The mechanics aren’t the most complex. That particular plaudit belongs to Civilization 6, or maybe Stellaris. Similarly, the strategies you have to use and the tactics of your enemies aren’t the most intelligent or elaborate. But stylistically, aesthetically, and in terms of sheer influence – not to mention the fact they’re an absolute blast to play – the original two Command and Conquer games, Red Alert and Tiberian Dawn – are the greatest in the strategy genre ever. And now, via the staggeringly good Remastered Collection, you can get them both for less than $2. Happy Holidays.
Tiberian Dawn started it all, and as such it will always be my personal favorite. It also has the excellent GDI campaign, its punishing Nod counterpart (yeesh), and some of the best work of strategy and RTS game musical icon Frank Klepacki. But Red Alert is just about as good. Arriving in 1996, hot on the heels of its predecessor, it pushed Command and Conquer in a totally different direction, complete with alternate history, cyberpunk technology, and more set-piece single-player missions than ever before.
The Soviet campaign is absolutely brutal. The Allied levels, especially those late-game ones inside the power plants, where you have only a small squad of basic troopers and no reinforcements, force you to plan and fight in whole-new ways.
The Remastered Collection packages Red Alert and Tiberian Dawn together and gives them enhanced, high-resolution visuals. There’s a rerecorded soundtrack from Klepacki himself, all the expansion packs are included as standard, and you also get the skirmish and multiplayer modes, as well as hours of behind-the-scenes footage and images.
If you’ve never played one of the best strategy games in PC history, now’s the time. The Command and Conquer Remastered Collection is available now at the historically low price of $1.99 / £1.79. Just go here.
Otherwise, try some of the best grand strategy games, or maybe the epic scale of the best 4X games ever made.
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