Youthful players will not be too conversant in Command & Conquer, however there was as soon as a time when the IP was just about synonymous with the real-time technique style. The primary Command & Conquer sport, which was launched in 1995 and predates style juggernauts like StarCraft and Complete Battle, kicked off a dynasty of trend-setting technique titles and spin-offs, paving the way in which for a franchise flooded with iconic releases.
The primary Command & Conquer loved main success and was instantly adopted by the Command & Conquer: Purple Alert spin-off in 1996. The sturdy business and critical performance of Red Alert led to a bifurcation of the sequence, with the mainline video games being referred to as the Tiberian video games, after the fictional substance on the coronary heart of their multi-game plot. The sequence could be prolific all through the 2000s, receiving a number of mainline and spin-off installments, together with the FPS Command & Conquer: Renegade. However regardless of its attain, status, and bustling on-line multiplayer and modding neighborhood, Command & Conquer largely fell off the face of the earth by the tip of the last decade, with the final official mainline entry being Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight in early 2010.
The Golden Age of Command & Conquer
Westwood Studios’ first main RTS truly had nothing to do with Command & Conquer: the Vegas-based studio initially discovered success with Dune 2 in 1993. Regardless of this sport being warmly acquired, Westwood opted as an alternative to craft a special IP, one constructed round distinct terrain, lore, and know-how. Thus, the first Command & Conquer was born.
Command & Conquer is about within the close to future, after humanity has come into contact with Tiberium, an enigmatic substance with excessive worth matched solely by its volatility and dangerous results. A cultish society called the Brotherhood of Nod claims to have foretold the arrival of Tiberium, worshiping it as a form of sacred manna. This places the group at odds with the International Protection Initiative, a transnational anti-terrorist group. The sport is forked into two totally different campaigns, one the place the participant helps the International Protection Initiative, and one the place they work for the Brotherhood of Nod.
This near-future sci-fi premise and cut up marketing campaign construction would come to outline Command & Conquer shifting ahead. The sequence was successfully damaged into two essential collections:
- The Tiberian Command & Conquer video games observe the story premise established by the primary Command & Conquer. Recognized to have extra severe themes and more and more distinguished science-fiction components.
- The Purple Alert Command & Conquer video games happen earlier than humanity makes contact with Tiberium. They observe an alternate historical past premise the place the Soviet Union launches a serious offensive towards the Ally nations. Recognized to have a extra lighthearted tone, which turned extra pronounced with every entry.
The Turning Level of Command & Conquer
Digital Arts purchased Westwood Studios in 1998, simply two years after the discharge of the primary Purple Alert. EA oversaw Westwood Studios because it developed and shipped Command & Conquer: Tiberian Solar, Purple Alert 2, and Renegade, the FPS spin-off. Regardless of these video games being well-received critically, EA deemed that Renegade and Earth & Past, a fledgling MMO undertaking from Westwood, failed to fulfill gross sales expectations. Westwood Studios was officially closed in 2003, and growth of the Command & Conquer franchise was transferred to EA Los Angeles.
A number of Westwood builders would go on to type Petroglyph Video games, recognized for authentic initiatives like Guardians of Graxia and 8-Bit Armies.
EA Los Angeles was in a position to do justice to the Command & Conquer legacy for just a few entries, transport well-regarded games like Command & Conquer: Generals and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberian Wars. The LA outfit additionally proved that it may efficiently oscillate between the Tiberian and Purple Alert C&C video games. However many longtime followers agreed that EA Los Angeles had solely refined and constructed upon what Westwood had already created. The Command & Conquer franchise was working low on new concepts.
These new concepts would come, however not in the way in which most gamers needed. Whereas Generals, Tiberian Wars, and Purple Alert 3 had been usually well-received, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight marked a brand new essential and business low for the sequence. Critics and gamers alike argued that, amongst different issues, Tiberian Twilight was too different from the original C&C formula, de-emphasizing or eradicating key mechanics like useful resource gathering.
How Command & Conquer Unraveled
Tiberian Twilight is not with out its deserves, however it was the start of the tip for Command & Conquer. The sport was the worst-reviewed entry within the sequence by a substantial margin, sitting at a troubling 64 combination on Metacritic. Sadly, future Command & Conquer video games would do little to reverse this downslide.
EA Los Angeles rebranded to Hazard Shut Video games in 2010, shifting its focus to the Medal of Honor sequence. Command & Conquer was cut up between EA Phenomic and EA Redwood Studios, which produced Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances and Command & Conquer: Rivals, respectively. Tiberium Alliances was swiftly met with accusations of plagiarizing Warhammer 40,000, and whereas EA put out this fireplace early on, the ultimate consequence was nonetheless underwhelming. The 2012 MMORTS was largely written off as a lukewarm, watered-down sport that had valuable little in widespread with C&C fundamentals.
Command & Conquer: Rivals fared even worse. Launched in 2018, this cellular free-to-play sport has solely a cursory connection to the broader C&C franchise, and though it is maintained a considerably loyal cellular viewers, it is extensively thought-about one of many worst entries within the sequence.
Failed Reboots and a Area of interest Market
Command & Conquer stays iconic and beloved by many, no because of its most up-to-date entries. EA made an try to revitalize the sequence within the wake of Tiberian Twilight, announcing Command & Conquer: Generals 2 in 2011. This may need had promise, contemplating the sturdy reception to the primary Generals, however Generals 2 was shortly was a free-to-play cellular sport merely referred to as Command & Conquer, initially being slated for a 2013 launch. However in response to EA, early entry participant suggestions was so detrimental that it warranted a whole cancellation. The FTP reboot was thereby scrapped, and its developer, Victory Video games, was shut down.
At the moment, the notion of the Command & Conquer mobile game is considerably combined. Amongst those that claimed to have performed the beta model, constructive sentiment is not uncommon, though it is laborious to say if its broader reception would have mirrored such optimism. Both approach, the Command & Conquer cellular sport marks the final time EA took an trustworthy, public crack at persevering with the basics of the sequence. Since then, audiences have solely seen remasters and the likes of Command & Conquer: Rivals.
What Would Must Occur for Purple Alert 4 to Exist
EA might be attempting to gauge modern curiosity within the Command & Conquer IP earlier than making any severe strikes. 2020’s Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, which incorporates upgraded variations of the primary Command & Conquer and the primary Purple Alert, was well-received. This will have prompted EA to launch 2024’s Command & Conquer: The Final Assortment, which incorporates each C&C sport as much as Tiberian Twilight.
Whereas Command & Conquer has by no means been really forgotten, it has stagnated fairly a bit, and these remaster collections may assist generate additional curiosity within the sequence. If the hype is deemed important sufficient, EA may very properly deliver C&C again. The writer has seen success in rebooting or remaking its older IP, akin to Lifeless House and Skate. A brand new Purple Alert sport could be subsequent on the docket for C&C, and may very well be simply the shot within the arm that the IP wants. And with the RTS style having one thing of a minor renaissance now, with games like Tempest Rising and Age of Empires 4 signifying a brand new daybreak, there’s loads of related, high-profile expertise for EA to mine.
