Command & Conquer

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.