, and while it's not the most advanced RTS on the market, it's well-paced and a lot of fun, making it one of Atari's best games to come out in quite some time.

To look at Act of War is to see influences from such films as S.W.A.T. and Executive Decision and that's because Atari really went out of its way to ensure that its game had a flash bang presentation. Not only did it hire NY Times best-selling author Dale Brown to peg the game's story (which deals with a shadowy corporation funding terrorists to further its evil schemes), but it also enlisted the help of SWAT Films to take care of the cut scenes, all of which are live action, so instead of watching lifeless computer generated people you can instead view lifeless real people. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your sense of humor, the actors deliver their lines with too much gusto and many of them suffer from stick-up-the-butt-itis. On top of that, the good guys look sugar cute good and the bad guys are obvious evil doers, but in a way I think that adds charm to the game, and as far as the actual film direction goes SWAT did a great job. The cut scenes are full of action and the blended in CG footage is a nice touch.

For the most part Act of War plays like any standard RTS. In control of different amounts of units, you highlight and then move your army guys (either as a group or one or two at a time) across varied terrain that includes highly-detailed environments such as London, Washington D.C., and San Francisco and take out terrorists. Unless you instruct them to hold their fire, they'll automatically lay the smack down on their opponents, but while tearing through enemy camps and blowing $#&* up is fun it's not always a recipe for success because there will be times when you'll need to take one particular scum bag alive. Also, the game allows you to take hostages (and you can use them to make money for you), so it's sometimes a good idea to refrain from splattering evil doers. Unfortunately, the negative side to all this is your opponents can kidnap your own men and put them to work, so it's in your best interest to leave no man behind, or get your @$$ kicked.

Aside from taking prisoners there are other ways to make money in the game, either through the building of oil derricks or controlling a city bank. Of course, once you're in control of such an establishment others are going to want to take it from you, so defending your bank is a top priority.

What's also neat about this game is the ability to enter buildings. Not only can you send your guys in to clear them out, but you can also take the high ground and get a jump on the enemy through the use of snipers. However, the terrorists use similar tactics, so it's not uncommon to wander into an enemy base (like in the first mission), and have guys firing rockets at you from high places.

Buildings have other uses besides shooting from windows. Since you can see enemy positioning, you can split up your guys so one group distracts the terrorists while the other creeps around from behind and then takes them out.

Other pieces of the environment can also come in handy. For example, during the second mission (which takes place in London), I was informed that terrorists were approaching from the south and passing through a park, so I basically had a small army go to the park and hide behind the trees, allowing me to kill the enemy and minimize my casualties.

Act of War's single campaign is very satisfying but unfortunately a tad bit short. However, its multiplayer component definitely keeps things fresh. You can battle up to seven other people (or team up), and the action is even more intense than in the main game.

Visually everything about this game is well done. As I previously mentioned, the cut scenes are cool, but the in-game graphics are equally appealing. The various urban environments bear a striking resemblance to their real world counterparts, and the ability to lay waste to city blocks through the use of planes and tanks adds to the fun. In fact, for the most part things are constantly exploding.

Atari and all those involved certainly deserve a pat on the back for their efforts on Act of War: Direct Action. It's a well-made RTS that features gorgeous graphics and easy-to-learn controls. Not only will strategy veterans find something to love but n00bs as well, especially those who love modern combat and keep up with current events.