EA Nukes Command & Conquer Sequel

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

RIP Westwood. Gone but not forgotten. It's times like this you're missed the most

 

[RyQ_TMC]

That's good to know, in a very weird bit of timing I picked up the C&C ultimate collection at Walmart the other day for $20 and was worried about compatibility. I'm planning to play through C&C3 again but I'm not sure where I should go from there. This pack came with literally every game and expansion, can anyone make any recomendations of which games might be the better ones?

Red Alert 2 and Tiberian Sun are probably the best in the franchise. They're pretty similar to each other, it's mostly up to you whether you prefer the post-apocalyptic hypertech atmosphere of the Tiberium series, or the tongue-in-cheek feel of Red Alert.

But in general, I would recommend choosing one series and playing it from the beginning. As a handy little guide:

1) The Tiberium series starts off as a modern warfare RTS. It struggles with the general feel though, as in Tiberian Sun it dives head on into post-apocalyptic SF, then goes back to near future in C&C3, and then back to post-apo in the abomination that is C&C4 (which is explainable through the "blue, yellow and red zones" in the lore, but feels like setting whiplash). C&C 1-3 games are all pretty decent RTS offerings, can be challenging at times, but the trilogy never sacrifices gameplay for the sake of spectacle. It also has a consistent (if occasionally ridiculous) story throughout all games.

2) Red Alert 1 was very similar to Tiberian Dawn in terms of gameplay, but went more for schizo tech and comedic touches. The gameplay to atmosphere ratio was perfect in RA2 (good gameplay, with a more comedic feel to the game), but then they decided to go bonkers with RA3, which threw away any attempts at subtlety with its "LOOK ITS SOMETHING MENTIONED ON THE INTERNET, LAUGH!!!" humour, switched female characters from "eye candy" to "spank material" and topped it off with making the game painfully easy. The time travel plot is somewhat consistent if you read it, but in practice you end up with three free-standing game stories. The series has, in my opinion, the best overall atmosphere, but suffers from relatively low difficulty.

3) Generals is... not something I could get into. For me, no cheesy B-movie briefings = not a C&C game. But I know the game (and its expansion) are praised for tactical depth, so I presume that out of the three series, Generals is your choice if you're in it for the gameplay, not atmosphere.

4) Renegade is a painfully mediocre shooter where you play as a GDI commando during the events of Tiberian Dawn. You won't miss anything by ignoring it.

Hope that helps!

 

[Angelowl]

That's good to know, in a very weird bit of timing I picked up the C&C ultimate collection at Walmart the other day for $20 and was worried about compatibility. I'm planning to play through C&C3 again but I'm not sure where I should go from there. This pack came with literally every game and expansion, can anyone make any recomendations of which games might be the better ones?

Red Alert 2 and Tiberian Sun are probably the best in the franchise. They're pretty similar to each other, it's mostly up to you whether you prefer the post-apocalyptic hypertech atmosphere of the Tiberium series, or the tongue-in-cheek feel of Red Alert.

But in general, I would recommend choosing one series and playing it from the beginning. As a handy little guide:

1) The Tiberium series starts off as a modern warfare RTS. It struggles with the general feel though, as in Tiberian Sun it dives head on into post-apocalyptic SF, then goes back to near future in C&C3, and then back to post-apo in the abomination that is C&C4 (which is explainable through the "blue, yellow and red zones" in the lore, but feels like setting whiplash). C&C 1-3 games are all pretty decent RTS offerings, can be challenging at times, but the trilogy never sacrifices gameplay for the sake of spectacle. It also has a consistent (if occasionally ridiculous) story throughout all games.

2) Red Alert 1 was very similar to Tiberian Dawn in terms of gameplay, but went more for schizo tech and comedic touches. The gameplay to atmosphere ratio was perfect in RA2 (good gameplay, with a more comedic feel to the game), but then they decided to go bonkers with RA3, which threw away any attempts at subtlety with its "LOOK ITS SOMETHING MENTIONED ON THE INTERNET, LAUGH!!!" humour, switched female characters from "eye candy" to "spank material" and topped it off with making the game painfully easy. The time travel plot is somewhat consistent if you read it, but in practice you end up with three free-standing game stories. The series has, in my opinion, the best overall atmosphere, but suffers from relatively low difficulty.

3) Generals is... not something I could get into. For me, no cheesy B-movie briefings = not a C&C game. But I know the game (and its expansion) are praised for tactical depth, so I presume that out of the three series, Generals is your choice if you're in it for the gameplay, not atmosphere.

4) Renegade is a painfully mediocre shooter where you play as a GDI commando during the events of Tiberian Dawn. You won't miss anything by ignoring it.

Hope that helps!

I'd like to add something regarding generals. It is a fairly fun and challenging RTS, the "story" is filled with tongue-in-cheek humor and the factions are distinct and nothing to complain about. But as you said, it is no Command & Conquer game. Still worth the time for both the campaign and multiplayer in my opinion.

 

[RicoADF]

Well done EA, this is the best decision you could have made with this online F2P farce in a C&C skin.

Now you can stop pretending you know what we want better than we do and actually develop the proper C&C game we are waiting for.

Indeed on both points, it's sad that the studio is being disbanded but it was not a C&C game, I don't get why they didn't call it something else since as a new IP it might have had a chance. Hopefully this means EA will get back to their roots

Tiberian Sun, BEST C&C ever!!!! The game that got me into gaming, loved those live action Cinematics! FOR THE BROTHERHOOD!

