this has got to be one of the greatest computer games ever created...the game that sets the standard for every other strategy game. not only does this game include hours of exciting gameplay, it also includes fantastic cut-scenes as well as an intricate story plot. every gamer should own this game. if you like strategy games, this is the game for you.
12 Reviews
The RTS revolution starts here.
Kinitawowi13 July 2007
The debate rages on - what was the first ever RTS? Herzog Zwei? Stonkers? Dune 2? No-one's really sure - so much depends on the definition of "RTS" (and, for that matter, "first") that even Railroad Tycoon has seen entry into the fray. What is certain is that it was Dune 2 that put Westwood Studios on the map and planted the seeds of what the RTS would eventually become. Blizzard's original Warcraft ran some more with the idea, but it's Command And Conquer: Tiberian Dawn that truly set the world alight.
Dune 2 struggled with a quirky unit cap, caused simply by a shortage of processing power. C&C has no such limitations, and battles featuring scores of men and tanks over a multitude of landscapes looked stunning in addition to playing well. The linking FMVs are absorbingly written and acted - witness General Sheppard's growing frustration and rage throughout the pursuit of Kane, which is believable and compelling. These improvements marked the true beginning of the CD age of PC gaming - with this game showing what was possible, the floppy disc was dead and buried.
The story is as well-known and standardised as it is irrelevant - two organisations compete for resources and military supremacy. It's the little differences and quirks between the Global Defence Initiative (a spin off from the UN) and the Brotherhood of NOD (as old and biblical as character names like Kane and Seth are intended to imply) that grant the game the longevity, acclaim, sequels and spinoffs that it has maintained in the twelve years since.
A juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing down, and it kicked off in 1995. Now available again as part of the First Decade pack, this is a milestone of gaming that still plays well today.
Dune 2 struggled with a quirky unit cap, caused simply by a shortage of processing power. C&C has no such limitations, and battles featuring scores of men and tanks over a multitude of landscapes looked stunning in addition to playing well. The linking FMVs are absorbingly written and acted - witness General Sheppard's growing frustration and rage throughout the pursuit of Kane, which is believable and compelling. These improvements marked the true beginning of the CD age of PC gaming - with this game showing what was possible, the floppy disc was dead and buried.
The story is as well-known and standardised as it is irrelevant - two organisations compete for resources and military supremacy. It's the little differences and quirks between the Global Defence Initiative (a spin off from the UN) and the Brotherhood of NOD (as old and biblical as character names like Kane and Seth are intended to imply) that grant the game the longevity, acclaim, sequels and spinoffs that it has maintained in the twelve years since.
A juggernaut that shows no signs of slowing down, and it kicked off in 1995. Now available again as part of the First Decade pack, this is a milestone of gaming that still plays well today.
One of the original RTS games... and arguably the one fathering the biggest franchise of such
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews11 April 2007
Before I commence with this review, I must regrettably inform anyone reading that due to game-crashing bugs that I have been unable to work around(yup, in both campaigns), I have not finished this game recently... so my review will be based in part what I've played of it over the last few days, which makes up about half of the game put together, and what I remember of playing it back when it was new. This came out around the time of StarCraft(don't believe the year on that game's IMDb listing; 1998 was the year that marked the release of Brood War, the expansion pack, not the original game, which came out four years earlier), so comparisons are logical to draw. One of the first things that you will find this has that StarCraft doesn't is areal damage. This has flames, grenades and explosions... whereas in the futuristic RTS title, you either attack a certain object... or don't attack at all. True, some damage can affect more than one target... such as the blast of the Siege Tank... but this has a much smoother and more versatile engine for such. In both games, most of the stuff in-between levels is briefings, with occasional cut-scenes that tell back-story, further the plot... or just plain look cool. Blizzard's game had the looser, more colorful style(possibly due to the science fiction genre of it), where even the humans were animated, and Westwood's... that would be this one... was more realistic and natural. Sure, we can tell today that it was green-screened, and the CGI no longer has as much of an effect... but it was an ambitious project, and the drive still clearly comes through. Playing this after one has played the later Command & Conquer titles(yup, it's not only the title of this, the first game... but also the franchise as a whole, including the ones that take place in different "universes" than this one), you miss some of the later features and such... but once you get used to it, you find that this had more than enough to keep you entertained, and most of the features that people love about these games were present right from the start. Selecting multiple troops and assigning the squads numbers, the radar window(which has a zoom feature that I'm afraid did not last long in this franchise), great scenarios... not to mention the cool units, awesome style, and the music. To take them in the order I've just mentioned... you've got the grenadier, and the flame-thrower, to name one from each side, both of which can hit several units with a single attack, but which are also dangerous to keep in clusters, because if one goes, his arsenal goes with him... his fellow soldiers burning up with him(War is the H-word, as the Futurama episode title goes), several cool tanks which pack a punch but of course also move