Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars Preview

The deep-seated history of the Command & Conquer series compelled EA to continue the franchise so it can reclaim its rightful reputation within a truly competitive market. (Yeah, I'm sure *that's* what compelled them to carry on Westwood's legacy, a company they bought. - Ed) If you've ever spent a significant period of time playing C&C: Generals (or any other Command & Conquer title), especially in multiplayer, then the following preview should make you feel right at home. On the other hand, if you enjoy playing strategies, but never had the chance to plunge deeper into the world of C&C, now would be a perfect time to learn more about it, as well as the upcoming addition to one of the most popular RTS licenses ever.

All aboard!

Torch the suckers, yeah!

As the very subtitle of the game suggests, players are going to return to the Tiberium Universe. It is March 2047 and the world is engulfed in a massive dramatic conflict, which was hailed as the start of the Third Tiberium War. A huge nuclear explosion caused inestimable damage to the planet, dividing the known world into zones in proportion to the level of Tiberium infestation. Blue Zones take up 20% of the planet's surface and are described as the last sanctuary of the civilized world. Yellow Zones, in contrast, represent partially habitable territories and make up 50% of Earth's surface. The nuclear disaster tragically sealed the fate of many people, who now inhabit these war-torn and ecologically ravaged areas. As you'd probably guess, the remaining 30% of the planet signifies an uninhabitable Tiberium wasteland, which is swept by violent Ion Storms no less. Red Zones resemble the surface of an Alien planet. So, all in all, Earth has changed a lot. Peaceful safe havens are practically a thing of the past, but if you so desire, you can fight to change that. Or you can choose to side with the forces of destruction. Incidentally, this chapter in the ongoing strategy series also sees the return of nefarious C&C character, Kane, who leads the Brotherhood of Nod in a large-scale assault against Global Defense Initiative and the few remaining Blue zones.

Granted, the plot may not seem like much on the surface, but plenty of changes were thrown into the series to ensure more in-depth storytelling this time around. Cinematic Director, Richard Taylor, recently said that the script "has a lot more intricate and interesting human interaction, more emotion." He also added, "there's a more complex storyline running throughout the game. The dialog is more refined and believable...the main characters are more real. The previous C&C games were not nearly as refined in their script and writing as in C&C 3. Secondly, we have a cast that is comprised of some very distinguished actors who bring more emotion and believability to their roles. There's a lot of heart in this game."

I would have to agree with that. Every game needs a dash of heart and soul, if you know what I mean. Many developers are inclined to overlook character depth and plot structure, as the key ingredients of a compelling gaming experience. In such a way, certain developers simply fail to lure you into the intricacies of the story they are trying to convey. Recent games, like Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, have brought unfortunate story-telling flops. It's not that the story was bad per se. For some reason, the development team opted to go for low-quality cut-scenes, but not before enticing the player with a superbly animated intro sequence. Such slip-ups were clearly the result of feeble production value.

C&C 3, however, features a more personal touch when it comes to characterization and storytelling. The emphasis is maintained on emotion that can only be expressed through live acting, as opposed to CG characters. "Lead characters talk directly to the player... 'The Commander'...they look right at you and talk to you directly. Most cg characters in games talk to each other, interact with each other, but they don't directly address the player. I think the emotional charge you get when Tricia Helfer looks you in the eye and pleads for your help will touch you like no cg character can," Taylor says. Although using "live" actors might appear somewhat retro, this will no doubt bring a more vivid depiction of the C&C universe and some of the central characters that inhabit it. (I'm seeing flashbacks of "Need for Speed: Carbon" here. - Ed)

The single-player experience of C&C 3 takes players through 30 missions in three separate campaigns. GDI and NOD forces are on offer, albeit the third faction remains unnamed for the present. Several hints were made earlier though, that the game will most likely introduce a new playable alien race.

The conflict between GDI and NOD factions comes down to fighting over Tiberium resources. What's more, it's important to note that GDI dwells in the undamaged part of the world (what's left of it) and their aim is to defend it at all costs, against the NOD or any other would-be attackers. Players who are well acquainted with NOD forces should be happy to know that C&C 3 allows you to take control of familiar units such as the Stealth and Flame tanks, in addition to the Predator and Mammoth tanks. We were also promised a bunch of new units like the NOD Avatar, a powerful mech-unit that has the ability to pick up weapons from fallen foes and attach them to its body - similar to what GLA does in C&C: Generals. The game also features new units called Shadows, skillful special forces that are equipped with hang gliders. EA LA wishes to keep things in perspective by offering gamers a well-balanced choice of units, no matter which faction they happen to be playing with.

Another praiseworthy addition is granting players the choice of the type of AI they wish to face in missions. The AI then proceeds to adjust its behavior according to your preferences as a strategy player - if you prefer the "rush" tactic, the enemy will rush you as well, or should you resort to the "turtle" approach, you'll witness your foes using the same line of attack in combat. Once more, you'll have the opportunity to use the streamlined interface that includes a nifty sidebar (located in the upper right corner of the screen), enabling you to select units and produce new ones without scrolling around the map to locate appropriate buildings needed for this action. Players can easily distinguish the limitations as well as the advantages of units simply by selecting them and consulting with the icon in the lower right corner. Such features aren't exactly cutting-edge, but they'll surely contribute to a more intuitive and user-friendly environment.

Those Tiberium addicts are at it again.

I'm gonna zap you into oblivion.

In terms of visuals, the game already shows huge promise. Highly detailed environments and realistic explosions make for a pretty convincing in-game ambience; not to mention the inclusion of destructible objects in the environment, like buildings and other various structures. C&C 3 shows noticeable visual improvements over the previous installment. Don't take my word for it; just feast your eyes on the screens provided, as well as this new trailer.

EA, is also determined to bring Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars to the Xbox 360, obviously encouraged with the success of the 360 version of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II. Experiencing real-time strategies on consoles has always been a delicate matter, mainly due to awkwardly handled controls and poorly managed interface features. Relying largely on user feedback from earlier console strategies, EA resolved to perk up the controls. With C&C 3 everything works in a fast and fluid real-time environment to better suit console gamers. The console version also brings additional facets. As expected, the multiplayer mode supports the Xbox 360 vision camera feature, enabling players to chat and view their opponents when they begin the game.

So, to recap, EA LA aims to reinvigorate the well-known strategy franchise by expanding on various points of gameplay that made previous installments fun to play. C&C buffs can look forward to three in-depth single-player campaigns, a highly involving multiplayer mode and more. Keep a close lookout for this one some time in Q1 2007.