You know, the only good thing that came from Command and Conquer 4 was that I got a signed picture of Joe Kucan with my preorder.

It is one of my most valued possessions as Command and Conquer was the game that got me into PC gaming.

I was in the C&C4 Beta (or alpha, whatever) and honestly the only reason I got C&C4 was to pre-order for that signed photo of Joe, if that wasn't apart of the package I would have never gotten the game lol.

 

[loa]

Command & Conquer has always been an important franchise for Electronic Arts

Gtfo, it was Westwoods baby until EA got their grubby little fingers on it and ruined the fuck out of it.
It's only as big as it is because Westwood knew what they were doing and managed to build a huge fanbase, EA takes a free ride on the brand name alone.

 

[freedash22]

Tiberian Sun, BEST C&C ever!!!! The game that got me into gaming, loved those live action Cinematics! FOR THE BROTHERHOOD!

You know, the only good thing that came from Command and Conquer 4 was that I got a signed picture of Joe Kucan with my preorder.

It is one of my most valued possessions as Command and Conquer was the game that got me into PC gaming.

C&C Tiberian Sun and its expansion Firestorm were one of the most memorable, dark and desperate strategy games I have ever had the honor of playing. The atmosphere was intense, Tiberium was everywhere and you can really feel the world dying.
C&C 3 was so colorful, mild and more casual compared to Tiberian Sun. Westwood will forever be remembered.

I still have my unopened Tiberian Sun Platinum Edition PC Game complete with Soundtrack CD and Pewter figurine (NOD Soldier). I treasure it as a relic of the good old days when we had studios that employed craftsmen, artisans and blacksmiths that cared so much about their work, nowadays most studios are populated by unwilling interns who don't even QA their work (TW:Rome 2).

Peace Through Power!

 

[AuronFtw]

I honestly can't fathom what must go on at EA board meetings.

"Hey, let's buy out this RTS developer with a slew of solid games already out."

"Great idea!"

"Instead of letting them make the RTS games they know and love, let's force them onto several side projects and genres hardly related to RTS and slap the C&C label on it!"

"Great idea!"

"Wow, those games sucked and didn't sell very well. Time to defund the entire company and fire every developer!"

"Great idea!"

*a decade later*

"Hm... I've got an idea for a really shitty product guaranteed to steal as much money as possible from players without being the least bit good. I can't decide how to slap them with my cock the hardest though. Any suggestions?"

"Uh... call it command and conquer!"

"GREAT IDEA!"

 

[Horton986]

As someone who was played the game, I can say it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed many features that it offered and other then the "pay to win" generals, the free ones were fun. So I'm a little bummed to see it go. Clearly EA should have just kept the original idea and made Generals 2 and not a F2p game as it didn't work with End of Nations it wasn't going to work with C&C

 

[Caligulove]

Better to put the series out of its misery now before something worse comes along. Personally, I havent really binged on the game since the turn of the new century, with RA2: Yuri's Revenge or C&C Generals likely being my last experience with it. Since then, though, I've heard nothing but bad things from the people I know who have continued on.

 

[the doom cannon]

I lost hope in this series after c&c 3 beta. I went through high school playing generals and zero hour with my friends on their spotty(at best) online system, and it was tons of fun. I just stopped caring about the series after that. Good going EA.

 

[Iosifavich]

EA Nukes Command & Conquer Sequel

In the mean time, I may have to reinstall Windows 98, so I can replay Tiberian Sun.

Or you can get it on Steam and play it on your current game system...

http://store.steampowered.com/app/24790/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_1

 

[heroicbob]

maybe there will be a good command and conquer game again but EA stopped caring about releasing something of quality with the command and conquer name on it around the time they made the terrible kanes wrath expansion

 

[freedash22]

Tiberian Sun, BEST C&C ever!!!! The game that got me into gaming, loved those live action Cinematics! FOR THE BROTHERHOOD!

Snip

Oh my god you have no idea how much I envy you.

Tiberian Sun is among my favorite games of all time. I would spend hundreds of dollars to acquire my own copy of that platinum edition. Sadly I was a stupid child when it came out and didnt understand what a treasure it would become.

The same with those old GDI and NOD lapel pins in that little westwood catalogue. I really, really should have ordered a few sets of those, but I was too young to appreciate how awesome they would be.

And your appreciation is appreciated. You treasure great things that remind us of who we are as gamers and that is priceless. Ebay is your friend if you want to get one of these. Just wait and one will show up, it may be a long while though but one will come eventually. Now as for those NOD lapel pins, oh man, I'd love one of those in my bag.

But don't be so hard on yourself-- none of us could have predicted this. 13 years ago I thought Westwood was an invincible gaming hero. I had no idea what EA would eventually do. In my eyes, they were awesome good guys just like Westwood. I was just a little kid with no internet. Even if there were internet reviews already, I can imagine I wouldn't have cared anyway. Now I know better. Far better. At least out of this painful loss, we all became more caring, principled and vigilant--- characteristics I doubt many people in the games industry leadership have.

 

[Frankster]

Hang on wasn't the studio called BIOWARE victory?

Or did they give up on adding the bioware name to random studios gimmick?

Anyways I dont know anything about the new c and c so can't judge one way or another.

 

[ShakerSilver]

Y'know what, this is for the best. As someone who played the beta, I can honestly say I was not impressed. While I'm sure EA will try to bring the game back, it's better that the series stay dead and not be zombified anymore.