Command & Conquer (1995)
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Command & Conquer (also known by the retronym Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn) is the first installment in the Command & Conquer franchise and the first chapter of the Tiberium series. It was developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactiv. It was re-released as freeware by Electronic Arts in 2007 to celebrate the series' 12th anniversary.
This game, along with Red Alert were remastered in 2020 as Command & Conquer Remastered Collection.
Gameplay
The game, unlike most strategy games at the time, plays on a 2D map seen from a top-down perspective. Missions are introduced by cutscenes with computer-generated graphics and filmed with real actors, creating a sort of interactive movie where the characters refer to the player, who reprises the role of an unnamed field commander.
The game is centered around the gathering of Tiberium and the construction of structures such as barracks, factories, etc.. The two factions have different units which balance each other.
Why It Commanded And Conquered
- Along with Dune 2, also by Westwood Studios, this game heavily popularized the real-time strategy genre.
- You can choose between two factions, the Global Defense Initiative (shortened in GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod. The story, ending, and parts of the gameplay change from one faction to the other, giving the game a good replay value.
- Good and fitting soundtrack. If you don't like the music in a mission, you can change it from the Options menu.
- Introduced FMV cutscenes which would become a staple in the series.
- Introduced its own sub-franchise (the Tiberium series).
- Online multiplayer is included, and it's quite fun to play, due to the fact that you can use different strategies and tactics.
- Two expansions were released, Covert Operations and Sole Survivor. The former adds 15 new missions (7 for the GDI and 8 for the Nod), while the latter adds new features for the online multiplayer.
- As of 2007, the game is available for free!
Bad Qualities
- Its newspapers ads featured a pictures of various infamous dictators labelled under the word "Previous High Scores", sparked a considerable amount of controversy.
- It lacks multiplayer for console ports and doesn't support the mouse controller.