C & C finally returns

As much as I love frantic, fast paced games where twitch reflexes are the only key to survival, I’ve always had an affinity for real time strategy games (RTS) – which are games where the player is tasked with setting up and running a complex military base as well as building up enough forces to defeat your enemies in real time, as opposed to turn based strategy games where players can only accomplish so much at a time before their opponent has an opportunity to act. But one RTS series has always held a special place in my heart as my favorite of all time – the “Command and Conquer” series. Ever since I fell in love with the original so many years ago, I’ve loved playing each an every “C&C” sequel that has been released.

Though I’ve enjoyed a number of different RTS titles, such as “Starcraft” and “Warcaft,” “C&C” has always set itself apart from other RTS games for a number of different reasons. For starters, throughout the history of “C&C” games there have been a number of different storylines that “C&C” games follow. For example, in addition to the central “C&C” storyline, there is the “Red Alert” series which is set in an alternate history where Hitler has been taken out before the start of WWII, thanks to a time machine built by Einstein, which allowed the Soviet Union to invade Europe. Secondly, part of the charm of the “C&C” series is due to the fact that instead of creating virtual characters to inhabit the series, “C&C” uses live actors. Though live acting in video games has always been a little cheesy, it is a clever aspect that has always set “C&C” apart from other RTS games.

But, as I stated earlier, “C&C” is made up of a few different storylines and as interesting as the “Red Alert” series is, I’ve always found the original “C&C” storyline to be more intriguing. In this universe, a mysterious element, named Tiberium, has found its way to earth and two groups vie for control of this deadly, yet powerful, substance. The Brotherhood of Nod, essentially a terrorist organization and led by a secretive man known only as Kane, seeks to harness tiberium and spread it across the world as they see this new element is the future of mankind. In response to the threat that Nod represents, the governments of the world created the Global Defense Initiative, or GDI, to maintain the peace and eliminate Nod. As the conflict continued over the years, the world and it’s people are nearly at a breaking point, which is the setting for the latest “C&C” game, “Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.”

The year is 2047 and due to mass outbreaks of tiberium, which is deadly poisonous to humans, the world has been divided up into three zones – red, yellow and blue zones. Red zones cover 30% of the world and are completely uninhabitable to humans, yellow zones are still highly contaminated and cover 50% of the world but are where the majority of remaining humans lives and is largely where Nod operates, while blue zones cover the remaining 20% of the world and are unscarred by tiberium. It is these blue zones that the GDI is sworn to protect. For years prior to this installment of “C&C,” Nod had been relatively dormant, but now that their leader Kane has suddenly reappeared and the conflict reignites.

In this game, players can take control of either the GDI or the Brotherhood of Nod to try and decide the fate of a dying world. The GDI offers players incredible firepower thanks to advanced technology while Nod units rely on stealth, cunning and tiberium powered weapons to counter the GDI’s military might. This game also offers a third playable race, a group of mysterious aliens known as the Scrin. Not much information is available on the Scrin but it is known that they have some kind of connection to the tiberium that now covers most of the planet.

Recently, a demo of “C&C 3” was released for download on Xbox Live Marketplace and even though the demo is rather short, it provides a lot of insight into what gamers can expect from the full game. First, the visuals of a “C&C” game have never looked better – the units and building are all very slick and the action and explosions are also very visually entertaining. Also, for a console RTS game, “C&C 3” controls very well. Practically all actions can be performed through the use of the A button, making the game very easy to pick up and play even by those who have no experience with RTS games. However, when the action picked up and there were many units fighting on screen at once, I did notice a considerable amount of slow down and lag in the game play which is hopefully rectified when the full game is released.

Though “C&C 3” is already available on the PC, it is being released early in May for the Xbox 360 console. I’m very excited for this game to be released as it has been quite some time since a “C&C” game has been released. So if you’re like me and have been salivating in anticipation for this next chapter in the “C&C” universe, make sure you don’t miss this game when it is released in May.