The classic real-time strategy genre is long overdue a return, and 3D Realms is taking up the challenge, with the upcoming Tempest Rising, which is a love letter to the classic RTS games of the '90s. RTS was once a huge genre, as it allowed players to lead armies and forge epic empires on the hardware of yesteryear, yet it has fallen out of favor in comparison to MOBAs and turn-based strategy titles.
Tempest Rising is inspired by series like Command & Conquer and Starcraft, where players gather resources, recruit troops, build up their defenses, purchase upgrades, and battle their foes. Players must manage their main base, while guiding individual squads that are out in the field, constantly splitting their attention and forcing them to plan ahead. The game is being developed by Slipgate Ironworks, with a team comprised of huge fans of the genre who want to see it reborn with Tempest Rising.
Tempest Rising was officially announced during the THQ Nordic 2022 Digital Showcase, with the game having entered development three years ago. The title is set in a futuristic alternate timeline, following a nuclear war, and the discovery of a new resource, known as the Tempest, causing different factions to fight over the substance. Tempest Rising features three factions, with the GDF and the Tempest Dynasty having their own single-player story campaigns, while the third mystery faction only appears during the multiplayer mode. The trailer for Tempest Rising can be seen on the official THQ Nordic YouTube channel.
Tempest Rising Is A Love Letter To '90s RTS Titles
Tempest Rising is an RTS title with sci-fi elements, but it still uses recognizable units, with squads of gun-wielding soldiers and tanks being part of the game. The game features a classic rock paper scissors approach to units in how they respond to each other in combat, while some units have special abilities that give them unique traits on the battlefield. In the single-player campaign, these special units need to be unlocked by completing bonus objectives, allowing them to be used in later missions. The player also needs to create their own base, with buildings that must be placed near each other or near resources, so that Tempest can be harvested and used to buy more units. The factions also have support powers that can be called on, such as the GDF Air Strike, which can be used to rain explosives on the enemy.
Tempest Rising is set to launch in 2023, but people who are attending GamesCom can try out an early demo of the game, including a limited multiplayer demo. It's odd to think that the RTS genre so rarely receives new titles, especially after watching the gameplay trailer for Tempest Rising. There are still classic RTS games that are being played today, but Tempest Rising might finally convince people to uninstall their old Command & Conquer and Age of Empires titles, and experience a whole new battlefield.
Source: THQ Nordic/YouTube