Haven't we been here before? (Command and Conquer - Tiberian Sun (PC))

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Product:	Command and Conquer - Tiberian Sun (PC)
Date:	17/02/01 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent multiplayer mode.

Disadvantages: We've seen this all before in the first C&C.

After numerous delays in the release date, and over 4 years in development, Tiberian Sun had to deliver if it was to follow the success of its predecessors. The usual ingredients of a command and conquer title are all here; two teams, bases, a vague storyline, and a proliferation of units and buildings. The question is; can Tiberian Sun live up to its expectations?

In case you are new to the command and conquer series, here’s a short explanation of what you’ve missed. There are two sides in the everlasting war; the Global Defence Initiative (GDI), and the Brotherhood of NOD (NOD for short). Kane, being the villain in all of this, leads his army, NOD, into war against the GDI. In the first game, Kane was killed, so anyone would expect the war to be over, and with that, the command and conquer series; the release of Tiberian Sun suggests otherwise.

After selecting the single player campaign mode, you are forced to watch a less than enjoyable movie, which the manual claims is an essential introduction to the story so far. The story picks up from where the first C&C left off. Kane, the villain in the series, was killed off in the last game, now though, we see him rise from the dead, and with him, his ego, and his intent on crushing the GDI.

Once you have been launched into the first mission, you are given the basic tools for completing the task; a few men, and a scattering of buildings. Before you do anything, you will want to find a source of income. The main source of income in the last C&C was a tiberium refinery, and a harvester to harvest the tiberium fields, yes, you’ve guest it, and it’s exactly the same in TS. Okay, it’s a sequel, the repetition of parts of the game are to be expected.
Next, you want to start exploring with your infantry, you’ll need to do this because you only see the areas of the map you have been in. Oh dear, more repetition!
Once you have found your enemies, you can start
to attack them, whilst at the same time, build ore units to reinforce the strength of your attack. This is point at which the feeling of Déjà vu seems to surround the game.
Now that you’ve completed the game, you are given a new briefing, usually in the form of a short movie. Following the briefing is the next mission, which, more than often, seems to resemble the previous mission. If you enjoy playing the campaign mode, and want to follow what there is of the storyline, you won’t do yourself any harm in continuing with the single player mode. The same goes if you’re new to the C&C series.

For an alternative to campaign mode, the skirmish mode is more enjoyable and diverse in terms of action. Here you will need to pick a team to play as, NOD or GDI, and then select the various options such as map size, number of players, and so forth. When you enter the game, your opponent will have already built their base as your computer controls them. This is unfair, but I try to think of it as a challenge and relish the moments. The advantage of the skirmish mode over the campaign mode is that you are able to build everything available to your team, where as in the campaign mode; there is a limit to what you can build. This gives the game variety and allows for addictive, and diverse game play. After playing with just one or two opponents, you will want new challenges. Try increasing the number of opponents (maximum of 9), or if you find the challenge too hard, join forces, by allying with one of your opponents.

Aside form the extra units, the biggest change, are in the graphics. When it was released, Tiberian Sun had some of the most impressive graphics and effects of any RTS game (real time strategy). Now though, with the release of games such as Earth 2150, a 3D RTS, Tiberian Sun’s 2D maps are left collecting dust on the shelf. However, the graphics are a huge improvement on the grainy pictures of C&C, the effects coupled with t
he above average sound effects still provides an enjoyable way of whiling away those rainy weekends.

Tiberian Sun will run on almost any machine today, a P133 with 16 MB ram is perfectly acceptable, though you’ll be able to make a cup of coffee during the lengthy loading times. The game has no 3D graphics, so there is no need for a powerful graphics card. But, with the probability of having a large amount of units on screen at any time, 64 MB of ram will reduce the loading times, and ensure stutter free game play. Couple all of this with a P300, and you won’t have nay problems at all.

The main reason for buying Tiberian Sun should be for its multiplayer games. Similar to the skirmish mode, you’ll get endless enjoyment from playing against a few mates.

Whilst TS boasts an array of extra units, improved graphics, and the one of the best multiplayer systems available, it still can’t be saved from what it actually is; the first C&C game with a mask on. Thos who haven’t played the first, or have an Internet connection, will love the multiplayer and campaign modes. The rest of you will be better advised to buy one of its more diverse rivals; perhaps Earth 2150 or Homeworld.

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