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It was an instant classic, delivering inventive gameplay with a compelling plotline, which was told with the lavish use of FMV sequences. This made it a spectacular experience to play through, and it was also a multiplayer favourite.
Since those heady days, the series has enjoyed varied success. An 'alternative timeline' was set up in Command & Conquer: Red Alert, forming the basis for a secondary series of games based on the name. The main series, with its plotline of the Global Defence Initiative v The Brotherhood of Nod, endured numerous so-so titles, including Tiberian Sun (notable for being one of the only 3D games to use voxels) and Renegade.
However, the third iteration of the game is almost upon us. C&C3: Tiberium Wars claims to chronicle the third Tiberium war, which may or may not decide the fate of humanity, the GDI and Nod (possibly depending on whether EA wants to spin off another sequel or not). The game brings back the classic C&C gameplay, mixes it up with new FMV sequences enacted by some of TV's hot properties, and whacks on a stunning new graphics engine just for the hell of it. Can C&C3 restore the series to its former glory?
The big plot news
So the one thing we do know is that there will be some form of conclusion to the overall Nod / GDI / Tiberium war, which will take place with the aid of a new, playable race - the Scrin. The Scrin are a race of aliens who have been hiding, dormant, in our solar system for hundreds of years, waiting for humanity to progress itself to the point required for whatever their malevolent end is.They are linked to the Tiberium infestation - how, we're not exactly sure, but given that the Tiberium is itself extra-terrestrial, might we suppose that the Scrin and the Tiberium might be intimately linked? However that particular part of the story pans out, the introduction of the Scrin to the playable game, with a campaign of their own, will be an interesting new perspective on the conflict.
The plot will be told with the use of elaborate FMV sequences, as with the first game. In recent years, FMV hasn't exactly been a much-used plot device, with in-game cut-scenes being preferred. However, the return to FMV marks an attempt to recreate some of the old-school flavour of the first game. There are some big Hollywood names on board to make this happen, too.
Sawyer, from Lost, plays a general, while Cameron from House takes on a GDI role in a super-hot tight uniform. Lando Calrissian plays more of a respectable diplomat than a scoundrel, whilst there are a couple of hotties from Battlestar Galactica that also depart from their usual sci-fi space station antics to, well, do some more sci-fi space station antics. The EA team developing the game has even brought back Joe Kucan, the guy that originally played Kane, to reprise the role with his particular brand of manic portrayal.
The new interface
So the FMV marks a return to the past. The Scrin are something new. It's appropriate, then, that the user interface marks a line between the two, attempting to blend the old-style C&C side bar with newer interfaces that have worked well for games like Supreme Commander and World of Warcraft.The interface is still mounted on the side, and it's familiar to C&C gamers instantly. It has some of the best characteristics - the ability to manage build queues from across the battlefield, for instance. The side bar has a series of tabs that allow a competent commander to quickly get a grasp on what's going on. There are build buttons, production queues, contextual buttons, as well as buttons to toggle power, resource sells and repairs. There are also unit specific controls - notifiers for special abilities, veterancy, unit upgrades and the like.
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