Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars - T

Classic Real-Time-Strategy gameplay set in future.

Publisher: Electronic Arts Category/Genre: Video Games - Real Time Strategy (RTS) Platform: Windows, Xbox 360 Price: $39.99 Online Enabled: Yes Graphics: High. HD video clips, nicely done effects. Playability: Easy. Fifteen minutes to learn the interface. Reading Level: None Release Date: 03/26/2007 ESRB Rating: T for animated blood, mild language, violence

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that as with many other Real-Time-Strategy (RTS) games, the focus is on dominating opponents by force. Large armies of men, tanks, aircraft, etc., are all used to defeat opponents in large-scale battles. Soldiers can be flung from exploding vehicles, and it's possible to see blood if players zoom in. However, the focus of this game is quick-thinking and strategy to figure out how to defeat enemies with the right mix of forces, defensive units, and resource management.

Families can talk about how such a long-running series (12 years since the first Command and Conquer game) remains so popular. What is appealing about the RTS genre of gameplay? Does the large amount of video (90+ minutes) make the game more fun, or just slow down the action?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jeremy Gieske

The Command and Conquer series of Real-Time-Strategy (RTS) games is venerable one with just over 12 years of history. COMMAND AND CONQUER 3: TIBERIUM WARS (C&C 3) is a worthy continuation of the series, with tried-and-true gameplay, fast-paced action, and the large explosions that only a "super-weapon" can make.

Rather than being a historical series, the Command and Conquer series looks to the future -- a violent and dark one of civil war on earth. Broken into different "zones," the entire world is a battlefield. The goal of this game is to conquer and defeat another civilization through battle.

On one side is the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), a futuristic version of the United Nations. On the other side is a diabolical group known as the Brotherhood of Nod, led by a charismatic leader known as Kane. New to the series is the Scrin, an alien race bent on world domination. A toxic but powerful energy source known as Tiberium is at the center of it all.

Both GDI and Nod have lengthy campaign modes where you go on a series of missions. Players can also choose to play through a short campaign for the Scrin. When the campaigns get old, players can choose from many options in the multiplayer skirmish mode.

The gameplay doesn't really advance the RTS genre much, but it's a good formula. Each of the campaigns have a good mix of missions common to many RTS games -- defend the base, escort duty, build up and attack, etc. And with only one resource to gather (Tiberium) and relatively small tech trees, players spend most of the time building up the right mix of troops, armor, and aircraft to take on the enemy. As with previous games, super-weapons like Ion cannons offer rather large explosions.

Billy Dee Williams (of Star Wars fame) and Kurtwood Smith (That 70's Show) star in the more than 90 minutes of filmed cut scenes. Designed to move the story forward, the video clips tell the story, but the scripting and acting are laughably bad at many times.

The gameplay has some violence. Like most RTS games out there, the game is all about mixing the right number and types of troops to blow up, kill, and otherwise destroy any and all enemy forces. Unlike some other RTS games that feature economic or political victories, C&C 3 only allows players to win by completing the objectives, which usually includes destroying any vital enemy bases and troops.

All in all C&C 3 is a solid RTS game -- not a lot new, but fun nonetheless. Players who enjoy an RTS game that involves more strategy, especially through political or economic maneuvers, may enjoy a slightly slower paced, but fun RTS game: Civilization 4.

Platform Notes

Xbox 360
Xbox 360 version is very similar to the PC version, with the biggest difference being a different interface. It is easier to play with the controllers using the Xbox 360. Another plus is that players can connect via Xbox Live to play skirmishes against each other.

Reviewed: 10/02/2007

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content
Violence Large-scale battles with explosions, fires, and deaths of soldiers. Blood is visible, but hard to see.
Language Occasional use of "hell" and "damn" in video cut scenes.
Message
	Social Behavior The leader of the "good" guys orders an attack, knowing that millions of civilians will be killed. Later he lies, saying it was a tragic accident.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco
	Educational Value Teaches some military strategy.