Now for those of you not aware Command & Conquer has been with the Real Time Strategy scene since, well, when all this was just fields.  Starting as a top down 2D affair, the C&C games have long since evolved into the complex 3D beasties that we see today. In fact there have been more incarnations of this game than I’ve had hot breakfasts.  So how does Red Alert 3 fare and what new does it bring to the table?  Well, yes there’s the ‘top’ actors Tim Curry, George Takei and even the Hoff’ for starters.  What is great and always has been with this series is that it doesn’t take itself seriously, with the ludicrous plotlines and dialogue playing a key part.  Even the otherwise mundane tutorial manages to raise a few laughs with humorous discourse between your three tutors.      

The Red Alert universe is a fictional setting in which the military might of the Allied forces has all but erased the Soviet army.  With their backs against the wall the Soviets use their trump card, in the form of a time machine, and eradicate Einstein from history and thus all nuclear technology.  So, without atomic weapons the world is a much-changed place with the Reds being the dominant superpower.  However not far behind them are newly created foes in the Empire of the Rising Sun, and the ever-present threat of the Allied forces.  So the stage has been set for a global 3-way battle for world domination, this is where you come in.

Initially you choose your allegiance whether it be the Soviets, Allies or Empire of the Rising Sun, from then on in you take on the role of a battlefield Commander.  As such you are responsible for commanding troops, collecting resources, power management, building bases and typical RTS fare.  Of course the resource management is the number one priority, without which building structures and ultimately units would be impossible.  The prime resource in RA3 is ore, which is obtainable through fixed place mines; all that is required is an ore refinery to be built next to one.  All structures are built through the construction yard, this building is highly versatile in that it can pack up into a Mobile Construction Vehicle (MCV) and manoeuvre around the battlefield should you wish to re-site your base.  Without this structure/vehicle you’ve pretty much had it, so it has to be cared for and protected like a much-cherished belonging.

All this tactical mastery sounds fairly simple, but before we write off this commanding malarkey as a doddle one must consider the interface of this warmongering.   Now as we all know and as recently highlighted by the ‘fiddly’ Warhammer Battle March, control is pretty much the lifeblood of an RTS’s success.  The console joypad input is a significant headache for programmers trying to shoehorn complex commands into 8 buttons, 2 thumbsticks and a D-pad.  Fortunately EA have had a bit of practice at this with Tiberium Wars and its sequel Kane’s Wrath, both having appeared on Xbox 360.  As a result the controls are pretty much about as good as seen on consoles so far and whilst not straightforward are fairly logical and clear.

So, to the Bob the Builder bit; can we build it?  YES WE CAN!  Scoop, Muck and Dizzy are alas not there to help so instead you select your construction yard with the onscreen cursor and press ‘A’.  Once selected holding the right trigger brings up a radial ‘dial’ that is divided into segments.  In each of the segments is either an available or locked structure.  An available structure is selected with the left thumbstick and depending on your choice of faction is built in a different manner.  No, not straw, sticks or bricks but instead either inside the construction yard giving an instant build when ready, outside on-site or with a deployable construction vehicle much like the MCV.   Each method has its own merits and dangers, for example the Soviet structures build on-site, this leaves them vulnerable to attack when under construction but frees up the construction yard to build more.  So there is a discernable difference between the factions and indeed this transcends right through to the infantry units themselves. 

The Soviet units are the lowest tech, but to compensate are generally built like a brick privy.  To counter this the Empire of the Rising Sun units are the highest tech but a bit ‘skinny’ and somewhere in the middle you have the Allies.  As such each faction has its own strengths and weaknesses, although the differences certainly aren’t of gaping chasm proportions.  Units themselves vary from single infantry units, vehicles such as tanks and walkers, aircraft from helicopters to huge airships and a vast range of sea faring craft.  Indeed, the naval warfare is a big feature in RA3 and certainly adds to the traditional RTS methods of combat.  Large swathes of maps are covered in water making a strong sea-faring fleet imperative for success.  To assist in your beach raiding parties there are also a few amphibious vehicles, these ensure you can impose your presence on land immediately.  Troops and some vehicles can also be transported by sea or air, making versatility in your unit builds essential. 

Occasionally on the battlefield brute force alone isn’t enough to finish off a structure or emplacement and a little more extreme action is required.  Shock and awe anyone?  Yep, weapons of mass destruction are also available for a limited time to the wannabe despot.  As tech is unlocked you gain access to support powers ranging from humble recon flights to dropping disused satellites on your enemies base.  Nice!  Now before you go all ‘George Bush’ on me, these powers have a significant recharge time, so must be used wisely.  

Red Alert 3 certainly comes across as a subtle evolution to the genre with it encouraging you to build a well-balanced army.  The age-old tactic of building a million infantry units and overwhelming your foe through sheer weight of numbers alone has all but been eradicated here.  Of course to assist you with unit management you can group units, so send your boats off up the stream, tanks up the road and aircraft ‘all over the shop’.  It all works pretty well and is enjoyable once familiarity with the controls is gained.  Occasionally I experienced a few glitches, such as losing a Dreadnaught or two from my heavy sea fleet due to them getting stuck on pier, but this is only a small gripe.  The game runs at a fair clip and even with loads of units and destruction going on onscreen performance remains good.  It’s a pretty game as far as RTS games go too, the different units are clearly identifiable and command icons are bold and concise.  A hearty, rocky soundtrack accompanies your endeavours along with appropriate explosions and troops war cries.

Also a new feature is the addition of a ‘co-Commander’ to assist in the purging of your pesky opponents.  Basically on solo mode this equates to an A.I. teammate that autonomously builds a separate base, commands troops etc.  At any point during a mission you can call upon your co-Commander to support by implementing four basic commands; attack this point, plan attack at this point, move to this point or cancel orders.  Not too thrilling in itself, but where it does get good is that you can invite in an online chum to be your co-Commander.  The co-operative gameplay is a great extra and certainly adds a whole new element to the campaign missions.  Should you wish to go online to dominate real human enemies then you’re also well catered for.  Available versus options include ranked and player matches, custom games or quick skirmishes, indeed a whole bunch of tactical smiting beckons.  Online matches and co-op are very smooth with no discernable lag, even when things get a tad busy.

So is this the RTS title that will sway the masses from their keyboard and mouse to the humble console?  Well, no not completely but Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is a darned good effort.  The controls, whilst not up to point and click standard, are about as good as seen on console so far, but may remain a little daunting to the RTS newcomer.  The solo missions do sometimes feel a little too orchestrated in that you can’t build certain installations or tech until the game says you can.  But take this game online and there is potential for limitless builds should you choose.  Whilst not turning what the likes of Tiberium Wars has achieved on its head, RA3 offers a steady progression in the genre and will certainly appeal to those of you with a strategic trait.  To top it all off you’ve got a game that has a laugh at itself and is lacquered with a nice helping of hammy cheese.

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