Editorial Review

Sticking firm to the old "if it ain't broke" philosophy, WestwoodStudios conjures up memories of the original Command & Conquer gameswith Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. The game is set just a few yearsafter the events of the original C&C: Red Alert, and opens with asurprise Soviet invasion of the U.S. mainland. Playing as the startledAmericans, you must cobble togethera resistance and beat the invaders back into the sea. Playing as the Soviets,you must quickly establishcontrol of your new domain, wiping out all opposition you meet.

Red Alert 2 is very similar to the original Red Alert, withsome visual enhancements andgameplay improvements brought in from the recent Command & Conquer:Tiberian Sun game.You still lead a small group of infantry and armored units in most missionsand you still have to assemble abase of operations in order to accomplish just about anything. This timearound, however, you'll have aslew of new units to build and command in the field--most of which are prettyslick. The American PrismTank, for example, can take out numerous enemy units with a single, branchingattack. On the Soviet side,Tesla Troopers and Psychics help make ground troops a formidable asset.

Another nice addition to the game is the ability to garrison troops insidebuildings. Because much of thefighting is on city streets, it helps to give your troops some cover fromtime to time. Also, there are anumber of special buildings that provide unique advantages once occupied byengineer units. The airportallows you to call in air strikes, for example, while oil derricks provide aresource boost for your warmachine.

Multiplayer support is still the calling card of this series, and fans ofpast C&C games will not bedisappointed by Red Alert 2's multiplayer options. The basicfree-for-all mode that the originalRed Alert made famous is still intact, but the alternative multiplayermodes are the real treat. InUnholy Alliance, players get access to both American and Soviet tech trees,while the naval war variantstarts each player off on a small island. In addition, the game includesspecial cooperative campaigns.

There's no denying Red Alert 2's charm, despite the lack of a funky3-D engine and the game'sreliance on ultracheeseball video cut scenes to tell the story (Kari Wuhreror no Kari Wuhrer). For fast- paced, real-time strategy action that focuses on quick, intense firefights onAmerican soil, no other gameholds a candle to C&C: Red Alert 2. --Michael Ryan

Pros:

• More frenetic real-time strategy in the C&C universe
• Tons of new units and capabilities on both sides of the conflict
• Cool U.S. settings for most missions
• Great array of multiplayer modes

• Not exactly a technical leap forward
• Video cut scenes are cheesy beyond description

Editorial Review

Features

• For one or more players using LAN or Internet connection
• Tactical combat game using futuristic armies
• Play as one of two factions
• Develop strategies as your units mature into veterans
• Destroyable terrain and unpredictable weather

Asin: B000067NNO
Sales Rank: 7158
Subjects:  1. Computer Games    2. Strategy (Strategic)    3. Historical (historic) Recreation (Recreations)    4. Military (Wargames    5. Command and Conquer (C&C)    6. Westwood   

Editorial Review

Inspired by the war epics ofdirector Akira Kurosawa, Shogun: Total War perfectly captures thechaos, conflict, and beauty of ancient warfare. Shogun thrustsyou into the unstable politics of 16th-century feudal Japan. Youcommand thousands of loyal samurai and other troops against six otherfactions in massive battles that will determine the fate of Japanitself. You can learn the basics of the art of war by playing theincluded tutorial missions, hone and test your skills by loadinghistorical battles, or enter the campaign mode and go for the ultimategoal: becoming shogun.

Campaign play is divided into two portions--the strategic overview mapwhere you manage your armies and provinces, and the tactical combatmode where battles are fought. The strategy portion isn't too deep.There aren't many buildings or unit types to build, and the diplomaticoptions are limited. It merely serves to provide a frame for the battlesequences, and that's where Shogun really shines.

Battles are fought on beautiful 3-D landscapes, with forests to hidein, fortifications to storm, and rolling hills to climb. Weathereffects like rain and snow aren't just there for looks--they have adramatic impact on gameplay. Wet conditions will render the match-litguns useless and also decrease the range of archers because theirbowstrings get wet. Troops get bogged down by wet gear, and high windspush arrows aside. Even the seasons affect battles, as longer orshorter days in the summer and winter determine how long you have todefeat your foe (or how long you must fend off an assault).

