diff --git a/Core/GameEngine/Include/Common/GameDefines.h b/Core/GameEngine/Include/Common/GameDefines.h
index d783c359c4c..be20d29c292 100644
--- a/Core/GameEngine/Include/Common/GameDefines.h
+++ b/Core/GameEngine/Include/Common/GameDefines.h
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@
 #define PRESERVE_RETAIL_SCRIPTED_CAMERA (1) // Retain scripted camera behavior present in retail Generals 1.08 and Zero Hour 1.04
 #endif
 
+#ifndef PRESERVE_RETAIL_PARTICLES
+#define PRESERVE_RETAIL_PARTICLES (1) // Preserve original look of particles present in retail Generals 1.08 and Zero Hour 1.04
+#endif
+
 #ifndef RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_CRC
 #define RETAIL_COMPATIBLE_CRC (1) // Game is expected to be CRC compatible with retail Generals 1.08, Zero Hour 1.04
 #endif
diff --git a/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/System/ParticleSys.cpp b/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/System/ParticleSys.cpp
index 1a79b3c2b6d..4d6441d3855 100644
--- a/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/System/ParticleSys.cpp
+++ b/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/System/ParticleSys.cpp
@@ -1190,6 +1190,15 @@ ParticleSystem::ParticleSystem( const ParticleSystemTemplate *sysTemplate,
 	m_particleType = sysTemplate->m_particleType;
 	m_particleTypeName = sysTemplate->m_particleTypeName;
 
+#if PRESERVE_RETAIL_PARTICLES
+	// TheSuperHackers @info Hack to allow isUsingSmudge() functionality with retail smudge particles
+	// The retail data template for smudge particles is not correctly configured with the smudge particle type
+	if (m_particleType != ParticleType::SMUDGE && m_particleTypeName.startsWithNoCase("SMUDGE."))
+	{
+		m_particleType = ParticleType::SMUDGE;
+	}
+#endif
+
 	m_isStopped = false;
 
 	// set up slave particle system, if any
@@ -3023,8 +3032,8 @@ void ParticleSystemManager::update()
 			if (sys->isUsingDrawables())
 				continue;
 
-			// temporary hack that checks if texture name starts with "SMUD" - if so, we can assume it's a smudge type
-			if (/*sys->isUsingSmudge()*/ *((DWORD *)sys->getParticleTypeName().str()) == 0x44554D53)
+			// Handle smudge type particles
+			if (sys->isUsingSmudge())
 			{
 				for (Particle *p = sys->getFirstParticle(); p; p = p->m_systemNext)
 				{
diff --git a/Core/GameEngineDevice/Source/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DParticleSys.cpp b/Core/GameEngineDevice/Source/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DParticleSys.cpp
index b1b792b3ac9..c2a1b9c6fc4 100644
--- a/Core/GameEngineDevice/Source/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DParticleSys.cpp
+++ b/Core/GameEngineDevice/Source/W3DDevice/GameClient/W3DParticleSys.cpp
@@ -156,31 +156,31 @@ void W3DParticleSystemManager::doParticles(RenderInfoClass &rinfo)
 		if (sys->isUsingDrawables())
 			continue;
 
-		//temporary hack that checks if texture name starts with "SMUD" - if so, we can assume it's a smudge type
-		if (/*sys->isUsingSmudge()*/ *((DWORD *)sys->getParticleTypeName().str()) == 0x44554D53)
+		// Handle smudge type particles
+		if (sys->isUsingSmudge())
 		{
-			if (drawSmudge)
+			if (!drawSmudge)
+				continue;
+
+			for (Particle *p = sys->getFirstParticle(); p; p = p->m_systemNext)
 			{
-				for (Particle *p = sys->getFirstParticle(); p; p = p->m_systemNext)
-				{
-					const Coord3D *pos = p->getPosition();
-					Real psize = p->getSize();
+				const Coord3D *pos = p->getPosition();
+				Real psize = p->getSize();
 
-					//Cull particle to edges of screen and terrain.
-					if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->x - bcX ) > ( beX + psize ) )
-						continue;
+				//Cull particle to edges of screen and terrain.
+				if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->x - bcX ) > ( beX + psize ) )
+					continue;
 
-					if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->y - bcY ) > ( beY + psize ) )
-						continue;
+				if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->y - bcY ) > ( beY + psize ) )
+					continue;
 
-					if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->z - bcZ ) > ( beZ + psize ) )
-						continue;
+				if (WWMath::Fabs( pos->z - bcZ ) > ( beZ + psize ) )
+					continue;
 
-					if (Smudge *smudge = TheSmudgeManager->findSmudge(p))
-					{
-						// The particle is in view. Draw the smudge!
-						smudge->m_draw = true;
-					}
+				if (Smudge *smudge = TheSmudgeManager->findSmudge(p))
+				{
+					// The particle is in view. Draw the smudge!
+					smudge->m_draw = true;
 				}
 			}
 			continue;