Thoughts

It's hard to know what to make of the game from the short play we've had at it. Initially, however, we're pretty worried. Yes, there's no doubt that C&C was alegendary game that formed a milestone in PC gaming. It's also true that subsequent games in the universe have been pretty lame. What EA has done is to therefore go and make this latest game in the image of the first. Sounds ideal, right?

Well, maybe, but it's not always a good idea. C&C3 feels, initially, like a 1995 game with 2007 production values. Where have we seen this before? Doom 3. Sure, Doom was legendary, and it sparked a revolution. Sure, Quake had taken the series off in other questionable directions. But I think we all know that Doom 3 proved that 1995 gameplay and 2005 visuals don't make for an awesome experience - you just end up with eye candy that feels boring and old.

What C&C really needs is an injection of something new, a new set of mechanics or advances that add to the old game and complement it, rather than simply tacking on a new graphics engine and hoping that it all pulls together. Will the new Scrin race be that injection? With the revamped UI be that injection? I don't know, but I fear not. For the final verdict on C&C3, we'll just have to wait until the full game hits the shelves in a few weeks.