From one longstanding series to another, Command and Conquer 4 from EA is said to be the last installment in the fifteen year running series. Known for its live acting cutscenes from the era of Wing Commander, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Hootie and the Blowfish and very difficult strategic gameplay, the C+C series always had a distinct personality compared to other strategy games. Much of that was probably due to arch nemesis Kane’s bald head and snide quips while he lead the opposing force NOD or National Organization on Disability. So does C+C go out like a lamb or a lion?
Well to start it off the live action cutscenes are again in full swing. Kane is back and looks as good as he did when he first unveiled himself from under the hood, but the GDI forces look a little more unrecognizable and a mishmosh of who knows who. The storyline picks up right where it left off in the last game with the alien forces defeated even though their pylons still remained on Earth. Kane is revealed to have more to do with these aliens than previously thought and he attempts to ascend through the pylons. Many of the same units are back in this installment including the classic mammoth tanks, as well as plenty of new additions, but units are now separated in an unexpected way.
A new change in C+C4 is the ridding the previous required building creations for units and resource gathering of everyone’s favorite radioactive element Tiberium. Now instead a flat cap on population totals is given with each unit needing different points to create them. This in turn creates a micromanagement game of properly countering the enemy with units based on strengths and weaknesses such as rocket wielders versus air units, chocolate against peanut butter, etc. A unique addition to this is the separation of types of units. Since resource gathering has disappeared, building creation is also missing and is instead replaced mobile bases. There are three types of mobile bases, offensive, defensive, and support, each with their own strategies. While being placed in the fray of war, a new and different base can be called to the battlefield allowing you to mix and match types of units temporarily and also plays importantly in multiplay.
The offensive base contains heavy vehicular units more powerful than the other two bases, the defensive uses more smaller individual troops but can build structures like laser towers and bunkers, and the supportive base builds mainly air units and can also use added powers on your troops in the field such as quick repair. With the base mobility and tight population caps, most of the game turns into utilization of the terrain while you micromanage individual battles. Against the computer AI, the scale of difficultly is on par with predecessors by being having to go 1v3 or 1v2 against it. A solid challenge for sure but an annoying one like attempting to rally your ant farm against alien ant farm.
Both factions have available single player missions to undertake if that is your forte. What is somewhat surprising though is the total number of missions for both sides, numbering under ten, some of which can be conquered very quickly. This makes for a lightning fast single player game leaving players to either dwell on past C+C memories, pondering why the title shares anything with vampires, or muster onward to multiplayer. The graphics are way behind in this date and age even for a strategy game while the controls are quite simple to master.
Quite simply and as writing this review has also reminded me of how unmotivated C+C4 made me feel, C+C4 only gives disappointment to a once great series as it would seem EA was just attempting to throw together a finale for the extra cash using the name to sell the game. No huge improvements are made, the story ends expectedly but with a blandness that even live actors can’t save, and the gameplay is boring and lacking enough to shed tears over. It would be best to visit the cemetery of games, pay your dues, and move on to new games. So bring your best black attire, a single rose, and kiss Command and Conquer goodbye.
Rating = 1.0 {out of –10 to 10}
Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
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