Few game franchises have achieved as much success in the real-time strategy genre as Command & Conquer (C&C). Inspired by Westwood Studios’ groundbreaking release Dune II in 1992, C&C arrived on the scene in 1995 with lightning-fast gameplay, explosive cut scenes, and a pulse-pounding soundtrack featuring high-energy rock music. The game was an instant hit, spawning a total of 13 titles in the series to date. We take a look at 5 of the very best and spoiler alert, the original as good as it was, has to be an honourable mention.
5. Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Retaliation
Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Retaliation is a classic real-time strategy game that was first released in 1998 for the original PlayStation console. It is actually an enhanced port of the original Command & Conquer: Red Alert and its expansion pack, Counterstrike. Retaliation includes all of the content from the previous games, as well as a number of new missions, units, and multiplayer options.
The game is set in an alternate timeline where the Allied Forces and the Soviet Union are locked in a never-ending war. In Retaliation, players can choose to play as either the Allies or the Soviets and engage in a variety of missions and skirmishes across the game’s two campaigns.
One of the standout features of Retaliation is its improved graphics and sound. The game takes advantage of the PlayStation’s hardware to provide a more immersive and cinematic experience. The graphics are sharper, the colours are more vibrant, and the animations are smoother than the original game.
Retaliation also introduces a number of new units and structures that were not present in the previous games. For example, the Allies can now deploy the Chrono Miner, which can transport resources from one location to another instantly. The Soviets can now build the Iron Curtain, a defensive structure that can make their units invulnerable to damage for a short period of time.
In addition to the single-player campaigns, Retaliation offers a range of multiplayer options. Players can compete head-to-head in skirmish matches or team up with friends to take on the game’s challenging cooperative missions. It offers an enhanced version of the classic gameplay that made the series so popular, while also introducing new units and structures to keep things fresh. Whether you’re a fan of the original Red Alert or a newcomer to the series, Retaliation is definitely worth checking out. You could easily pick yourself up a copy on Ebay but you’ll have to fork out for a PS One too if you don’t have the retro console already.
4. Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Introduced to the world in 1996, it quickly became a classic. It is a spin-off from the original Command & Conquer game and takes place in an alternate universe where Albert Einstein has travelled back in time and killed Adolf Hitler before he could rise to power. As a result, the Soviet Union becomes the primary antagonist, and the Cold War turns hot.
In Red Alert, players can choose to play as either the Allies or the Soviets, each with its own unique units, structures, and tactics. Players must gather resources, build up their base, and train an army of units to take on their opponent. One of the game’s key features is its emphasis on strategic decision-making and tactical gameplay. Players must carefully manage their resources and plan their attacks and defenses to outmanoeuvre and outsmart their opponents.
The game features a rich and engaging single-player campaign that takes players through a series of missions that follow the story of the game’s alternate history. The campaign features a range of objectives, including base-building, resource management, and tactical combat. The cutscenes are well-produced and immersive, adding depth to the storyline and bringing the game’s world to life.
In addition to the single-player campaign, Red Alert features a robust multiplayer mode that allows players to compete against each other online. The multiplayer mode offers a variety of game types, including deathmatch and capture the flag, as well as a map editor that lets players create their own custom maps.
Red Alert also features a memorable soundtrack, featuring original compositions by Frank Klepacki, which set the tone for the game’s intense and immersive atmosphere. The game’s graphics, while somewhat dated by modern standards, are still impressive and hold up well, especially given the game’s age.
Overall, Command & Conquer: Red Alert remains a classic and is widely regarded as one of the best games in the real-time strategy genre. Its engaging storyline, strategic gameplay, and memorable soundtrack have earned it a place in gaming history, and it remains a must-play for fans of the genre.
3. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a real-time strategy game developed by EA Los Angeles and released in 2007. The game is the third installment in the Tiberium series and takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where the Earth is being overrun by a toxic substance known as Tiberium. Players can choose to play as either the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) or the Brotherhood of Nod, each with their own unique units, structures, and tactics.
One of the key features of Tiberium Wars is its emphasis on strategic decision-making and tactical gameplay. Players must manage their resources carefully, build up their base, and train an army of units to take on their opponent. The game features a variety of units, including infantry, tanks, aircraft, and specialised units such as the Nod Avatar, a towering mech with devastating firepower.
The game’s campaign follows the story of GDI Commander-in-Chief Jack Granger and Nod’s enigmatic leader, Kane, as they battle for control of the Tiberium-infested world. The campaign is well-produced, with high-quality cutscenes and engaging missions that offer a mix of objectives, including base-building, resource management, and tactical combat.
