Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

The Basics:
Platform: PC and Xbox 360
Developer: EA Games
Price: $39.99
ESRB rating: T-Teen (13+)

Summary: Classic Real-Time-Strategy gameplay.

Note: Parents need to know, that similar to 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 its possible to see blood if players zoom in. However, plenty of quick thinking is required to strategically defeat enemies with the right mix of forces, defensive units and resource management.

Families who play this game may want to discuss how such a long-running series (12 years since the first Command and Conquer game) remains to be 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?

Further Breakdown:

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Best for ages: 13+
Playability: Easy. Fifteen minutes to learn the interface.
Graphics: High. HD video clips, nicely done effects.
Reading Level: Light

Ages 3-7: Red
Ages 8-12: Yellow
Ages 13-17: Green
Violence Amount: Red
Fear: Yellow
Illegal/harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
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 future of civil war on earth. Broken into different "zones", the entire world is a battlefield.

On one side is the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) is a futuristic version of the United Nations. The other 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; 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 multi-player, 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. 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 satisfactorily large explosions.

Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars fame) and Kurtwood Smith (That 70's Show) among other actors star in the more than 90 minutes of filmed cut scenes. Designed to progress the story, the video clips do succeed in telling the story, but the scripting and acting are laughably bad at many points.

Xbox360 version is very similar to the PC version, with the biggest difference being a different interface, so it's easier to play with the controllers. Players can also connect via Xbox Live to play skirmishes against each other.

About the only objection is the amount of 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 be 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.