Command & Conquer 1995-2000
Four words sum up this game: THE BEST GAME EVER. The first of the Command and Conquer series, the original C&C. As always, the original is, and most likely will always be, the best.
There will never be a game that has such equality in its unit and building selection. For every unit on one side, there is an equal unit on the other side to combat it. Recon Bikes are great, but when you have grenadiers going against them, they are turned to mince-meat. The same goes for Mammoth Tanks and Rocket Launcher infantry.
Then we come to the options of an Ion Cannon or a Nuclear Missile. The Nuke causes mass devastion where as the Ion cannon just takes care of a small area. But, in the time it takes to charge up a nuke, you can shoot 2 or 3 Ion Cannons. How can you get any more fair than that?
Also, there are different structures for each side. Instead of both teams having a Weapons Factory, NOD has an Airstrip and GDI has the Weapons Factory. In all of the other games, the names are consistent for both teams for the most part, but the original took the time to differentiate the two sides.
Next, when it comes to multiplay, you cannot ask for a faster connecting game out there. Within a few seconds, you are set up and ready to play. You have great options to choose from in multiplay that make the game even more exciting such as Chem Warriors and... who can forget Commando? Time to Rock n' Roll.
I now will address the issue of sound. The music is still in my head from when I played it when it first came out. And, for the sound effects, you cannot compare to the sound of an infantry catching on fire, being shot, or being smashed under the treads of a mammoth tank. Plus, the voice sounds for all units are more realistic in that they have the standard communications static with them. How cool is that?
I Highly recommend this game. It is my favorite of all time and probably will always stay that way. It is addictive and you can never grow tired of it. Even if you do, you will be crawling back to it on your knees after being deprived of it for more than a month.
| This game had some of the best graphics for its time, some of the most catchy songs one could imagine, and by far, the most balanced teams in C&C ever, probably since it was the first...(and the best). This game will remain a hit forever. | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
Red Alert....what can I say? It is just another great game in the C&C Universe. Unfortunately, compared to the original C&C, the games take a LOT longer. This is simply because there are so many more options. The maps are absolutely HUGE compared to the original C&C which also account for the long, drawn-out games. In a way, this could be enjoyable, but I find it to be annoying more than anything, especially when killing 1 person takes so long. I mean, if it took an hour to kill 4 people, that would be different.
But...in Red Alert's defense, the addition of naval units highly strengthens its existence. Everyone knows that all battles are not only fought on the ground and in the air, but also in the water. Red Alert adds that element into its gameplay. Going from the original C&C, the graphics did not change that much. In fact, besides the water, not a whole lot noticeably was visible. Except, the fact that there are snow-covered areas. Oh, and the flames in RA suck. In the original C&C, the flame looked real, in RA, it looks like a ball of spaghetti or something.
I must give Kudos to Westwood for including a map editor with this game, something that they have yet to repeat on any of their other games. Final Alert has been introduced separately from Red Alert 2, but it was not packaged with RA2 as Red Alert's editor was. This was a major help to gamers because they were allowed to make their own maps that compressed nicely, and in a fashion that was easy enough for the most illiterate of gamers to make a decent map.
So, in conclusion, Red Alert is a great game in the encyclopedia of Command and Conquers, but it could be better. The large maps and extensive amounts of units draw the game out into a long, sometimes boring game. If the units were limited more, or the maps were smaller, it would be an even more awesome game. I also wish the graphics were upped more than they were; none. It seems as though they created white land, a few more units, and used the same general details as the first C&C, making Red Alert more or less an add-on to the original C&C.
| Using C&C's base, the graphics are pretty much the same, the music was okay, but the sounds could've been better. The teams were not as balanced as in the original C&C. It got a lot of popularity to begin with, but nothing that lasted. It is not bad, but it is not the best. | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
Well, Tiberian Sun was one of the most awaited games of...my lifetime. It's release date was pushed back a numerous amount of times, only to be pushed back again. But, all of the delays only brought more interest upon the game. I myself was caught in the rush, entering my page as one of the fansites in the world. I am glad that it turned out to be such an amazing game.
