Direct extension of the work done first on Dune 2 and Command & Conquer, Red Alert saga has chained the success with no fewer than five titles in five years. However, the war between Allies and Soviets abruptly ended with the release of The Revenge of Yuri in 2001. Having given for every day the fight GDI / NOD to integrate a third faction, Electronic Arts has decided to do the same with Red Alert 3 and the arrival of the Empire of the Rising Sun. While the year 2008 has been very calm decidedly level strategy games real time, the novelty will it be enough to convince us?
Command & Conquer remains very alert
In 1945 and then a trip back in time Ally has already chamberlain history (to eliminate Hitler before he takes power), the Soviets are preparing to do the same: completely cornered, they don ' have no other choice than to try an experiment to eliminate Albert Einstein, the head of the technological advance of the Allies. At first, General Krukov and Prime Minister Cherdenko are delighted by the results of the experiment: in the USSR, the political situation is calmer and Allied military advantage which no longer exists, in theory, the Soviet forces to resume the offensive. In theory because it does not need time to understand that secrecy is a new power emerged on the international scene: the Empire of the Rising Sun.
That is essentially the scenario because the three campaigns in Red Alert 3. Travel through time once again to honor and we can not moreover that the writers have shown great imagination. These three campaigns, one for each faction in the presence (Allies, Soviet and Japanese) is cut into nine missions each, a total of 27 missions for the only scripted part of the game Unlike other titles, it is not necessary to proceed "in order". The player can start with the campaign of his choice, take a break after three missions to tackle another campaign and come back then: the increase is at the discretion of the player, as well as the choice of difficulty level.
Unfortunately, hostilities begin in a little too quiet with the Soviet campaign does not shine by its originality. The scenario here is very classic and twists telephoned to say the least, fortunately saved from missions, certainly no genius, but effective. Developers have called upon the principle of openness of the battlefield which, during the same mission, to grow the map as the success of goals. These are very simple, but just allow everyone to quickly enter the bath. Red Alert 3 remains faithful to here what has made the success of the series Command & Conquer: clear goals, a successful interface and a grip immediately.
While keeping these elements, of course developers have integrated the new foremost mode coop is the most important. If the multiplayer is common in the world of real-time strategy, the cooperative is currently still confidential. Electronic Arts has decided to pull out all the stops to play in all 27 missions of the three campaigns with a friend. The operation of this is quite simple: at the beginning of each mission, we can play solo or coop. To do this, simply connect to the Internet and allow a player to join us. Then, the mission is little more complicated because the two friends took part together in the mission and should accomplish the same objectives in solitary.
It is then possible to support attacks together and share the tasks ahead for parties who take a special flavor. We regret however that the objectives remain a little too wise and we are confident that it would have been possible to go much further. Unfortunately, developers were probably limited by the obligation to make campaigns playable in real "solo". The role of the second player is then assigned to artificial intelligence that is doing rather well by example by being able to build units complementary to those of the player or to support its attacks. It is even possible to provide some specific targets, but it must not expect miracles.
Attacks of this artificial intelligence remain relatively stereotyped and the same goes for our enemies. They are incapable of surprising us and the maximum level of difficulty, only by its ability to manage multiple fronts at the same time that the IA is able to counter the regulars. For beginners or occasional players, the picture is more positive and they should be able to enjoy a good fifteen hours minimum with the 27 tasks they will also discover all the innovations devised by developers From the faction of the Empire of the Rising Sun to new units designed for the Allies and the Soviets. These are not revolutionary, but reinforcing including naval aspect of things.
"We Want War, Wake Up!"
In Rogue Alert 3 is indeed take the fight until the middle of the oceans through cards rather large and systematically with extensive sea. Rarely, a set of real-time strategy had given as much importance to the environment in naval and Red Alert 3, it is simple, most units can fight on the water. More interesting still, the opportunity to build a real foundation on the water since most of the structures need not be built on land. Of course, one should not necessarily very long to take into account this of the game, but this is a change that brings new blood, which is obviously not displeasing to us.
Allies and Soviets can count on some new units in order to update, but also on changes that developers were forced to do so because the scenario : Einstein absent, many units, including allies, could not exist . The tank or helicopter Goalkeeper Twinblades make their entry as well as the Hydrofoil and Stingray. These units are mastered quickly enough, but to enrich it further, secondary skills have been added and "special weapons" (attack orbital radius of freezing ...). Again, the mastery of these subtleties is hardly complex, it is a matter of time, but it makes fighting a little more surprising and increase turnaround possible.
Finally, the bulk of novelty, of course, by introducing a new faction: the Empire of the Rising Sun. Largely inspired by some traditional and cultural aspects of Japan, this faction is very fun to play through its units' transformers. Several units have secondary jurisdiction as the ability to change into another unit which allows, as appropriate, to spend submarine hunter or jet with all-terrain vehicle. These changes allow these units to be more versatile, but require some time to adapt. The arrival of Japan has also enriched the cinematic, a real trademark of the series. For the occasion, EA has put the means.
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