Ah, maybe you guys are right. I just remember this line of games Virgin Interactive put out that were very british and had kind of a similar visual style to them, at least on the covers. But maybe I'm just nuts, heh.
How are people liking this game?

Loving every bit of it :D

I bought Original War about 7 years ago. This is probably second game (after Total Annihilation) when I enjoy building base - not for superior firepower. I just like watching building busy with production/research, engineers collecting crates and vehicles moving around (vehicles in OW are so cool!) while listening to the soundtrack (still listening to Russian campaign soundtrack on me my mobile phone).
I give it 5/5 and go back to building Soviet tank (^_^).

The Russians rules ^^ Their music is great!
The best part of this game is that all three teams are "evil" okey, not evil but their leaders are. So you cant favorise the USA to easily. My fav. is Russia

Mine too. I really like they time related technologies...and tanks. Russia has really good vehicles, but they campaign may seem more difficult than USA campaign.
What can I say (write?) more? It's just one of those good old 2d RTS (most new 3d RTS are not even close to 2d classics).

Well I know you only brought up OW in relation to TA because of the joys of building, but how would this game stack up to the likes of TA or maybe even CC? I really love RTS genre games but have just not found a really good one since, well, I'd say since maybe Red Alert 2. I happen to think that the RTS genre is something that should be purely 2d, all the recent 3d games have not really appealed to me. I really wanted to like SupCom but just can't get into it. I want a game with lots of fun, a cool story (and really the more outlandish the better), and a lot of character. My favorite RTS of all time would have to be KKND.
I just realized that my post is a little bit of a ramble, but basically I just want a little taste of what this game is like. At $6 I'm tempted to just buy it anyways, but I want to love every game I buy from GoG. Can anyone help me out?

First, in OW you can forget about mass unit production (until you get computer/radio controlled vehicles). Every human unit in game has a name and abilities (one is a good soldier while other is a engineer - the more they do in their profession the better they become at it - like in RPG). When it dies you lost it - there is any facility that produce soldiers etc (like barracks in C&C series), but units can change their profession (just send them into a proper building). Moreover, vehicles needs drivers (everyone can drive it but mechanics are generally better - and can repair vehicles).
Next, resources - in TA you get a constant stream of metal/energy and it's about balance (income and outcome). In C&C you get harvester and harvest something. In OW you get a some kind mix these systems - an oil and siberit/alaskit are extracted from underground (first you must get a technology to find and extract it and send a scientist to find a deposit of it). But crates, the main resource is gathered around the map - crates spawn from time to time (with a loud "bang" sound) and you send engineer/transporter to collect it.
Vehicles - well, they're totally different in TA or C&C - they consist of engine, chassis, drive system and weapon. You can get many combination (not all are possible - heavy chassis with heavy weapon won't work with solar panels). And like I said, they need driver.
Plot - well, in simple it's a war 2M years b.c. between USA and CCCP. In each campaign plot fallows adventures of one main character - a simple soldier send to the past just to find himself alone in beautiful place with trees, animals...and enemy tanks. After that it get more and more interesting (conflicts with your superiors, betrayals etc.).
Gameplay - in most mission you have a small squad (in some you can select your soldiers) and a task to do (take enemy base, cover a retreat), but it can change during a mission (and in some it will depends on your actions). There are also bonus task (you get medals for completing these). Most missions cannot be completed with brute force, so you must carefully (and quickly - sometimes time is your enemy ;P) plan you actions.
Graphics & animation - well, IMHO it's a beautiful 2d, but you should check some screenshots and videos on YT.
"Joy of building a base" - well, I may be weird, but I really like building bases in RTS (construct new buildings, develop technologies etc.). In C&C series (except for Generals) you just click on an icon, wait some time and place a structure on a map - it may be fast and efficient but it lacks some beauty. In TA you get a nanolathing and a good variety of resource gathering bulding (show another game that has so many powerplants).
I don't know if I can write more about this. IMHO it's much different than C&C and TA but it's really worth 6$.
About KKND - I remember I played a demo once...and I'd really like to see it on GOG (I never get a hold of full version).
Oh, and more thing - I haven't seen any good skirmish mod/patch to OW (I think they're developing something on OWS). Does anybody have some info about skirmish for OW?

