In 1995 Westwood Studios created the granddaddy of all Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games when Command and Conquer was released to PC gamers. The game was an instant success, spawning numerous incarnations through the years, including the cold war themed Red Alert, and Generals, which bore little resemblance to other C&C releases. Though there have been changes over time – including EA’s purchase of Westwood – one thing remained constant; the Command and Conquer franchise was nearly exclusively the domain of PC gamers. This time around, EA has sought to bring the Command and Conquer experience to those of use that prefer to game from our La-Z-Boy recliners.
C&C 3 is set in the year 2047 and highly toxic Tiberium crystals are growing all over the surface of the planet, forcing the human race to abandon overgrown areas. Though Tiberium makes for a bad neighbor, it is a prized resource that fuels the economy of the not too distant future. The Global Defense Initiative (GDI) seeks to limit the ecological impact of Tiberium, while a quasi-religious cult, The Brotherhood of Nod, strives to create a Tiberium-based ecosystem. Much to the delight of gamers, GDI and Nod take up arms again and again to settle their differences, rather than work out a diplomatic solution. As if two factions were not enough, the bizarre, insect-like alien race, Scrin, are drawn to Earth by the abundance of Tiberium, and are prepared to stake their claim as well.
As with most RTS games, C&C 3 is about collecting resources, building bases and armies, and then hammering away at everything your opponent has built. Though scenarios will vary, the order of the day is to collect Tiberium and use it to construct barracks, airfields, defenses and the like. From there you can build your forces from a wide variety of land and air units, and use them to take on your foes.
C&C 3’s campaign mode delivers the goods with a slick cinematic presentation, which is on par with a low budget sci-fi movie, meaning it’s somewhat campy and cheesy, but good fun nonetheless. Hollywood talent including Billy Dee Williams, Michael Ironside, Josh Holloway and Jennifer Morrison portray the story of the Third Tiberium War. The plot progresses well and nicely compliments the battles the gamer will engage. Initially, only the GDI campaign (17 missions) will be available. Early in your GDI crusade, you’ll unlock the Nod campaign (also 17 missions), which involves the same battlegrounds, but from the Nod perspective. Once you have fully completed both the GDI and Nod stories, the Scrin’s 4-mission campaign is unlocked. All campaign missions offer 3 levels of difficulty, so the average gamer will come back to replay them again and again.
Although much effort and expense was put into building a high caliber storyline presentation, nothing was taken away from the in-game graphics. All 3 factions have their own unique units and buildings that look great and are quite distinct from the other factions. The right stick allows you to easily zoom in and get a close look at the fantastic battle animations. Bombers fly in tight formations, grenadier units convincingly lob their ordinance and powerful walkers lumber across the battlefield, commanding complete attention. The particle effects are particularly eye catching, and even something so mundane as a dirt road is rendered and textured fabulously. The graphics and animations flow very smoothly, and never bog down, despite the number of units on screen.