The new 3-D engine, the new formable terrain, the new 3-D terrain, the all NEW units and the awesome cut-scenes made this game popular all over the world. Who wouldn't want to play a game with the best Ion Cannon yet, or the awesome Multi-missile in it?
Tiberian Sun offers to gamers a slew of choices for units and maps to play with them on. The maps are large, but the units in this game are quick enough to make up for that fact. Also with the addition of base defenses like never before seen, attacks were made to be much more difficult. An EMP(Electro-Magnetic Pulse) Cannon guards bases from tank units by immobilizing them for about a half of a minute. Quite a handy little defense if I do say so myself.
What more secrecy could you ask for than with stealth tanks or stealth generators which make your base stealth! In addition, subterranean units make the game bounce into another level of battle, not ground, not air, not water, but underground warfare! Oh, and did I forget to mention that there is now blue tiberium as well as the traditional green?!
Also, the addition of Orca carry-alls
and Orca Bombers along with the Alien-technology filled Banshee, the games air battles become much more graphic and amazing. But lets not forget the ground battle of Mammoth Mark II's and the great Cyborg Commando. Oh, and you gotta love the Mutant Hijacker that can take over an enemy unit and make it yours! Also, there is Ghoststalker, a commando-looking dude that has C-4 of course!
All in all, Tiberian Sun, in my opinion, lived up to be all that it was said it would be. I love the graphics and the explosions are enough for me to like the game. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do, and I believe it is one of the best games Westwood has released as of late.
| The addition of Westwood chat into the game itself instead of separately makes multiplay easier than ever. The Graphics- Unmatched by any C&C game yet simply because of the 3D formable terrain. Unfortunately, this game did not live up to many people's expectations because of constant set-backs. Therefore, its popularity level was hurt in that aspect. All in all, another breakthrough in RTS gaming. | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
It is not very often that Westwood releases an add-on that seems like it is a whole new game in itself, but Firestorm is just that. It adds a whole new storyline into what was Tiberian Sun, and then adds some new units, missions, and maps. It is great.
If you got tired of the old TS missions, you will love Firestorm. It adds new missions that are just like TS but NEW. Also, in multiplay, there are new maps available. This is a major positive on Firestorm's side!
My favorite part of Firestorm is the fact that it adds new units that are just as amazing as the original TS ones. The juggernaut is the GDI answer to NOD's Artillery. It has 3 barrels of high range artillery shots. Also, the Mobile EMP(Electro-Magnetic Pulse) packs a nice little punch that renders buildings and units alike, helpless. Also new is the powerful Cyborg Reaper. It can take of tanks and infantry alike with its web cannons and multi-missile shots.
Another new unit in Firestorm is the Mobile War Factory and the Fist of NOD. Both are mobile war factories that produce tanks wherever they are deployed. They work just as a normal factory, but they can move! Also new are limpet drones that can attach to enemy units and track their every move. They are neat and also useful for scouting enemy bases. Lastly, is the mobile stealth generator. It moves, then it can deploy and make everything in a small radius around it, invisible to the enemy. A nifty little unit.
Concluding this review, this is such a good add-on, that it almost seems as though it is a whole different game in itself. The extensive additions to units and multiplay along with single-player missions and maps make this a formidable adversary to any game or game-add-on out there.
| This game receives the same number of stars as TS itself, but you can see how the balance between has moved up in this version. I feel that the additional units even out the war between GDI and NOD. | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
What can I say? Awesome! This game rocks! This game took everything that was good in Tiberian Sun and used it. It also took everything that was bad in TS and got rid of it. Not to mention, that this game goes off of the original Red Alert in its unit selection, but it gets rid of a lot of the parts of original Red Alert graphically, sound-wise, and in balance in order to make it one of the best games ever!
First of all, you can choose from nine teams: (Allied: ) USA, Britain, France, Germany, Korea, (Soviet: ) Cuba, Iraq, Libya, and Russia. Each team has its own special unit that it gets in addition to its teams existing arsenal.
