Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath

Posted 5 years ago By - Brian Edey

Command and Conquer is one of the longest running Real Time Strategy (RTS) games on the video game market, with sequels, expansions and even other RTS games and First Person Shooter (FPS) titles in the same gaming universe since the 1990’s we have seen the many faces of Command and Conquer. It would be almost unbelievable for someone to not have heard of C&C and the epic struggle of GDI versus NOD for the powerful Tiberium and control of the planet.

Kanes Wrath is an expansion to the very popular and highly rated Command and Conquer Tiberium Wars and continues the story of NOD and their supposed dead leader Kane who turns out did not actually die and now is seeking revenge against every enemy real or imagined. Spread out over three acts, the game dives deep into the madness of Kane and his eventual revenge. In what is a first for a Command and Conquer game the story is spread out over several years.


Gameplay

C&C has not really changed at all in the last few years, minor upgrades to the hud, graphical upgrades of course and really that is all. In the games bare bones state, you can play it just like you played every other RTS for the last 15 years with simple mouse and keyboard commands. If you wish to play with all the gameplay choices the game offers and this does make the game more enjoyable to play you are in for a treat as the gameplay allows for some true Command and Conquer fun. Basically if you have played C&C Tiberium Wars (which you need to play Kanes Wrath), you can play this. Everything is the same and it still works.

Kanes Wrath has a very nice feature of a Global Conquest Mode, which is simply a Risk type of game where you battle for regions of the world through standard C&C gameplay or an auto-resolve option, but I would not recommend doing this as even if you have superior numbers I found auto-resolve could end up just losing my army. Global Conquest is a great feature and honestly I spent more time with this feature then expected, with the basics of Risk and a quick tutorial it was easy to learn but mastering and defeating two competing AI opponents was difficult and fun. My only issue with Global Conquest is there is no multiplayer support for it at all and while I understand having a multiplayer version would be a pain because you never know when a battle can happen, it is a feature we need in the next Command and Conquer game or even Red Alert.

Multiplayer is your standard battle royale with really every game becoming either a massive unit rush to overwhelm the enemies base or a wait and see mode with all sides building up massive armies, bases and more. The AI opponents are sometimes dumber then human players but at least they are less predictable then seeing the third tank rush from the south and they still did not learn that is a kill zone. While it is fun to play against your friends and humiliate them in to utter decimation if they are not skilled players who know the game, multiplayer becomes nothing more then a quick execution with no tactics needed or used.


Graphics

Graphically the game shines in every way, from the units, maps and even the HUD are very well done and look and work exactly how you would expect them to. Each faction has their own units and there is no copying of one unit, slapping a new paint job on it and saying “look what I made”. Every unit has their own distinct look and just by looking at it on the screen you know what it is and unlike other RTS games you do not have to wait for a tool tip or click it to see what the unit does to know what it actually is.

Special weapon effects and explosions are great in this game, especially in massive battles around bases with buildings exploding, aircraft being shot out of the sky, tanks firing on each other and your basic carnage. With a major battle going on your frame rate does not drop and I still found it easy to control my units and never lost them in the destruction and chaos of the battles.

My only issue with the game is, I wish you could zoom out of the map more then you can, I felt so restricted by the level of zoom out at times when I had to scroll around and find all my army. The zoom feature issue is not a big deal in the end, because you can zoom right in and see some great details on everything and the easy controls allow for quick map movement and unit selection. EA did a great job on the game graphically and gameplay wise.

Can it be a C&C game with out the cheese filled full motion video cut scenes? Nope and thankfully we have them in the expansion with some new faces to the game. Including Carl Lumbly as Brother Marcion, you will recognize him as Sydney’s agent partner Marcus Dixon and Natasha Henstridge as one of Kanes followers and the Species star is looking fantastic and a bit creepy in the game. Joseph D. Kucan is back as Kane in all of his over the top psychotic glory and he is great in every scene in his own way. We do not want high end acting quality in cut scenes, that is why they are so memorable and fun to watch.


Audio

Certainly some of the highest quality audio work on a PC game that I have heard in a while. Voice acting, weapons, HUD sounds, explosions and more all sound amazing even with the volume way up for that extra thump when you blow up a GDI base. With the 50 or so hours of game time I have put into the game playing single player, Global Conquest and multiplayer I will say not once did the audio distract or disappoint me in anyway.


Value

If you purchased Command and Conquer Tiberium Wars, this adds an extreme amount of value to the original game, especially with the Global Conquest mode, new factions and units. You can literally end up playing Global Conquest for days or weeks depending on how much you play and then start again new and change some settings around for an entire new experience.


Bottom Line

If you own C&C TW, buy this as it will be the best money you put on your PC. If you are a C&C or RTS fan and unsure, it is worth buying C&C TW and this expansion. Yes they are just that good and is one of the best traditional RTS games in a while.

5 months ago :: The Walking Dead Episode Five: No Time Left
5 months ago :: Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition
6 months ago :: Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
6 months ago :: The Walking Dead Episode Four: Around Every Corner
7 months ago :: The Walking Dead Episode Three: Long Road Ahead
11 months ago :: Diablo III
11 months ago :: The Walking Dead
1 year ago :: King Arthur II: The Role Playing Wargame
1 year ago :: Off-Road Drive
1 year ago :: Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad