EA’s Command & Conquer Remastered Collection, developed through a partnership between Petroglyph Games and Lemon Sky Studios, revitalizes the popular real-time strategy series with a fresh coat of paint for fans old and new. Featuring both the original Command & Conquer and Command & Conquer: Red Alert for the mere price tag of $19.99 the collection brings back the iconic tactical RTS experience, complete with the original factions and the inherent passive abilities that make each of them stand out. While the touched-up aesthetic may not impress younger modern gamers, those who remember the original release will appreciate the improvements and authenticity, including enhanced visuals and audio, while reliving the familiar cheesy threats issued by the AI in skirmish battles.
The original Command & Conquer’s story revolves around a war for control over a valuable new resource: Tiberium. The game is also fittingly known as Tiberian Dawn. Players take control of either the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) or Brotherhood of Nod forces. The former represents a military organization requested by the UN to combat the latter’s, as the game puts it, “quasi-terrorist” sect. Each mission consists of deploying units to accomplish tasks ranging from annihilating all enemy forces on the given map to securing supplies. Some missions allow players to construct different buildings and gather resources to recruit additional units, though, some force gamers to use whatever is provided to them at the beginning of the operation without the potential for additional resources.
As Command & Conquer takes place in an alternate timeline in the 1990s, the computer technology showcased within reflects that time period; in-game computers appear to operate on old systems – green, blocky font and all - and cutscenes harken back to an era when high-definition didn’t exist though through some wizardry and working with the C&C community they've been able to up-res the original cinematics. The game’s dialogue is as campy as can be but works hand-in-hand with the retro immersion.
Red Alert however, initially an expansion that become the first in a successful spinoff franchise, pits Allied and Soviet forces against each other in an alternate historical timeline where Hitler was assassinated via time-travel. It's equally hackneyed with the over-the-top delivery. To say the content is trite compared to modern titles isn’t necessarily a derision. Rather, it's a testament to how timeless the title is, for despite its anachronous style it still manages to provide an interesting fable weaved into a gripping tapestry.
Any missions players do not choose to undertake during a campaign can be tackled through the Mission Select menu – this is true of both Command & Conquer as well as Red Alert in the collection. For fans of retro, 1980s arcade aesthetics, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection offers sanctuary from the more realistic presentation of modern games. The industry’s poster children – Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Battlefield, and more – flaunt real-life comparisons with their graphics. Command & Conquer, even remastered, offers no such immersion factor, epitomizing an escape from reality.
For the meticulous tactician, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection offers some options. Three core game modes exist to give players the opportunity to test their strategies: Campaign, Skirmish, and Multiplayer. For all intents and purposes, the mechanics between each of these modes are the same. The primary difference is each campaign mission starts players with predetermined units, and sometimes reinforcements are not an option.
In Skirmish and Multiplayer, players choose their faction and load onto a map. They start with a few basic units and from there, the objective is to either destroy the enemy base or annihilate every unit belonging to the opposing team(s). To construct buildings and recruit more units, one must first deploy their command center, then they must build a power plant or two to accumulate power, which is consumed by other buildings. It's all very traditional RTS, with C&C's unique trappings - the main example being that once the command center’s deployed, players select which structures they wish to build first before placing it on the map which is different from something like Age of Empires II where players select where they wish to place a building before units begin constructing it.
However, it’s not as simple as constructing and recruiting at will; players must also ensure they have enough resources – Tiberium (or in the case of Red Alert, ore) – to acquire buildings and combat units. Harvesters can be recruited to gather Tiberium, and the first Harvester comes free once the building with which it’s associated is constructed and placed. Unlike the Total War franchise, however, players do not have to worry about building or unit upkeep – they only need the initial funds for acquisition. Players must act fast to acquire resources, build their base and its defenses, and recruit units, especially when playing against the AI in Skirmish battles. Even on easier difficulties, the AI can fortify its defenses and recruit units quickly, though, it’s less aggressive in terms of sending its forces against the player to destroy their base.
