Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
- March 06, 2007 14:03 PM PST
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The highly anticipated return of the most groundbreaking Real-time Strategy franchise of all time is coming, but can EA deliver the goods?
It's been a long time coming, but the third installment in Command & Conquer's Tiberium series is almost upon us. Since the official announcement was first made, we've been treated to one surprise after another - such as the return of full-motion video cut scenes - but until now, eager gamers have largely subsisted on scraps of information. However, now that the long awaited demo has been released, we've gotten a tangible taste for what we can expect. Consisting of one tutorial mission, two campaign missions, and a skirmish map, the demo limits players to the Global Defense Initiative and its early campaign, but it offers a glimpse at the multitude of goodies Electronic Arts has in store for us.
History Lesson
In case you're not up to date on your C&C history, the initial cut scenes serve up a recap of the events leading up the latest chapter in the ongoing struggle. Following the Second Tiberium War, Nod has once again blended into the background following the apparent death of its bald-headed leader, Kane. With its traditional enemy largely out of the picture, the GDI forces have turned its attention to the ecological destruction brought on by the spread of Tiberium. But some within the organization, such as Lieutenant General Jack Granger - played by veteran actor, Michael Ironside - are still wary of the possibility that Nod may reappear, a fear that quickly materializes as mysterious energy signatures are detected in North Carolina.
This story plays out in full-motion video, which is a welcome throwback to the series' initial efforts. Fans should rejoice at the inclusion of not only the aforementioned Ironside but of Battlestar Galactica actresses Grace Park and Tricia Helfer; also on the impressive roster is Jennifer Morrison from the Fox Network's House. But the biggest selling point for fans will be the return of Joseph Kucan who reprises his role as Nod's charismatically mysterious Kane.
It's obvious from the get-go that the production values are through the roof. While some fans may bemoan the return of the FMV sequences, they are slick and well-produced, and of course, the injection of star power certainly doesn't hurt.
When Orcas Fly
But it's been proven in the past that Hollywood talent can't disguise a bad game; thankfully, the game mechanics present in C&C are promising. The early campaign mission in North Carolina serves as an excellent primer as you are guided through the early steps of building your base, constructing units and structures, eventually leading to a massive attack against a nearby Nod base. It's all fairly rudimentary stuff, but seeing Orca helicopters and the Ion Cannon in action brought back some fond memories.
From what we saw in the far-too short demo, Tiberium Wars has seen fit to largely stay with the formula that has been laid out numerous times before. Tanks are still king, and the game requires some quick reflexes. But there have been some important minor changes. For one thing, infantry are no longer deployed individually, but in small squads and teams, which eliminates much of the micromanagement that could once be found around their usage. Moreover, there have been several new movement commands added, and these flesh out tactical options to a degree.
Backing all of the action within the single-player game is a fantastic graphics engine. While it cannot match the scope of some recent titles, it's extremely detailed and crisp. Best of all, the demo should run flawlessly on most systems even with all details maxed; here's hoping that the same holds true for the final product. There are also a lot of small touches that really add to the overall presentation of the game: smoke and dust constantly fill the air, flames are ever present from Nod units, and each unit has its own little graphical touches, such as the Mammoth tank ejecting massive shell casings after each blast.
High Expectations
From everything we've seen, Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars is shaping up to be an excellent addition to the classic franchise. It still remains to be seen if EA can deliver the goods or if they will ultimately disappoint the legions of fans that have been waiting for the next C&C title, but the demo is a good indication that they are headed in the right direction.
