XBOX 360- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

Real-time strategy games are usually more suitable for personal computers, but that didn't stop Microsoft and other game developers from giving it a shot on the XBOX 360. "Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II" proved that real-time strategy games can be just as fun on console systems as they are on the PC. Well, due to the overwhelming popularity of that game, another RTS game has been released for the 360 and it promises to be even better. That game is "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars".

The story, as well as the way it is presented, behind C&C 3 is one of the reasons for its popularity. Just as in previous titles ("Command & Conquer" and the expansion-pack, "Tiberian Sun"), the GDI and Brotherhood of Nod will be fighting for supremacy over the planet. The big difference this time is an alien race, known as the Scrin, has joined the battle. It is not completely clear why they have arrived, but many suspect that it is due to the increase of tiberium infestation all around the world. So not only does the GDI have Nod to deal with, but they must defend against this new alien threat as well. Overall, the plot is excellent, and the addition of the new alien race just makes it even more intriguing.

One of the most unique features in this game is live-action video. Most RTS games will have cutscenes with computer generated characters rather than real actors. Those cutscenes are typically much more visually appealing than the actual in-game graphics. "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars", like its predecessors, use real life actors to tell the story and relay your missions objectives. Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers; voice of Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), and Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars- Lando Calrissian) are just a few of the faces you will see in C&C 3. The experience is certainly different from what most gamers are used to, but that's not at all a bad thing.

Now on to what really matters, the combat. The combat in Command & Conquer 3 is extremely fast paced, as units can be created and deployed within seconds. Obviously, there will be some of the classic RTS features, such as collecting resources and upgrading through the tech tree, but constant action is really what this game is all about. It's not uncommon to be fully immersed in combat even if you are only 2-3 minutes into the mission. Most enemies, on most missions, will be extremely aggressive and they won't usually give you too much "rest" time. In order to stand a chance, you must constantly be churning out units to replace those that you have lost. It's important to remember that each unit has certain strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, if you concentrate on building a single unit type, you will likely be decimated by it's anti version.

Players have always had two different forces to control in C&C; the Global Defense Initiative, which relies on brute force and strength in numbers, and Nod, which is more tactical and strategic. During a campaign, a player would be just going up against the other side. With only one enemy type, you basically knew what you were up against and could effectively prepare defenses. But, since the Scrin have joined the war, missions will undoubtedly get a bit more dangerous as well as complicated. The Scrin are a great addition to the game because they are so unlike the other two forces, both in appearance and in management. All three "military" forces will have their share of strengths and weaknesses. All you have to do is enhance those strengths and exploit those weaknesses.

Although the fast action and even faster troop creation are key factors, players shouldn't ignore upgrades and the tech tree. During the first few minutes of a mission, things will be pretty simple. Your newly created units versus the enemy's. However, as time passes, the enemy will begin upgrading his units and developing his base. Hence, you should be doing the same. Part of the tech tree is the powers tab. Powers are obtained by building various structures throughout your base. Powers will come in handy during a large battle, as they can tip the scales in your favor tremendously. Climbing the tech tree and acquiring upgrades is not free though. Usually, it'll cost quite a lot of resources. The best thing to do is start slow and upgrade when you can spare the money. After all, a "fully upgraded" base with no units to defend it will quickly become a "completely destroyed" base.

When you have had enough of the campaigns and want to some "real" action, you can take your skills online and go up against some real competition. That's not to say the AI (during the campaigns) was dull and ineffective. It's just that actual players tend to act more randomly than a preprogrammed enemy; thereby making the action even more intense & exciting. There are numerous match types players can create or join in on; versus, capture the flag, and king of the hill are just a few of them. The game also makes use of the XBOX live vision camera during online matches. Players may talk to both their allies and their enemies whenever they want. A small box with the video feed (just like in the campaigns) will appear and the player will be able to see your off-screen actions. The only conceivable advantage is the ability to distract your enemy with the video feed, rush in all your units, and then deliver the killing blow. Other than that, it is just a pleasant and fun social feature.

Controls are crucial to a RTS game, especially one that is so involving as "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars". The PC version is obviously much easier to use with the help of the keyboard and mouse. Unfortunately, the XBOX 360 does not have that advantage and the game controls must be compounded into the controller. But just like Battle for Middle-Earth II, the controls are easy to figure out and even less of a hassle to use. Most actions will be done with the A button, such as creating, selecting, moving, and attacking with the troops. The other actions you perform will usually be done with the triggers, bumpers, and the D-pad. Holding the right trigger will activate the sidebar; from there you can use the D-pad to select different powers, organize troops, create buildings, place buildings, etc. The biggest annoyance that players will notice relates to selecting and moving units. In general, the system works just fine. The problem is that the cursor tends to snap to any close units or buildings. Even though it seems to be a minor issue, you'd be surprised at how frustrating it can get; especially when things start getting chaotic. If it weren't for the easy to use controls, this game would have failed miserably. Luckily, the control scheme came out on top, which ultimately turned this game into a sure-fire hit.

Aside from the very original live-action videos, this game has a pretty strong graphics presentation. Each individual unit has a very creative and incredibly detailed design. Explosions and laser fire have very impressive effects, but that tends to get overshadowed when the screen gets overcrowded with units. For the most part, visuals are pretty smooth, having very few noticeable glitches. The frame rate will occasionally slow down when the screen gets cluttered with enemies, but thats not unheard of for a real-time strategy game.

"Command & Conquer" has always been a popular franchise for PC users. By extending its reach to the XBOX 360, it only stands to gain even more popularity. To put it bluntly, "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars" is a great game, and you would be crazy not to pick up a copy and experience it's greatness for yourself.