Command and Conquer: Red Alert Review

When I reviewed Civilization Revolution, I noted that one of the failings of the game, at least to a devoted fan like myself, that the developers took a massive computer game and streamlined it, scaling it down for the iOS. Now, mind you, that was a turn-based game, so how does an RTS fare on our favorite handheld?

Command and Conquer, for those not aware of the premise, is an alternate history game, wherein technology is crazy, the Russians have bear soldiers, and Tesla is god. Transforming vehicles, giant elctro-cannons, slightly awkward FMV, and frantic combat are all hallmarks of the unique series. However, as great as all of those things are, to cram a story and continuity of that size into the iOS is stretching it slightly. However, if condensing the context and story down is “stretching it”, then trying to put an entire RTS on the iPhone, or any portable, is somewhat of a lost cause.

The fundamentals of an RTS are fast reactions, precise clicking, and the balance of micro and macro. This is near-impossible to do on a system of pure-touch controls on a small screen. Zooming and shrinking is a struggle, units can be indistinct, moving and issuing commands is fairly cumbersome and imprecise. Transitioning from battle to moving to grouping is far some smooth and far from fun. Battles are often two groups of armies bumbling into each other and trading shoots poorly.

On the the reasons that Civilization Revolution was effective on a smaller, simpler platform was that it was streamlined and simplified. Command and Conquer, however, feels scaled down and uncoordinated. The touch controls are not functional, the action and tactics are middling, and the gameplay unsuited for the iOS. The RTS is a brilliant and expanding genre, played with incredible skill and professionalism, with players who have mastered complex strategies and build orders. A hard-to-control, diminished version of an RTS is the very antithesis of what should be on iOS.

However, EA seems to have realized this an abandoned any illusions of being a more developed RTS. The price has dropped to .99 cents and, as much as the game is questionable, the price is just about worth it for the product.

Author: Kit Marlowe