by Electronic Arts
Platform:
Windows 98 / Me / 95
(87)Buy new:
41 used & new from $2.95
(Visit the Best Sellers in Arcade list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)
Sticking firm to the old "if it ain't broke" philosophy, Westwood Studios conjures up memories of the original Command & Conquer games with Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. The game is set just a few years after the events of the original C&C: Red Alert, and opens with a surprise Soviet invasion of the U.S. mainland. Playing as the startled Americans, you must cobble together a resistance and beat the invaders back into the sea. Playing as the Soviets, you must quickly establish control of your new domain, wiping out all opposition you meet.
Red Alert 2 is very similar to the original Red Alert, with some visual enhancements and gameplay improvements brought in from the recent Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun game. You still lead a small group of infantry and armored units in most missions and you still have to assemble a base of operations in order to accomplish just about anything. This time around, however, you'll have a slew of new units to build and command in the field--most of which are pretty slick. The American Prism Tank, for example, can take out numerous enemy units with a single, branching attack. On the Soviet side, Tesla Troopers and Psychics help make ground troops a formidable asset.
Another nice addition to the game is the ability to garrison troops inside buildings. Because much of the fighting is on city streets, it helps to give your troops some cover from time to time. Also, there are a number of special buildings that provide unique advantages once occupied by engineer units. The airport allows you to call in air strikes, for example, while oil derricks provide a resource boost for your war machine.
Multiplayer support is still the calling card of this series, and fans of past C&C games will not be disappointed by Red Alert 2's multiplayer options. The basic free-for-all mode that the original Red Alert made famous is still intact, but the alternative multiplayer modes are the real treat. In Unholy Alliance, players get access to both American and Soviet tech trees, while the naval war variant starts each player off on a small island. In addition, the game includes special cooperative campaigns.
There's no denying Red Alert 2's charm, despite the lack of a funky 3-D engine and the game's reliance on ultracheeseball video cut scenes to tell the story (Kari Wuhrer or no Kari Wuhrer). For fast- paced, real-time strategy action that focuses on quick, intense firefights on American soil, no other game holds a candle to C&C: Red Alert 2. --Michael Ryan
Pros:
- More frenetic real-time strategy in the C&C universe
- Tons of new units and capabilities on both sides of the conflict
- Cool U.S. settings for most missions
- Great array of multiplayer modes
- Not exactly a technical leap forward
- Video cut scenes are cheesy beyond description
More ways to win than ever before!Product InformationThe explosive follow-up to one of the most popular PC Games of all time -Command & Conquer Red Alert. The Cold War is heating up! Fight on theside of freedom or battle behind the Iron Curtain. Exotic weaponry is atyour disposal. Soviet Cloning Vats and Allied Chrono Devices are just a few ofthe many devastating weapons. Prism tanks Tesla Troopers Terror DronesDesolators Psychic Mind Control Giant Squid and Sonic Dolphins are just asmall part of your arsenal.Product Features Take your campaign over land sea and air with over 80 units and structures to deliver your fury. Enhanced veterancy quickly turns newbie forces into battle-hardened veterans. Unleash extra firepower and discover secret abilities. Cinematic movies with Hollywood actors reward your victories and brief you on your next mission. Play either side in the full solo-play campaign or play as one of the nine nations in eight modes of multiplay and skirmish mode. Wreak havoc with a friend through the specially designed co-op campaign. System Requirements Windows 95 98 Me XP (Home Edition) Pentium 266 MHz processor 64 MB of RAM minimum 350 MB free Hard Drive space 2 MB DirectX 7.0a compatible Graphics Card minimum DirectX 7.0a compatible Sound Card Mouse Keyboard Optional: Network play requires Pentium 450 MHz 128MB of RAM 56.6Kbps modem TCP/IP or IPX compliant 4X CD-ROM drive
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