While gameplay is rather straightforward and relatively smooth, beware of one bug that can be rather frustrating: The Alt + Tab of Doom. Specifically, when playing the campaign, if players Alt + Tab to a different program and return to Command & Conquer, they may be greeted by a perpetual black screen, unable to continue a cutscene, access the next mission, or return to the main menu. This inconvenience occurred mostly in Red Alert, but it did happen in the base game a couple times. In addition, instead of a black screen, Alt + Tabbing may prevent players from being able to scroll on the map, making it impossible to send units much farther than their base. The only solution was to Alt + Tab out of the game and close it from the taskbar or the task manager. The issue may be fixed later, but only time will tell.
The collections of iconic units from both games return, with brand new 4K art, as well as the original art for every 2D angle of the units. 25 years ago it was difficult to differentiate between certain infantry, some only notably unique due to color schemes but with the remaster it's easier to spot a rifleman's weapon with the high-fidelity visuals, and the vehicles look more polished and clear. Each structure better reflects its purpose too, such as the power plant’s massive pipes and smokestacks, or the barracks’ tent aesthetic that conveys troops’ housing. One drawback of the buildings, however, is the monotony of their shades, which could either be viewed as unimaginative or a mirroring of real-world architecture, as buildings – outside of houses or certain landmarks – offer little in the way of eye-catching features.
The game’s maps sport cliffs, foliage, and other environmental aesthetics, with colors appearing more stark compared to Command & Conquer’s original 1995 release. While trees may not sway in the breeze nor rocks from jagged cliffs chip and tumble, the numerous pigments pop more than the original title, calling out to those who favor artistic expression or a pretty scene. Moreover, white square dots pockmark blue bodies of water, serving as a faux simulation of waves and currents as they transition from one pixel to another. Explosions and fire function similarly, pixelating over frames in jagged shifts to convey burning, and while it’s fitting for a title that’s 25 years old, it’s certainly not groundbreaking.
Command & Conquer Remaster Collection isn’t a marvel of visual technology by modern standards. However, when compared to its release in 1995, it’s a phoenix that has risen from the ashes to showcase its revitalized beauty. As for the audio, from the staccato repetition of gunfire to the concussive booms of explosions, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection offers an amalgam of audio sensations that were unmistakably implemented a long time ago, though, there’s something endearing about these underwhelming and unmistakable notes.
Rumbling engines as vehicles traverse the map sound like rolling vacuum cleaners, humming over terrain as if grumbling into cup phones connected by a string. This, like most of the title’s lesser assets, can be attributed to implementation by outdated technology transitioning to modern advancements. Regardless, roaring convoys marching on a warpath will get the blood pumping as moments lead to the culmination of a battle with large amounts of units.
Character dialogue during cutscenes is rather clear, if only a bit muddled. That slight buzz of static associated with old school workplace safety instructional videos from the 1970s is ever-present during mission briefings when someone talks. Miscellaneous sounds, such as the whirring of rotating turrets on a naval vessel during cutscenes, achieve their desired intent: the foretelling of impending hostility.
It’s difficult to look down upon a game that’s 25 years old when comparing it to the likes of Total War or XCOM 2. In that light, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection’s audio is clearer than it was in 1995, and the games feature an impressive collection of tunes from both games, and so much more that can be switched and played through any mission. You can even play the Red Alert soundtrack while playing the original C&C.
Proving that classics find a way to increase their longevity, Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is nostalgia in HD. It retains the tried and true gameplay and campaigns that made the original release so popular in the 1990s while augmenting the visuals to the point that it feels like a strategy game made to be played in a retro arcade. Despite this modern take on an older title, series veterans should love getting their hands on this significant remaster, returning to meticulous unit management, resource gathering, and all-out warfare mingled with corny dialogue and action-packed soap opera cinematics. And newer players can get two legendary classics for great value, with no microtransactions or live-service costs, that features single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay.
For those looking for something that symbolizes how far the industry has come, Command & Conquer Remaster Collection can serve as that reminder. Retro graphics and audio components don’t detract from the experience. Indeed, they enhance it, highlighting the artistic choice of its developers in a time when 3D titles were still in their infancy. The game is worth experiencing for everyone.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is available on PC for $19.99 and includes all three expansions from both games included. A digital download code was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.