slower than the less armored and armed vehicles, and last but most *definitely* not least, the Commando, who can take out enemy troops in a single shot, and blow buildings up with explosives. The style is not overdone, but rather very easy to take in, and you feel as though you're in a cool alternate world, or possibly just in the not too distant future. And the music... adrenaline-pumping techno to get you in the war-waging mood, with around a dozen diverse pieces. The missions are all very good, and the difficulty of them increases as it should. Many objectives will seem relatively similar, but the many different level designs help to keep things interesting. After each level, the game lists percentages for how many of your own men you kept alive as well as how many of the enemy's you neutralized, as well as the same for buildings and a count of how many credits you had left at the completion of the level, and a time for how long it took you. There's a top 10 list of scores that lets you put in your name, which, together with all the levels that there are several different versions of(only one of which you may play each play-through) keeps the re-playability quite high. The game also offers multi-player, over modem, internet or network. In this, as in other RTS titles, later C&C ones as well as StarCraft, you can play as both the good guys and the bad guys... the first being GDI, the Global Defense Initiative, who were established as peace-keepers and who seek to rid the world of terrorists, and The Brotherhood of NOD, a religious cult that wish to control the planet(you *know* they've got serious megalomania when their barracks(named The Hand of NOD) is a large hand with the world in its palm) and rule it according to their beliefs. Now, when you play as NOD, you will find that the leader makes a rather powerful entrance when you first see him; his name is Kane, and he's got charisma and screen presence enough for several dozen warlords, each one more brilliant than the last. Joseph D. Kucan portrays him, and he is... incidentally... also the man behind these games. Whenever Kane makes an appearance in any of these games, Kucan is the one doing the acting. And whenever he is on screen, he *has* your attention. The actors are all fairly good, but he stands out as the best. Now, I'm afraid there are also a few things about this game that are negative... the AI, for example, could have used some work. The AI programming is about the same as StarCraft, all in all... each has good and bad points. The plot and story-telling is quite good, especially for a game from the mid-nineties. While ID Software were busy making bleak monsters for players to blast away, Westwood were doing well-done cinematics with CGI. I recommend this to any fan of the franchise as well as people who just plain enjoy RTS gaming. Cool, fun and well done. 8/10
Perfection only bettered by its own sequel
gelziabar14 November 2006
Command and Conquer-1 was a massive game when it released and thats an understatement. How many games of the time had full length cinematics to explain the story? From its kickass opening sequence to the adrenalin rush of its gameplay, Command and Conquer will be remembered as the best strategy game of all time. Although many levels could be completed with sheer brute force, it was still very difficult and forced the player to actually evolve some innovative tactics of his own. The player was also suitably rewarded for completing each of the hard levels, with the cinematics. With two sides to play, the game is very long but never boring at any single point. C&C and C&C Red Alert represent major turning points in gaming history.
super!!!
vincent_romeijn10 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This game may be one of the best games ever made. It is very good. It is funny to play. The strategic parts are very good. Well, it is an old game but it is very good. The Full Motion Video is also very good. I usually play as G.D.I. If you like Command & Conquer games, play this one! It is better than Red Alert or Tiberian Sun.
It begins in Europe with the G.D.I., and in Africa with N.O.D. And multiplayer is also cool. Some times I play as the Brothership of Nod, and that's also fun. Great music, great graphics for the time, realistic and good storyline, nice acting... it is one of the best games ever made in. It is an old, cool, great, good, super game.
It begins in Europe with the G.D.I., and in Africa with N.O.D. And multiplayer is also cool. Some times I play as the Brothership of Nod, and that's also fun. Great music, great graphics for the time, realistic and good storyline, nice acting... it is one of the best games ever made in. It is an old, cool, great, good, super game.
Outstanding RTS
cherylkyrandia29 March 2023
This video game pioneered the real time strategy genre and brings you into a fantasy sci fi world where the world is overrun by a substance called tiberium. This valuable but toxic substance is the essence of the game and makes for a very stimulating narrative. In the midst of this mysterious compound overtaking the world is the war between the terrorist group - the brotherhood of Nod led by the enigmatic Kane and the "good guys" - the Global Defence Initiative (GDI).
The game is propelled by an awesome soundtrack and engaging live action cutscenes. The acting is phenomenal and draws you into the story. A must-watch/play.
The game is propelled by an awesome soundtrack and engaging live action cutscenes. The acting is phenomenal and draws you into the story. A must-watch/play.
Command & Conquer (1995)
matthewjohnson-009518 May 2020
The best
gillmurphydogg31 December 2022
This has hands-down got to be one of the best cutscene-based game ever. One of the pioneers even! At least in the RTS space. I have fond memories of watching Joe Kucan as Kane terrorize the GDI. It's a great story and one that hopefully one day will get its own films!
Of course the quality of the video was limited by the times- only so much data could be stored on CDs back then. But do play this game or watch the cutscenes on YouTube, you won't be disappointed. The music is like techno-military-funk, it's very unique and well-done by Frank Klepacki. Hopefully EA Games will also revive the franchise for us. 8/10.