USA- Paratroopers
Britain- Sniper
France- Grand Cannon
Germany- Tank Destroyer
Korea- Black Eagle
Cuba- Terrorist
Iraq- Desolator
Libya- Demolition Truck
Russia- Tesla Tank
So, you have your allied and soviet sides, then you have different teams to choose from, depending on your specific interests in tactics. If you want a good defense, you may want to use France and its Grand Cannon, which is a HUGE turret that destroys tanks very easily, unfortunately it is susceptible to air attacks. But, if you are a highly offensive person, you may want to use Demolition Trucks from Libya which are just like in the first Red Alert, a truck that holds a Nuclear Bomb inside.
Aside from all of these good things, there are some even better things. There are superweapons
like the allied storm generator, which makes a lightning storm, and the soviet missile silo, that shoots a Nuclear missile. There is also the option for a Chronosphere (unit teleporting device) and an Iron Curtain (invulnerability device) in the game. A new addition to this game is the fact that as soon as you build one of these superweapons, everyone taking part in that game is notified with a countdown until that superweapon is ready. It allows opponents to change their strategies in order to counter the moves that you make in a game.
Lastly, the great thing about this game is its endless possibilities. 
Once again, there are new naval units in the game. This is a missed part of C&C that was missed in Tiberian Sun, that is back again! But, aside from normal options, you can now insert minigunner
units(G.I. infantry or conscripts) into civilian buildings where they can shoot out the windows. Also, you can mind control a cow with the Soviet unit Yuri, and then put a bomb on it with Crazy Ivan, and have Yuri move the cow into your enemy's base with his mind, where the cow will make a lovely mess! Plus, there are tech-buildings that are up for grabs. They are controlled by civilians originally, but you can take them over with an engineer for some nifty rewards.
In conclusion, this game is great! It is fun to play, and has the option to be a short game or long game. If you are looking for a long game, enable super weapons, if you want it to be short, turn super weapons off and tank rush your opponent! Either way, it is a great experience to play this game, and it is surely one of the most addictive ones that I have played lately.
This game is almost perfect in all aspects. I love the graphics, the unit selection is awesome, the music is an upgrade from TS, and I am sure that this game will be popular for a while. Or until an expansion  | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
This may be an expansion, but it took an extraordinarily popular game and followed it up with new missions, multiplay options, and some of the most groundbreaking features that could be expected from a Westwood game.
Yuri's Revenge begins with Yuri, threatening to take over the entire world with his new machine, The Psychic Dominator. 
Having them strategically placed around the world, his domination is eminent. President Dougan orders an airstrike on one of the Psychic Dominators found on Alcatraz Island. Just as Yuri begins to activate his machines, the airstrike of Harriers makes their way to the island but is unsuccessful in shooting the machine. But, one of the wounded Harriers crashes into a nearby powerplant, which gives that Psychic Dominator the ability to function, rendering it disabled for the time being.
Here is where you come in. You have to stop Yuri from taking over the rest of the world. You can choose between the Allies and the Soviets. The missions are just as tedious as before, creating such situations as protecting a conference building from Yuri, long enough for a treaty to be signed by the Allies and the Soviets.
Even after the missions are successfully completed, one couldn't ask for a greater game to play multiplay with. You have the choice of playing 1-5 human players equaling 6 people in one game, or you could have a comp. stomp with a bunch of friends, giving you the potential of having 8 people in a single game! That is awesome. Plus, game customizations such as unholy alliance, team alliance, and naval battle bring new meaning to the word versatility.
| Music. Plain and simple, it is awesome as it always is. They are catchy and definitely tunes that you can conquer to. But, the greatest thing about this add-on, is the fact that it also adds new voice effects for certain units. |  |
My favorite is the Mirage Tank's, "Nobody here but us trees." That is quite possibly the finest example of the detail that this game goes into. The explosions are extraordinary and the presence of the 3 side and its new voices and sounds leaves me speechless. |
The best part of this add-on is the fact that 
it balanced a game (RA2) that I felt needed a little help. The addition of the third side lets you choose your priorities for battle. In theory, all of the teams are equal, but when in battle, you can easily see that one type of unit can easily dispose of another, sometimes giving an unfair advantage to one side. Well, with 3 sides to choose from, your selections have grown immensely. No longer do you have to fear a quick tank rush if you have even 1 psychic tower in place as Yuri's side. This is a type of balance that I have been looking for since about 5 years ago because I feel the last game to be this balanced was the original C&C.
