Frontlines: Fuel of War presents an interesting premise for its story by focusing entirely on a global conflict centered around oil and fuel. This grounded setting provides a solid backdrop for a nice mix of boots on the ground action and vehicular missions that keep the gameplay variety high. One of the most unique features is the redeployment system because instead of simply restarting from a checkpoint when you die you are given several lives that replenish with each mission. This mechanic makes your character feel less like an invincible super soldier and more like a grunt in a larger war machine which adds a gritty layer of realism to the experience. The gadgets are also a highlight of the arsenal and I found the rail gun particularly fun to use against the opposition.
However there are several balancing issues that can make the campaign feel like a bit of a slog. The enemies often feel extremely spongy compared to the player and their pinpoint accuracy can be incredibly frustrating to deal with. This is made worse by the fact that they seem to possess rapid fire snipers that can pick you off from a distance with ease. There is also a very limited selection of weapons to choose from throughout the game which makes the combat feel a bit repetitive over time. I also noticed that enemies have a tendency to basically spawn camp you at certain points which leads to some cheap deaths. Most of the missions eventually boil down to the same few objectives just moved to different locations so the sense of discovery fades pretty quickly.
Overall Frontlines: Fuel of War is a competent shooter with a compelling narrative hook and some creative mechanical ideas like its lives system and gadgetry. While the enemy balancing and repetitive mission structure prevent it from being a top tier title it remains an interesting piece of military fiction for fans of the genre who want a different perspective on battlefield progression.