Of course the quality of the video was limited by the times- only so much data could be stored on CDs back then. But do play this game or watch the cutscenes on YouTube, you won't be disappointed. The music is like techno-military-funk, it's very unique and well-done by Frank Klepacki. Hopefully EA Games will also revive the franchise for us. 8/10.
Great start to the franchise
therealkromaxtra4 May 2023
If you're a fan of real time strategy games, you'll love this classic game that really sets off this genre. The game revolves around this substance called tiberium, a mysterious resource that seems to be growing across the world - it's both a precious resource but very toxic to humans who get near it. It's almost like nuclear power, one could say. And in this context, you have the choice of playing as the noble Global Defence Initiative or the more enigmatic but also, technically "bad guy" faction, the brotherhood of Nod. They are led by their fearless cult-like leader, Kane, who provides some great entertainment through their campaign.
Command&Conquer aged really well
Knersuz1 July 2008
I guess it is a bit irrelevant to rate a computer game 13 years after it's release. C&C's legacy speaks for itself. However, the only reason people would play it nowadays is because of nostalgia or out of curiosity. Mine was the latter.
I have never played a C&C game before and must admit that for such an old game it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Playing the game one quickly realises why it was such a hit 13 years ago, and even though graphics, gameplay and AI of RTS games improved considerably since 1995, it seems pretty cutting edge for the mid-nineties and actually aged relatively well.
I believe it's one of the first RTS game that introduced opposing sides where units were not simply copies of each other, but where sides were unevenly matched and had different strenghts and weaknesses. The game also had a strong storyline (unlike another hit of that time, Quake) and video cut-scenes(that were a bit rare back in those days).
For the single player campaign, the gameplay has a interesting balance in that it is fairly simple to survive the AI attacks on your base because the idiot AI insists to keep attacking your base with a small number of units at a time (a minor nuisance to a well defended base). But capturing your AI opponents well-defended base is sometimes extremely difficult without exploiting a quirk in the AI.
The stupid AI is C&C's biggest drawback, for example the AI pays little attention to protect his valuable (and expensive) harvester, and will simply replace it every time you destroy it. So by keeping on destroying the AI opponents harvester, your AI opponent will eventually run out of money, and you can take your time to conquer your now penniless opponent.
One last thing the Kane character (Joseph D. Kucan)- I just don't get it... Why does everyone say he is so scary/charismatic???? For me the guy is just kind of goofy, and I tried my best to be amazed by his presence.
Overall, an old RTS game that aged really well, is still enjoyable and worth a play if you haven't tried it before.
I have never played a C&C game before and must admit that for such an old game it was thoroughly enjoyable.
Playing the game one quickly realises why it was such a hit 13 years ago, and even though graphics, gameplay and AI of RTS games improved considerably since 1995, it seems pretty cutting edge for the mid-nineties and actually aged relatively well.
I believe it's one of the first RTS game that introduced opposing sides where units were not simply copies of each other, but where sides were unevenly matched and had different strenghts and weaknesses. The game also had a strong storyline (unlike another hit of that time, Quake) and video cut-scenes(that were a bit rare back in those days).
For the single player campaign, the gameplay has a interesting balance in that it is fairly simple to survive the AI attacks on your base because the idiot AI insists to keep attacking your base with a small number of units at a time (a minor nuisance to a well defended base). But capturing your AI opponents well-defended base is sometimes extremely difficult without exploiting a quirk in the AI.
The stupid AI is C&C's biggest drawback, for example the AI pays little attention to protect his valuable (and expensive) harvester, and will simply replace it every time you destroy it. So by keeping on destroying the AI opponents harvester, your AI opponent will eventually run out of money, and you can take your time to conquer your now penniless opponent.
One last thing the Kane character (Joseph D. Kucan)- I just don't get it... Why does everyone say he is so scary/charismatic???? For me the guy is just kind of goofy, and I tried my best to be amazed by his presence.
Overall, an old RTS game that aged really well, is still enjoyable and worth a play if you haven't tried it before.
The best command and conquer game
tom-durham28 April 2016
Thanks to the windows 95 version of this game, it is still playable today with a multiplayer patch that uses TCP/IP.
Although you can still lose a connection.
With an excellent assortment of futuristic units, two totally different yet balanced sides, a great story, great sound track, full motion video, smooth unit animations and outstanding multiplayer where games last 30 minutes, this game really hit a home run when it was released in 1995!
The NOD missions have the best videos, but are harder than the GDI missions.
Although you can still lose a connection.
With an excellent assortment of futuristic units, two totally different yet balanced sides, a great story, great sound track, full motion video, smooth unit animations and outstanding multiplayer where games last 30 minutes, this game really hit a home run when it was released in 1995!
The NOD missions have the best videos, but are harder than the GDI missions.
Bring back Joe Kucan
mrkkdude5 March 2022
This is one of the best gaming universes of all time. I really liked Kane- he added a lot of grit to this universe that I haven't seen in many video games with live action sequences. Worth a stroll down memory lane and play.
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