Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun

Game review

Command & Conquer is one the most successful strategy series in the historyfor more than 17 years (the first game came in 1995, the last in 2012). Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun is a name for the third game in this series, and in 2010 was released as freeware. Once again, you can choose from two sides for which you fight: GDI or NOD. GDI has traditionally stronger units and weapons, but NOD side has better units for silent and sneaky attack. Tiberian Sun aroused many passions and conflicting opinions. At the time, you could have read why this game is the worst par of the CC series and a few days later you've read on another site about why Tiberian Sun is the best C&C game. Anyway, game brought a new beautiful 3D graphics and deformable terrain, which appeared only in this game series and it's only up to you to decide if this game is the best C&C or not.

The Plot

About 35 years have passed since the end of Tiberian Dawn. Kane is presumed dead and the Brotherhood is in disarray. Nod fights itself; brother against brother. Nod has been corrupted even through its highest echelons; a GDI controlled puppet named Hassan is in charge. With the Brotherhood divided and scattered the GDI have put their focus elsewhere; containing the threat of Tiberium. Over the last three decades it has become apparent that Tiberium is terraforming the planet by consuming Earthborne ecosystems and spawning its own alien ecosystems.

Tiberium is not the GDI's only problem; followers of Kane still exist and they will stop at nothing until they have revealed the truth about Hassan and his followers. Anton Slavik, the leader of this group, has been attempted executed by Hassan for being a "GDI spy" but little do they know, even among Hassan's most elite soldiers there are people who oppose his rule and so Slavik is freed. Despite this Hassan broadcasts false messages about Slavik's supposed death, but this does not go as planned for Hassan. Slavik becomes a hero of the Brotherhood, and when people discover that he is still alive they rise up against Hassan. Hassan is cornered and captured, he is brought to the masses and in his last moments gets the shock of his life; "You can't kill the Messiah!"

After this incident, GDI outposts are attacked; everywhere and from all directions. Even though it sounds ridicules there is no doubt who has returned; Nod's true leader.... So begins the Second Tiberium War!

Gameplay

The game operates on a new isometric game engine featuring varying level terrain to give the impression of a true 3D environment, and dynamic lighting that simulates day/night cycles and special effects such as ion storms. Some buildings and armored units are rendered with voxels, although infantry is still rendered as sprites. Tiberium, the game's sole resource required to fund construction of structures and units, now consists of two types - the standard green tiberium, and a more valuable blue tiberium - while bridges in the game that are destroyed can be repaired by using a faction's engineer unit on a special hut building connected to the bridge. Crates can be found that convey bonuses such as extra credits, or healing a set number of damaged units.

While the game features network and online multiplayer modes, the game's campaign mode allows players to choose one of two factions who conduct missions across three different theatres of war - North America, Europe, and North Africa. Each faction's campaign features different missions, though a number of these include optional side missions which can be undertaken, and if completed confer a bonus that reduces its difficulty, ranging from additional units, to a reduction in enemy units.