"Command & Conquer Generals"
EA's Generals

FLASH Review by Rob

It's about time C&C got into the act with 3D graphics and it's done so in a big way. "Generals" is a solid extension of the C&C line and takes a strong step forward from Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge.

Generals follows the three opponents route with the United States, China and an international terrorism group called the Global Liberation Army (GLA). Following the campaigns casts you into all 3 roles as you set about to win skirmishes and achieve objectives within a variety of settings including the desert, cities and snowscapes.

Game play is of the solid RTS variety you'd expect. You establish a camp, set up supply acquisition, create units and base defenses and dispatch your forces to destroy your opponents. Simple and clear. The graphics are sharp and the super weapons are nice. The US is endowed with a particle cannon that sends a tower of white hot light cutting through an enemies' camp and defenses. China sports the ever popular nuke. While the GLA cuts loose with the scud storm, a particularly nasty weapon that rains down scud missiles anywhere on the map.

Generals follows the standard C&C style of allowing you to jump into skirmishes quickly and with little pretext. Each side is well balanced with the US relying heavily on air power and technology. China can deploy a strong number of soldiers in a heartbeat. The GLA is a particularly sneaky bunch using suicide bombers, toxins and truck bombs. There have been other games that deploy modern and post-modern weaponry but few have done it as solidly as Generals. There is something sweet about watching your soldiers storm a town, take up positions in houses, station snipers and lookouts and then send in the choppers to shuttle out the supplies. It's a nice sight.

Of course, the most obvious path to a slow victory (I'm not a fan of rushing to end things) is a war of attrition. Assuming you can keep yourself from being rained down upon with super weapons, cutting off supply lines and striking energy reserves is a sure route to softening your opponent for several death blows.

Now, with all of these niceties it's unfortunate that Generals is just a solid makeover of RA2. It's updated with new alliances and weapons but that's about the size of it.

There's nothing wrong with a strong RTS that lets you jump into the game and blow stuff up right away. Nothing at all. Generals delivers on that front as solidly as RA2 did but with little new, ground-shaking developments. That said, we're rating Generals a STRONG BUY.

---

PlayRage Playopedia:

Check out the PlayRage Playopedia for more info on Command & Conquer Generals.