Again, I must say how this game has stepped up as the ultimate add-on for a C&C game. In my opinion, Red Alert 2 with the addition of Yuri's Revenge has created the most lethal duo of C&C games ever. It will most definitely stay a hot item for many years to come just because no matter how many times you play it, every game will always be unique. You will never beat an opponent the same way as the previous. If you don't own this game, buy it now! If you still refuse to buy it...well...you probably know the consequences as Yuri has probably been haunting your dreams with his mind-control powers. I bought it, and he is still haunting mine
| Though this is simply an expansion, it does just that, expands the potential of Red Alert 2. By the addition of a third side, the choices become that much more abundant. Plus, this creates a balance that hasn't been present since the first C&C, something that I think speaks for itself in my rating. | ||
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Da Sgt's Review:
How better can I say this...Play the best C&C game as the best C&C persona!! Tiberian Dawn never looked so good as Havoc, the GDI Elite Commando is under your complete control in Renegade. It definitely will blow your mind in more ways than one, but every game is sure to have its flaws, what are Renegade's?
On a good note, Renegade makes you feel like you are truly in the C&C world with some of the biggest maps for an FPS that I have taken part in quite some time. Not only does this allow for a variety of attacks, but you also have great sniping grounds that are lacking in many FPS's today.
The main reason for such large maps is because the best part of this game is that you can drive vehicles as well as walk the grounds on foot. It is almost a flawless action of getting into and out of a vehicle that you have purchased and driving it around. This brings me to my next topic, purchase terminals and credits. This innovative thought is what makes this game one that will be around for a while. The addition of being able to purchase special characters and units for money lets teams truly plan to Command and Conquer their enemies.
On a low note, the graphics in this game are hard to appreciate without great system spec's. I had a good amount of
RAM and a decent graphics card and found that when I purchased a NEW card, the game looked totally different because without that HIGH-END graphics card, you can't see a lot. In other words, Renegade can be a rather high expense investment if you want to get all that you can out of it.
I can't stress enough, that this is probably the first game I have ever played that being a repairman (or woman) could be fun. Being a technician or engineer is probably one of the most prestigious jobs in multiplay because with 3-4 of you, you can repair tanks and keep your base alive and repaired. Plus, you get boo-koo moola and points for repairing buildings. Besides, a technician is the only unit in the game that can take out an entire building by itself.
While being a repairman is fun, it doesn't even compare to dropping the ever important Ion Cannon or Nuclear 
Strike Beacon. Hearing that voice saying "Ion Cannon Satellite Approaching" and watching the enemy run around like a Chinese Fire Drill trying to get away or to try to disarm it, makes you feel like a VERY important person. Plus, if that isn't enough, watching the blast from either the Nuke or the Ion Cannon is enough of a reward to make that $1000 worth every penny.
But, the best and worst part of Renegade is multiplay. I absolutely cannot stop playing online because it is 
so addictive, but that is because I use a T3 connection at my College Dorm. The bad news comes into play when I go home for the weekend or holidays and want to play Renegade online, but find that the lag is so unbearable that I can't enjoy the game. So, multiplay is great for those with fast connections, but a hassle for others. That still does not stop me from telling you that getting DSL is well worth the price of being able to play online as a Renegade!
Sounds, how can I explain these? Well, the bullets sound like they are coming out of the monitor and grazing past your head. But, that is not the best part, I love the sound of the crackling tiberium as you drive over it. Nothing beats the sound of an Ion Cannon blast, though. It is so devastating, you can almost feel the earth tremble as it comings blasting from your satellite.
I highly recommend owning this game. If you are a C&C fan, you will LOVE it, but if you are a regular FPS player, you may not get the full effect of the game because half of the fun of playing Renegade, is knowing that just a few years ago, a game like it was only a dream in the minds of most C&C players.
| I love the conversion from RTS to FPS for Tiberian Dawn, but multiplay is hard if you don't have a stellar connection. That may hurt the game in the long run, but still, this is truly a groundbreaking game. | ||
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