The Command and Conquer series has been around for some time, starting it roots on the PC and then having many different versions across numerous platforms. I have followed C&C for many years, through the good and the bad and have wasted many a day on some ultimate skirmish. In fact one of my fondest memories of multiplayer was when an old buddy and me linked up our PSone’s and played C&C against each other for days.
C&C 3 sees the world covered in Tiberium, an unknown alien substance, the GDI (Global Defence Initiative) have begun to concentrate on the clean up of this destructive growth. Just as all seems well, Kane and his Brotherhood of Nod turn up with a huge force and begin taking over the rest of the world, trying to spread the tiberium to the remaining safe spots and bringing about a new era for earth.
At the start of each mission there is a FMV cut scene, they have a certain B-Movie quality to them but with Billy-Dee Williams and Michael Ironside in the cast, it is great to watch and gets you into the feel of the game. Over each of the 35 missions you will be given a set primary task, for example, regain control of the Whitehouse, during this battle you will as have radio contact and field updates from the war room, and at certain points you will be offered secondary tasks, whilst not important to the completion of the game it will reward you with in game medals. As you progress through the levels you will have more skills available to you, starting off with the basic ATV’s and soldiers, then later Mammoth Tanks and snipers who are able to call in a destructive local air strike.
The single player story mode is quick and fast, with the NOD not giving you many opportunities to hang round, thankfully, the controls have been made to work perfectly, the joysticks control your camera, A button most of the commands and the trigger buttons bring up the menus for building and more advanced team instructions.
Graphics wise this game is great, the attention to detail on even the smallest soldier is sublime, tanks are able to crush trees and civilian cars that get in the way, plumes of smoke trail from the rockets. When a heated battle occurs all of this works fine with no slowdown. The atmospheric sound throughout the game works well, tank tracks scrunching on the floor and the rhythmic stamp of your troops as they walk into battle really give you a feel of being really close to the action.
The main pulling power of this title is the online game, and thankfully this is top notch. Though you have the normal versus option, there are also others game types available from capture the flag and king of the hill to capture and hold the new siege where there is an impassable section in the middle of the map, allowing each team time to harvest the tiberium and purchase their armies, once the wall falls, its game on. This is a good idea as it will allow newer gamers the chance to take their time in getting used to what is available to them.
One of the great additions to the Xbox 360 version is the Vision Cam, this will allow each player to see who they are fighting against, shooting a bit of trash talk and generally have a laugh at the losers expense. Though it seems a bit of a fad, this really makes a difference, as now I can get to play my old buddy, who lives over 500 miles away, and relive those great battles.