In addition to the single-player campaign, Tiberium Wars features a robust multiplayer mode that allows players to compete against each other online. The multiplayer mode offers a variety of game types, including deathmatch and capture the flag, as well as a map editor that lets players create their own custom maps.
Tiberium Wars also features impressive graphics and sound design, with detailed unit models and stunning special effects that bring the game’s world to life. The game’s soundtrack features original compositions by composer Steve Jablonsky, which add to the game’s intense and immersive atmosphere.
Overall, C&C 3: Tiberium Wars is a well-designed and engaging real-time strategy game that offers a satisfying blend of strategic decision-making and tactical gameplay. Its engaging storyline, diverse units, and impressive graphics and sound design make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
2. Command & Conquer: Generals
C&C Generals is a real-time strategy game released by EA Pacific in 2003. It is the seventh installment in the Command & Conquer series and is set in a near-future world where the United States, China, and a terrorist organisation known as the Global Liberation Army (GLA) are vying for global domination.
The game’s single-player campaign consists of three different factions, each with its own storyline and unique units. The USA campaign sees players taking on the GLA in various locations around the world, while the China campaign focuses on their struggle against both the USA and the GLA. The GLA campaign takes players through a series of missions as they work to destabilise the USA and China.
Generals’ gameplay focuses on resource management and base-building, with players gathering resources, constructing buildings, and training units to fight against their opponents. The game features a diverse range of units, including infantry, tanks, aircraft, and specialised units such as the GLA’s suicide bombers.
One of the game’s standout features is its emphasis on modern warfare, with units and tactics inspired by real-world military technology. Players can deploy advanced weapons such as drones and smart bombs, and even take command of nuclear missiles to devastating effect.
Generals also features a robust multiplayer mode that allows players to compete against each other online. The multiplayer mode offers a variety of game types, including deathmatch and capture the flag, as well as a map editor that lets players create their own custom maps.
The game’s graphics are impressive, with detailed unit models and stunning special effects that add to the game’s intense and immersive atmosphere. The game’s sound design is also noteworthy, with a memorable soundtrack and voice acting that adds to the game’s cinematic feel.
C&C: Generals is a well-designed and engaging real-time strategy game that offers a satisfying blend of resource management and tactical combat. Its modern warfare setting and diverse range of units make it a must-play for fans of the genre, and its engaging storyline and impressive graphics and sound design ensure it remains a classic in the series.
1. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, released in 2000, is a real-time strategy game that still holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers today. The game was developed by Westwood Studios and published by Electronic Arts, and it quickly became a fan favourite due to its engaging gameplay, memorable story, and iconic units.
One of the most beloved aspects of Red Alert 2 is its campy, alternate history storyline much like RE1. Set in the 1950s, the game imagines a world where Albert Einstein goes back in time to eliminate Hitler before he comes to power, inadvertently creating a new timeline where the Soviet Union is the dominant superpower. Players take on the role of either the Soviet Union or the Allied Forces, battling for control of Europe and beyond.
Red Alert 2’s gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, with players managing resources, building up their base, and training a diverse array of units to take on their opponents. The game features a variety of units, from infantry and tanks to naval vessels and air units, all with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
One of the standout features of Red Alert 2 is its signature units, such as the Soviet’s Kirov Airship, a massive flying fortress armed with devastating bombs, and the Allied’s Chrono Legionnaire, a soldier with the ability to teleport across the map. These units added an extra layer of strategy to the game, as players had to choose which units to prioritise based on their strengths and weaknesses.
Red Alert 2 also featured memorable music, with a soundtrack composed by Frank Klepacki that included catchy, upbeat tracks that perfectly captured the game’s fun and lighthearted tone.
For many gamers, Red Alert 2 was not just a game, but a cultural touchstone. Its memorable units, iconic story, and addictive gameplay made it a classic that is still played and loved today. For those who grew up with the game, playing it again can bring back waves of nostalgia and happy memories of hours spent battling for world domination.
In conclusion, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is a game that stands the test of time. Its engaging gameplay, memorable storyline, and iconic units continue to captivate players to this day, and its place in gaming history is secure. For those who have never experienced it before, it is a must-play for anyone who loves real-time strategy games or wants to experience a classic piece of gaming nostalgia.
Do you agree with the list? Is this the order you would have picked or perhaps you might of included one of the other 8 titles we didn’t have room for. In any case, leave your thoughts below in the comments section and check back regularly for more nostalgic classic retro gaming articles.