The distinction between these two units also helps show the differences between the Allied and the Soviet sides in general. Many of the units available to the two evenly matched factions are not only very different, but also quite original. For instance, the Soviets have a small, spiderlike robotic unit that quickly burrows into enemy armored vehicles and starts to rip them apart from the inside. The Allies have a specialized infantry unit, the Chrono Legionnaire - it can teleport anywhere on the map, and its weapon can literally erase other units and structures out of time. Such units may sound powerful, and, in fact, they definitely are. Actually, most units in Red Alert 2 are very strong, which makes the combat satisfying; the arsenal of available land, sea, and air units isn't exhaustive, but there's enough variety, and more than enough raw firepower, to make the battles quite spectacular. The fact that the units are generally so strong also reveals another element of Red Alert 2's design: The battles usually don't last long. A small platoon of Soviet apocalypse tanks can easily decimate a lightly defended enemy base. And that's nothing compared to the two sides' respective superweapons, the Soviet nuclear missile and the Allied weather control device - these attacks can level an entire enemy installation. The impending danger of these attacks - all players are notified whenever one of these weapons is being prepared - will cause you to try to play Red Alert 2 very aggressively, which makes the game seem even more intense.
The game looks better than last year's Tiberian Sun, but similar. For the most part, the graphics in Red Alert 2 are colorful and detailed. But the tiny units can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from one another, especially if you play the game in the highest resolution of 1024x768. Each unit audibly confirms whenever you select it or tell it to move, and though each one sounds different, some of the speech is repetitive and will start to wear on you. Or you'll start to ignore it. Red Alert 2's soundtrack is a departure from previous Command & Conquer games, whose technoindustrial music is replaced mostly with straightforward heavy-metal guitar riffs in this installment. Fortunately, you can control the volume for the sound effects, speech, and music independently.
Red Alert 2 features a campaign for both the Allies and the Soviets, in addition to a short optional tutorial. The campaigns span a dozen missions each, and they won't take too long to finish; but they offer a lot of variety, and they're generally of very high quality. The densely populated urban settings of many of the battles are far more interesting than the flat plains and desert settings typical to most real-time strategy games - you can actually garrison your troops in various buildings and lay claim to neutral structures such as hospitals and airports. Full-screen, full-motion video sequences show the continuing story in between each mission. These sequences are self-consciously silly; they're so tongue-in-cheek that you might just as soon dislike them if you're used to taking games more seriously. Nevertheless, the video sequences are well made and generally amusing, and you might recognize some of the actors and appreciate some of the performances, like the creepy Udo Kier in the role of the Soviet psychic, Yuri.
You'll want to play through both campaigns, but Red Alert 2's real lasting value is in its great multiplayer mode. The game offers several different multiplayer variations, in addition to options for disabling superweapons and more. In multiplayer (and also in a skirmish match vs. the computer), you actually choose a specific nationality rather than just the Allied or the Soviet faction, and this choice essentially just gives you access to a particular unit unique to that side. For instance, the Russians have a tesla tank that uses a powerful electric attack, while the British have a deadly sniper. It's very simple to find an opponent online - the fully integrated player-matching service in Red Alert 2 can actually pit you against a random opponent if you use the quick-match option. Otherwise, you can chat with other players looking to play, check to see if your friends are also playing online, compete in ladder matches for a better ranking, and more. The game even has a series of cooperative multiplayer missions, as well as the world domination tour mode in which players engage in a persistent territorial conflict. Multiplayer Red Alert 2 plays smoothly and seems stable over a fast Internet connection.
In spite of its premise - a world war - Red Alert 2 is lighthearted. From the humorous full-motion video sequences to the heavy-metal music to the toylike unit designs, the game has much more in common with G.I. Joe than with Saving Private Ryan. Regardless of whether or not you enjoy this style, you're likely to find that Red Alert 2 is actually a very good game, from its interface to its play mechanics to its multiplayer mode. It's not the most visually impressive real-time strategy game available this year, but it's among the most enjoyable to date. Red Alert 2 offers lots of challenges and variety for real-time strategy players of all skill levels, and it'll be particularly fun for fans of previous Command & Conquer games.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Command & Conquer,
- real-time strategy,
- campaign,
- battle,
- Electronic Arts Inc.
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 (PC):
%20PC%20Game%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/command-conquer-red-alert/4505-9696_7-7449859-2.html){kind=small}