But weather and time are the least of your worries. Effectivelymanaging your troops is the key to victory and also the toughest aspectof the game. There are dozens of formations to choose from and hundredsof tactical tricks to exploit. Keeping your archers, cavalry units, andvarious types of foot samurai all pointing the right way andeffectively supporting one another is half the battle. The gameinterface and keyboard shortcuts make things easier, butShogun's manual is just terrible. A simulation this fast pacedand complex deserves thorough and accurate documentation, but you'llhave to buy the separate strategy guide to get any worthwhileinformation. Fortunately, those with a little patience and an interestin the game should be able to figure things out, and they'll berewarded with one of the most realistic and fun real-time war gamesavailable. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Realistic terrain and weather have an actual impact on gameplay
• Control thousands of troops at once using historical formations
• Strategy elements in the campaign mode complement the tacticalbattles and add to gameplay
• Includes footage from Kurosawa's classic Ran

• Worthless manual
• Weak tutorial missions

Editorial Review

With new units, new artwork, new video cut scenes, and a new multiplayer game mode, Firestorm is a solid add-on that will certainly appeal to fans of Tiberian Sun. Like every game in the Command & Conquer series, Firestorm lets you play as either the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) or the Brotherhood of NOD. Each side gets nine new missions to undertake, with both sides struggling to tie up loose ends left over from the Tiberian Sun game. While there aren't very many new missions in this expansion pack, fans of the series will appreciate Firestorm's solid mission design and variety of new units.

GDI players get to build and command mobile EMP cannons, long-range Juggernaut artillery units, and the mighty mobile war factory, which allows you to build military units at just about any location on the battlefield. NOD players get a mobile stealth generator, a diabolical cyborg unit called the Reaper, and their own version of the mobile war factory, dubbed The Fist of NOD. In addition, many of the original Tiberian Sun units have been upgraded or enhanced in Firestorm.

Another cool feature is the new World Domination multiplayer mode. In World Domination, literally thousands of players can take part in a tournament between GDI and NOD, as each side tries to take over the entire world. With the world map divided up into many small regions, players attempt to help their side by winning one region at a time. Once one side has control of the entire globe, the game resets.

Despite the hype surrounding its development and release, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun did little to revolutionize the real-time strategy genre. It did, however, provide more of the classic RTS game play that made the original Command & Conquer and its Red Alert prequel so popular. The same holds true for Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun: Firestorm. --Michael E. Ryan

Pros:

• More real-time strategy in the C&C universe
• New units for both GDI and NOD forces
• Great new multiplayer mode: World Domination

• Only nine new missions per side
• More real-time strategy in the C&C universe

Editorial Review

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, Yuri's Revenge sets a new standard for expansion packs in both what it adds to the game and how it changes the way you play it. The world is once again on the brink of apocalypse. Yuri, the brilliant and powerful psychic warrior, has rebelled against his former Soviet masters and launched his own scheme to control the world. He's armed with cruel technologies, exotic weapons, and mind-controlling devices that have enslaved entire cities.

In single play, gamers can choose to command the Allies and crush this new threat to freedom, or choose to lead the Soviets and punish this would-be usurper of the Soviet global vision. In multiplayer mode, you'll command Yuri's devastating army using devious weapons based on forbidden technologies: psychic thought, genetics, and cloning. See your brutes flip over tanks with their bare hands, unleash your dominator and control scores of enemy troops, or use a virus to infect opposing forces foolish enough to resist you. With 10 new cooperative missions, gamers have more interesting options than just fighting head-to-head. An improved multiplayer and tournament interface will make it easier than ever to find opponents and allies.

Editorial Review

After years of war, Earth lies in ruins. Now, it is plummeting into the sun. Your only chance for survival is to fight your way onto a shuttle to Mars. In a deteriorating landscape with hostile weather conditions, you'll need all your cunning and intelligence to defeat your enemies.

You can engage in Internet or LAN matches for up to eight players with the multiplayer mode. An easy-to-use map editor lets you create your own mission map and post it to the Internet for immediate download. Mattel Interactive will also make a steady stream of new maps and other surprises available on the Internet.

Editorial Review

Dark experiments have permanently altered time. Or have they? Now, Soviet tanks crush city after city while Allied cruisers shell bases. Spies lurk, land mines wait, and strange new technologies aid both sides in their struggle for ultimate control.

Asin: B00000JQQM
Sales Rank: 3455
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Strategy Games    3. Military    4. C&C    5. Nintendo 64 (Nintendo64)    6. N64    7. Action    8. Adventure    9. Strategy (Stategic)    10. Great Deals (Outlet store)