It seems more organic sound is becoming quite popular over the last couple of years, I guess it has to do with increasing PC power or something. I hope the full version has some old style C&C music, if not I'll just have to mix my own CD, add some C&C OC Remixes (http://remix.overclocked.org) too ;). Maybe even some Guilty Gear X/XX music, mmmmm.

Don't remember the KMFDM Horde, I haven't been keeping up on a lot of older bands I enjoy, I've been quite busy. I'll have to read up on it.

As for WCIII, I know what you mean. I could only make it to the last few missions of the Human campaign before I had to cheat my way through the rest of the game. Playing on hard was very easy, and the game was boring, I couldn't stand staying in SP for much longer. MP was pretty much the same for me, I just wanted to get it over with. There are exceptions though, the same that were in SC/BW. RPG maps. I love a good RPG map, great fun to play with a friend or two, or three, or four.

I think whether or not you enjoy a RTS is really just personal preference. I have some buddies who absolutely love Warcraft 3 multiplayer, I on the other hand can't stand it. I was never able to enjoy Total Annihilation or the Age of series. Despite my dislike for those title there is no doubt that they were good games. For me Generals is a really fun game but I can see how others may not like it.

(Sort of reminds me of KMFDM and MDFMK)

In a world of deceit open your eyes
What we do for you so good for you
Don't be afraid and you realize
What you do for me so good for me

You a member of The KMFDM Horde as well? Damn that was a good show last June. Anyway the music isn't by the same guy who did the past CnC games and isn't nearly as good. It's still electronic but a much larger focus on organic instruments and metal guitar riffs. Given that I've just been playing the beta there will probably be more music in the full version but we'll just have to wait and see.

This comment was edited on Jan 22, 19:36.

Time to get my freak on! Just dont disappoint me like TS did, PLEASE!

W3rd, now carry on.

~G

From what I've read about the gameplay throughout the beta and here, it sounds like the style has moved closer to that of Total Annihilation, one of the best RTS ever IMO. Though Metal Fatigue was high up there also, great game but under-appreciated. But as for the TA style play, by that I mean you have to use your head. If you can survive the early rush (Which really sucked in TA, damn Flashes/Slashers), then the enemy will have to be a tad smarter than amass one unit and rush ala Blizzard games (Though I'll admit, WCIII was a huge improvement over all their previous RTS gmes). I hope that's the case, C&C has always had a place in my heart through thick & thin. I hope this doesn't disappoint.

Another thing I'm curious about is the music. Is it the same metal-techno-esque (Sort of reminds me of KMFDM and MDFMK) music that was used in previous games or did they decide on a new style? In either case, how is the music? Pretty good? C&C music always had a way of pulling you in and setting a good mood. Well, me atleast.

Actually I'm an avid RTS player and played the preview for about an hour yesterday. I have to say that I didn't like it. The look and the feel of the game was off. Maybe I'm too used to Age of Mythology/Empire Earth/Cossacks/Warcraft3/Total Annihilation/Star Craft/ but any of those I could pick up having never played them and enjoyed it and loved the attention to detail that was all around me. Generals seemed a real challenge just to control as nothing seemed to be intuitive and the detail seemed to be a little lack luster. Can't help but thinking it was rushed.

EA are having such a bad reputation for releasing things too early and not as polished as it could be. I can't help but think of how many headaches I'll get from this game?

My other gripe is the simcity look to the game. As I'm playing SimCity 4 at the moment I see to many similarities in the look of the scenery. It seems EA is making EA games now and they all seem to meld together. Will you be able to import your sims into C&C Generals?

I might still pick this game up for the final version but I don't even want to play the preview anymore after an hour.

bothersome

This comment was edited on Jan 22, 04:42.

I HATE FILEPLANET.

i want the freaking m player test goddamnit

Or am I wrong, and is THIS the fresh breath of life into the RTS genre, that's really starting to look like a piece of stale old toast?

Your not wrong per se but in getting to play the game all of my skepticism was washed away. While I can't comment on the single-player game, a multi-player game plays out a whole lot differently than any other CnC game. It's not so much about being ultra-efficient early on, it's more about keeping supply lines open and properly coordinating ALL of your forces to succeed. Base defenses are a lot stronger so rushes don't work at all but a combined arms force with proper support from superweapons will take out the enemy.

I've been pretty blown away by the game but you are right in that it, like all other CnC games since Tiberian Dawn, doesn't break that much ground. The key difference with Generals is that it plays very differently but still feels like Command and Conquer. It's like a meshing of the best elements of CnC, WC3 and AoE. I'm probably sounding like a EA PR Manager by now but this is simply the most fun I've had in a real time strategy game since Red Alert 1.

But, really, in the end it's going to be the same old play experience, right?

Single player : Turtle behind towers until you have enough units to kill the computer, who cannot mount a defense. (ok, so this time around you need to bring several different units instead of just your tanks. Hey, Westwood learned after only five tries!)

Multi player : Click really fast, so that you have your troops faster, and you'll win. Either that, or rush the other guy with your two infantry dudes and manage to kill three of his resource collectors, and you'll win.

I mean, seriously... How long are people going to keep playing this kind of stuff? I love franchises as much as the next guy, but Command & Conquer starting getting REALLY old after Tiberian Sun already. I won't even mention the travesty that was Red Alert 2..

Or am I wrong, and is THIS the fresh breath of life into the RTS genre, that's really starting to look like a piece of stale old toast?

Creston

It's a damn good game, i've been playing the multiplayer "Preview" nonstop since yesterday. General's is perhaps the most different Command and Conquer game but it still manages to capture the same feel. Pacing is a whole lot slower and the the base building and resource collection systems are different but despite that it's distictively CnC.

Airpower plays a much bigger role i.e set your F-22 on air superiority, Commanche's working directly with your tanks on the ground. Urban combat is the next step up from RA2, you can now have Ranger's air assault onto the roof of a building, even with enemy troops inside, and take it over.

All of your arsenal really comes into play over the course of a game, not just a select two units. There are typically minor assaults that go nowhere but do get you enough experience to start calling in A-10 and B-52 strikes. Once you have your various attacks that recharge and a balanced force of tanks, infantry, helicoptors and fixed-wing aircraft you can crack the enemy base wide open. You have your superweapon and rechargable air strikes knock out the fixed emplacement, send your stealth bombers in to blow up the unit producing facilities, have your F-22s on air superiority patrol ouside the enemy bas and then you roll your combined arms force to mop up the rest. It's an absolute blast the see a base get cracked wide open after an hour of nearly destroying the enemy and nearly getting destroyed yourself.

Most of all though, this game is damn fun and I can't wait until the 11th.

This comment was edited on Jan 22, 00:35.

I may hate RTS games, but I still have some C&C lubbing inside of me.

I hope that this game is as good - as fun - as it looks and/or is said to be.

w00t!!!1111111111111111

Off to visit my FilePlanet fiends friends,
Ray (still remembering his promise to Steve :))

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http://users.ign.com/collection/RayMarden
Voyager sucks; DS9 is quirky, yet good; and TNG rules them all!

Yeah but the demo (or more apropriately beta) is awesome.

screw them for releasing the demo for paying Fileplanet suscriber only

yay! gamespy bashing!