Command & Conquer: Generals (PC)

Command and Conquer Generals is the latest addition to the command and conquer series.

Produced by EA games it allows you to build your base, defend you base and destroy your enemy and your enemies base and build great armies and lead them to victory.
Command and Conquer Generals is a strategy warfare game and has changed a great deal from all of the original Command and Conquer games.
The game is now in 3D graphics and ...
...internet.

The Command and Conquer series has always been developed by a company called, ‘Westwood’, but now EA games have taken over and there are several similarities that distinguish it has been produced by EA games.

Before I go into game details I will tell you all about the technical details so you know if it suitable for your pc or not.

The minimum systems requirements for the game are:-

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Command and Conquer Generals is the latest addition to the command and conquer series.

Produced by EA games it allows you to build your base, defend you base and destroy your enemy and your enemies base and build great armies and lead them to victory.
Command and Conquer Generals is a strategy warfare game and has changed a great deal from all of the original Command and Conquer games.
The game is now in 3D graphics and is aesthetically pleasing, but unfortunately looks don’t count for everything. Also you can now play multiplayer games on the internet.

The Command and Conquer series has always been developed by a company called, ‘Westwood’, but now EA games have taken over and there are several similarities that distinguish it has been produced by EA games.

Before I go into game details I will tell you all about the technical details so you know if it suitable for your pc or not.

The minimum systems requirements for the game are:-

(Solo & 2 player multiplayer)
1. Windows 98/ME/2000/XP (Windows 95/NT not supported).
2. 800 MHz Intel Pentium III or AMD Athlon processor.
3. 128 MB RAM.
4. 8X CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive.
5. 1.8 GB free hard disk space plus space for saved games.
6. 32 MB video card (Nvidia Geforce 2, ATI Radeon 7500 AGP video card) with DirectX 8.1 compatible driver.
7. DirectX 8.1 compatible 16-bit sound card.
8. Keyboard.
9. Mouse.

(Solo & 2-8 multiplayer)
1. 1.8 GHz or faster Intel Pentium IV or AMD processor.
2. 256 MB or more of RAM.
3. 8X or faster CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive.
4. 1.8 GB free hard disk space plus space for saved games.
5. Nvidia Geforce 3 or more recent Direct 3D capable video card.

(Internet 2-4 players)
1. 56 Kbps or faster internet connection.
2. One full set of game discs per player.

(Internet 5-8 players)
1. Cable, DSL or faster internet connection.
2. One full set of game discs per player.

(Network 2-8 players)
1. TCP/IP compliant network.

There are 2 discs for the game. To install the game, insert disc one into your CD-ROM drive and choose the path where you want it to install to and then when prompted insert disc two to finish installation.
If you have two CD-ROM drives I strongly recommend using the same one throughout installation.

That is it for the technical details, so let’s get on to the game.

As I mentioned, there are several trademarks which make it obvious it has been produced by EA games.
Mainly it appears to have been rushed and the other thing I particularly dislike is the fact it has been bulked out with too many video clips/scenes instead of more game play.

I have always been a fan of the Command and Conquer series and have owned everyone on the Playstation and the pc. I was eagerly awaiting Generals but it was a very disappointing result when I finally got to play it.

So what’s new and what is Command and Conquer Generals all about?

When Command and Conquer Generals loads you will be at the main menu screen. From here you can start a single player game, start a multiplayer game, load a saved game/replay, change your audio, video and network options, see the credits and exit the game.

As in previous Command and Conquer games when you start a single player game you have the choice to start game missions/campaigns or play skirmishes. Skirmishes are single player battles that simulate a multiplayer game by using computer controlled opponents.
Differences are already apparent here. There is now the option to play a training game to teach you the C+C basics and you only have the choice to use 3 countries but previously there was a great list of countries you could pick for your army or to battle against.
The only countries available to use are the USA, China and the GLA. The GLA is the Global Liberation Army and is a loose federation of freedom fighters and terrorists. They have established strongholds in the republics of central Asia.

I have heard many people say they will not play the game as there is too much action going off and it is too difficult keeping on top of the game, sending units off to battle, building new units and constructing new buildings all in one go. Do not let this put you off. Play the game your self and see. All of the C+C series, including Generals is simply a click and point and scroll game. It is really that simple, click on a unit/construction and point where you want it to go/what you want it to build.
Don’t get me wrong it is not boring and effortless. It does require a lot of thought and is very fun.

If you choose to play the missions you start off by picking the country you want to be and what map you wish to fight on. Each country has 7 campaigns to complete. Each must be completed before you can progress to the next campaign. Each campaign has its own set of objectives. There is a great variety of mission objectives ranging from simply guarding a specific building/person/entire base, destroying bridges/enemy targets/complete enemy bases and units, capturing buildings/units/supplies to build your own base into a massive powerful success and completely wiping out all traces of enemy .
So basically the game is based on modern day war but you are in charge and you make all of the decisions whether it be right or wrong.
After certain tasks/campaigns have successfully been carried out you will be promoted, which will allow better constructions/units/bonuses.

Deciding on which country to pick is entirely up to you. There is no one country better than the other. Each country has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The USA has a command centre, which enables you to build construction dozers, which then enables you to build a barracks and a cold fusion reactor (power plant). These constructions then allow you to build patriot missiles to defend your base, a supply centre so you can collect supplies, which then allows you to construct a war factory (tanks, APC’s etc) and an air field.
After you have constructed these you will then have access to construct a strategy centre, which leads to a supply drop zone, a detention camp and most dangerous of all the particle cannon.

China has a command centre, which enables you to build a construction dozer, which then enables you to build a nuclear reactor (power plant) and a barracks. These constructions then allow you to construct gattling cannons and bunkers to defend your base and a supply centre so you can collect supplies.
Again this allows the construction of a war factory (tanks etc) and an air field.
Next is the propaganda centre, which enables you to construct speaker towers and devastating nuclear missiles.

The GLA again has a command centre, which enables you to use workers to construct a barracks and a supply stash, so you can collect supplies. After you have constructed these you can construct an arms dealer (tanks, trucks etc) and stinger sites and tunnel networks to defend your base. Next you can build demo traps, which is another defence mechanism. Basically it is a barrel packed with explosives. Also you can build a palace, which allows the GLA to develop anthrax and toxin shells. Lastly there is the black market, which allows the GLA to develop ammunition upgrades and then the mighty scud storm, which fires nine scud rockets paced with anthrax and is devastating to the enemy.
If you play a skirmish game the idea to it is build your army and base up as quick as possible and track down and completely eradicate all enemy units and buildings. The first country to do this is victorious. This is the same if you play multiplayer games too.

Here are my personal opinions on the game. As I have previously mentioned the 3D graphics are fantastic and really makes the game look the part. The in game sounds are just as good too with the shooting and loud explosions going off.
I enjoy playing the game as it is fun and challenging but it is lacking in several areas.
One major change from the C+C series is the levels seem to be shorter and fewer and none of the countries have a navy?
Quite often the pre-level scene takes longer to watch than the mission actually takes to play. It wouldn’t be so bad if you could skip it and get straight into action but you can’t.

The videos are a good idea but would not be a problem if you could choose to see them or not. The thing that annoys me about them is whilst you are waiting for your mission to load you get told your mission objectives and then when it had loaded you have to listen to it all again whilst you watch the video.

The other downfall to the game was it only took a week to complete compared to the other C+C games. I was expecting much more than what I got.

Overall it is an enjoyable game but a disappointment to what I expected and to what I am used to playing in the C+C series.

I hope I have helped you.
Thank you.
Maria.

 

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