Genre: Real Time Strategy
Progress: Game Completed by Author
Experience: Played on North American PC Version
Release Date: 2003 (Mac Release: 2004)Command and Conquer Generals was somewhat of a spinoff to the regular series, diving into the concepts of modern warfare and terrorism, rather than the futuristic main games. Does it retain its classic Command and Conquer quality?
The plot takes place in the 21st century, or present and modern times. The storyline is in a chronological order by which faction you play as, although it doesn’t really matter of the order.The game allows you to play as USA, China, and the GLA (Global Liberation Army), all of which have their own pros and cons. In Command and Conquer Generals, the United States and China armies are the two main powers of the world, and are the targets of the Global Liberation Army, a large terrorist group with clears that remain blurred. It’s a simple and effective storyline that gives you an easy excuse to fight. Generals was the first CnC game that didn’t feature Full Motion Video cutscenes, but rather storytelling through in-game cutscenes and loading screen mission briefing. It also presented a whole new gameplay interface.The campaign mode spans 21 missions, seven for each army. It’s very lengthy, and it’s full of fun.The gameplay is like a regular Real-Time-Strategy game, and is much so in the vein of any Command and Conquer game. It’s not much different in the way you play. You build a stable base, with defenses and buildings for producing fighting units, you gather resources to financially support your spending, and you destroy your enemy. Command and Conquer Generals sports a vast range of units (ranging from infantry, vehicles and air units), buildings, and upgrades, which amounts to many different strategies to victory. You have a “Veterancy” system, where units who kill lots of units gain exp and levels, making them stronger, or allow them to heal faster. As a commander of an army, you also get a “Veterancy” system, with every unit kill or building kill, you gain EXP, and level ups give you points that can be invested in special abilities, like bombing runs, artillery strikes, and a lot more!
Like Nuclear warfare? China is the faction for you!In a sense, each army is the same. You get to make buildings, make infantry, make vehicles, base defense buildings, buildings that can upgrade units and allow you to build more awesome units, and a building that is used as a super weapon of sorts. However, differences include the actual units themselves, super weapons, different upgrades, and some armies possess buildings that can produce air-based units. China and the GLA are “theme”-based factions. By that I mean, some if not most of their units attack in a themed way. The Chinese like using Nuclear or Fire-based attacks, and the GLA like to use anthrax and deadly poisons for some of their units.There are many units, with infantry ranging from the generic soldiers with guns or rocket launchers, to terrorist bombers, hackers who can become a small source of money to vehicle hi-jacking unarmed men. The selection of vehicular units is also very vast, from tanks that take care of vehicles and buildings, to tractors that spit deadly poisons, a tank with two barrels and is so large that it can run over vehicles, and a lot more! The variety in Generals is very unique, and it’s very good.In campaign modes, the objectives are usually different. You could rescue captured units, sabotage enemy bases, or just downright crush the enemies.Along with the extensive single-player campaign and many single-player maps to play against computers (called Skirmish Mode), there is also an online mode for LAN parties or bringing your skills online, as well as a map making program that comes with Command and Conquer Generals. Making the maps is simple and easy, yet very effective in making great maps. This almost infinitely extends the replayability.
The graphics in the game are rather sub-par, as it is a game from almost 7 years ago. If you zoom in on infantry units, you’ll find them faceless and not very detailed, but from the regular distance, they look just fine. The cutscenes really bring the ugly out of the models, but it really doesn’t matter, as they are all easily identifiable and stand out from every unit, no unit looks very alike.The soundtrack is absolutely amazing. There are USA themes, which consist of epic orchestral sounds with great rock riffs, and China uses a gritty and gloomy feel with cheerful Eastern Asia sounds The GLA uses a mix of metal rock with Middle Eastern flavors. All of the compositions of music in this game are absolutely amazing. The sounds are also equally awesome, with realistic gun sounds, tank rounds, explosions and a lot more effects. The voice acting is great, too, it doesn’t sound like a bunch of white guys doing stereotypical voices, haha.Overall, it’s a very epic game full of great strategic fun. It has astounding sounds, intense gameplay, massive replayability, and a lot of variety. If you want a long lasting strategy game set in modern times, this game is most definitely for you.Graphics: 6.5/10The graphics aren’t all that great, but it’s still tolerable. The graphics don’t really matter, in the heat of battle, though.Sound: 10/10
Epic tunes and sounds to go along with the action, with great voice acting, General gets a perfect score from me.Presentation: 8/10
The grand scale of the situations set up in Campaign mode make for some really splendid and memorable moments. Even playing in Skirmish Mode gives you a great feel of battles. In terms of menu presentation, it has well labeled sections and a great showcase of Generals gameplay in the background. The score comes shy of being insanely impressive because some missions seem rather slow-paced.Gameplay: 9/10
Generals sports excellent strategic gameplay, with a wide variety of units and buildings at your disposal. It falls short of being overwhelmingly good because there are instances of imbalance (mainly seen online).Lasting Appeal: 11/10
That’s right. Eleven. It gets a bonus point for adding in the mission/map making program that is easy to use, no matter who you are. With online play and an infinite slew of gameplay possibilities and situations made through the map maker, the fun never ends.Overall:
/50
