I’ll be honest here: I haven’t enjoyed a Command and Conquer since the superb Kane’s Wrath expansion pack for the third game in the Tiberium Wars franchise. Subsequent Command and Conquer titles felt terrible afterwards. Rushed, buggy and annoying, I’d lost hope for the franchise. But the free to play upcoming Command and Conquer may just save the franchise from oblivion.
So where do we begin with the latest Command and Conquer? Well for starters, it’ll be instantly recognisable to anyone that played the games in the Generals series. It’s been expanded on though, with three factions vying for control of the world now. The European Union, the Global Liberation Army and the newly formed Asian-Pacific Alliance.
One change already seen in the game is that the GLA is now a more multi-ethnic bunch of global terrorists. According to Victory Games, this came about as people had complained previously that the first Generals game insulted Muslim culture with it’s portrayal of terrorists. “Now, we can offend everyone across the world,” Victory Games jokingly said.
So, with an intro out of the way, I sat down to play some Command and Conquer. First off, it’s pure Generals. Building bases, gathering resources, pumping oil and training troops will be instantly recognisable to veterans.
And the DICE engine on display here doesn’t look to bad either. Units have a nice pop, the terrain has some great textures and the action unfolds with all the baysplosions that you could ask for. It still needs some polish though, but when the game eventually launches, it should be able to knock quite a few socks off.
As for gameplay, this particular Command and Conquer feels faster, more intense. This isn’t a bad thing, but quite positive actually. It suits the world of Generals perfectly, and the action never skips a beat, while remaining a challenge for players who don’t prepare properly.
It’s none of that annoying gaff from Red Alert 3 and Command and Conquer 4. Instead, it’s one of the purest Command and Conquer games that I’ve seen in quite a few years. And for a free-to-play title, it’s got a little of quality for zero bucks.
Last Updated: June 13, 2013
AndriyP
June 13, 2013 at 09:49
Release date?
Sageville
June 13, 2013 at 10:09
Donno, apparently this is from E3 2012.
Gareth L
June 13, 2013 at 10:44
LOL! Darryn, fix it! 😛
This has brought new-found enthusiasm for this title, I’m totally with you on the post-Kane’s Wrath disappointment. Nice write-up! 🙂
Trevor Davies
June 13, 2013 at 09:49
Did you mean a lot of quality?
HvR
June 13, 2013 at 09:53
Any idea how we are going to pay for the free-to-play C&C?
AndriyP
June 13, 2013 at 09:54
Online transaction per unit
Theo Steenekamp
June 13, 2013 at 10:07
Better get my paypal set up again..
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 13, 2013 at 10:03
Most likely MT’s for special units and advantages
HvR
June 13, 2013 at 10:05
eish, hope you will stays competitive if you haven’t dropped $100.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 13, 2013 at 10:07
I’m just speculating but it’s probably going to be along the lines of BF and such where you can earn by grinding and leveling or you can straight out buy the things.
HvR
June 13, 2013 at 10:15
one way might be that normal online MP is free (with bonus content) and you have to buy the SP campaigns.
Uberutang
June 13, 2013 at 13:07
NO SP as far as I can tell. only pve and pvp (skirmish & vs)
HvR
June 13, 2013 at 13:21
at the original reveal last year they said no SP campaign (but not ruling it out as future development) but after an uproar from the C&C fans they decided to develop an SP campaign (announced September or October last year). Hope it is still coming especially if it comes with a good storyline like the originals and nice scenario setups.
Andre116
June 13, 2013 at 10:07
Special coloured jeep armor?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 13, 2013 at 10:07
Hehehehe
Uberutang
June 13, 2013 at 13:07
probably that.
You would be amazed at what people would pay to have decals on stuff in games.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 13, 2013 at 10:00
I will most certainly give this a try.
Uberutang
June 13, 2013 at 10:01
Really looking forward to this.
Admiral Chief Commander
June 13, 2013 at 10:15
YES, time to get MAH GENERAL ACTION ON BABY!!!!
OVG
June 13, 2013 at 10:20
C & C
Ultimo_Cleric N7
June 13, 2013 at 11:10
What about all the people living in Antarctica? Dammit SONY COME ON!!!! lol
OVG
June 13, 2013 at 11:16
They have their own entertainment.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
June 13, 2013 at 10:44
Amazing…..so happy to hear this. SC2 cant hold the RTS genre on its shoulders alone. Welcome back C&C, I have missed you 🙂
Deano
June 13, 2013 at 11:07
Yes please! any ETA ?
OVG
June 13, 2013 at 13:10
Is this going to be like SIM SHITY?
That Tall Twit
June 13, 2013 at 14:02
“Now, we can offend everyone across the world,” Victory Games jokingly said. << BWAHAHA…!
Skyblue
June 14, 2013 at 13:45
Fukken awesome news!! Been playing C&C since the original and despised C&C 4