OW base building is fun and slow (you can turn up the time). You really admire your base when its done. A good base contains one depot, factory, two labs, a well positioned Armory and some bunkers and powerplants. The research will take time and your base can be really neat looking (taking advantage of higher points and so on).
There isnt mass building like in TA or Supreme Commander. Neither in KKND/CnC since every building that does research and stuff needs people in it to do it. Wich is neat.
Every person in your team is unique and you should use them visely and to their fullest potential (Its a waste of time to use a Soldier as a scientist for example, UNLESS you know for sure nothings gonna get you). If a guy dies he stays dead... You wont get him back even at other missions. A red health bar means that he's in danger and most certainly lies on the ground slowly bleeding to death. Send a scientist to help him.
Viechles are driven manually and later on via radiowaves and even later on with AI (Any car not having a driver in it will be MUCH weaker even if the specs are the same). There is also autmated turrets
The grapics are GREAT for its time. The game is very beatiful. The music fits with the timeline and the game perfectly.
Resources: There are four types, one not being very important at all.
Solar - Not important after you research combustion
Combustion - Oil. Must be researched to be able to be detected by a scientist
Siberite - Must be researched to be able to be detect by a scientist. A damaged siberite mine will damage any nearby soldiers
Crates - Materials, Are collected buy your engineers and no other
Plot: The US finds an alien device capable to send you back in time (2million years). The US takes advantage of this to secure a newly discovered energy source wich name is Siberite. They send a couple of platoons back in time. The only thing that is wrong with this is that they are sent to another timeline where the Russians/Sovjets found the exact same thing and wanted to do the same thing. They sent their troops back too. The thing is that the transport transports people randomly in time, so some have been waiting for years, even decades and more is still coming through. Things get organized and both parties find eachother and stats to fight ofcourse. There is also a hidden enemy in the mists (no, not aliens).
Missions: A small party with often more joining as you progress (teleports, reinforcements). You are often instructed to build a base and do a couple of things. The missions vary VERY much. The missions are not similar (too much anyway) in any way exept for basebuilding.)
OW skirmish/mod: Does not exist for one reason.Altar did not make an AI to OW, its scripted only. Tho people are working on it i think but its SLOW. Very slow :( Its too bad. I also want to play skirmish
Thats it:P
About KKND: I agree KKND is my favorite RTS too, ties with OW. And i also agree that RTS should be kept at 2D.
Synopsis: The goverments gets tired of the earth and its inhabitants. They bunker down and nukes the world. They emerge only to find out that the "filth" survived and have mutated. They are now at war wich they are losing. (Yea, the second game your being told that you lost the first war and was forced underground again).
You collect oil to purchase buildings, units and research. Its a GREAT game with cool units and a fun story. Good voiceacting

Well I bought the game and tried it out. Actually to be honest I played the demo and then bought it and played a little more, but same difference really. Thanks a ton gadhen and qwsed for writing up those little reviews/teasers, really helped to sway me to put the money down for it. Gotta say I'm really happy so far with how the game is going. It's much more tactical than most RTS games, but that is a good thing in my opinion. I haven't played enough to really formulate a good opinion on it as I'm only on mission 3 of the American campaign. I have to say that what I've played so far is a pretty fun game. It really is an (and believe me, I'm cringing right now) original war. The game is just so different from every RTS I've ever played that I can't help but fall in love with it. Barring anything too crazy in the later levels, I'll probably give this game a glowing review.
And as an aside, people have complained about the voice acting/graphics in this game. I have to say that I find both pretty top notch. Sure it's 2d, but it looks splendid for a 2d game. The characters have some unique voices, and the acting isn't terrible (so far).
Last point.... Damn you GoG.com for making it so easy for me to dump $24.00 on games so far. I gotta promise myself to finish playing Fallout tactics and Redneck Rampage and OW before I buy another one. But it's so easy........

tBOBXerxes: I made that promise, too. It doesn't help at all :D
Anyway, after not-too-great czech voice acting I bought OW on GoG, to try english version of the game. And... Well, they DON't sound so silly as in czech version, but at least in czech one they have emotions :D Too bad, I was kinda hoping english dubbing will be better than the original one: It seems they are about the same...

I'm with you on that one. As far as I'm concerned the dubbing is pretty spot on for a campy scifi game akin to C&C. It is a little over the top at points, sure, but that is half the fun!
But anyways.. FenixP: I had no idea that OW was a Czech game, that is awesome. Has Altar made any games since then/previous games that would be worth a look?

Nothing that can be compared to Original War, really. Only games from them that I am avare of are UFO: Aftermath, Aftershock and Afterlight. They -have- great story, and second and third one has a pretty outstanding gameplays too, gut they are NOT UFO's. In general, there are three czech games in overral everyone should play: Original War, Operation Flashpoint and Mafia. There is, though, one turn-based strategy that almost noone heard of: Spellcross. Awesome story, awesome, old-school gameplay... That's my game I'd add to the list :D
Oh, forgot to mention: Spellcross is a Slovak game, mostly. But you don't care anyway :D

Altar has been quiet these past years. Only to release an UFO game (expansion or a new one) that i have not heard from at all:P And i dont like the UFO series :(
Do i suppose right when i say that UFO is like Fallout but not as deep and a tad bit more RTS in it?

Whaaa? UFO has something in common with Fallout? That's first time I hear it.. No, first time this thought even apeeared in my head, and I've played all 3 UFO's from Altar :D