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Command & Conquer Renegade Review
Chris Leyton
00/12/0000
Command & Conquer: Renegade switches the viewpoint and the genre as you take on the role of Havoc, the charasmatic commando FROM the first game.
Command & Conquer: Renegade follows the ongoing war between the GDI and the Brotherhood of Nod, set during the same time period as the original C&C. Players take on the role of Captain Nick ``Havoc`` Parker - a charismatic commando from the original C&C - as you uncover an unsettling plan during the opening mission. Kane`s right-hand man, General Gideon Raveshaw, has kidnapped three key GDI research scientists and is using their knowledge of Tiberium for the mysterious Project: Re-Genesis. As GDI agent Havoc, you`ve got to stop Raveshaw and free GDI scientists Dr. Ignatio Mobius, his daughter Sydney, and Dr. Elena Petrova.
Command & Conquer: Renegade has been in development for many years, changes in both ideas and technology have seen the game pushed back more times then I can remember, but finally C&C fans, it`s here.
For those not in the know, C&C: Renegade is based upon Westwood`s highly successful RTS franchise. However this isn`t another tired strategy game, instead the guys have swapped tactics with all out action, resulting in their first ever FPS.
The game pits you in a variety of different scenarios, from infiltrating NOD bases to stealing vital information to rescuing hostages. However the basic structure revolves around taking down the NOD forces, which captures the C&C essence perfectly. The crucial strategy for success in the RTS games was to disable your opponents key structures and units, and then launch an all out attack. This same approach has been applied to Renegade superbly, mission goals will see you taking out Harvesters to stop NOD`s credit allocation to destroying SAM sites to enable the GDI to launch aerial attacks, all familiar objectives just played out from a first person view. It`s so well carried out, that you expect to see a face commanding everything from above when you look up at the sky!
Whilst there is a heavy tactical feel, the emphasis is placed on action, explosions and C4. Battles become confusing affairs as your fellow GDI cohorts battle with Nod forces. Although Havoc is the primary character, you won`t be the primary target all of the time, during battles NOD soldiers will target your back-up support, ensuring that battles have the chaotic feel that they should, rather then just feeling like another mundane `everyone against you` FPS. It`s not quite as good as Halo, but the effect is convincing enough thanks to some strong AI on both sides. When the GDI sends in reinforcements, you can expect them to follow you, and be comfortable with the back-up that they provide. AI on the Nod side is slightly more patchy, soldiers occasionally get caught up between attacking you or running away, resulting in some very confused looked NOD soldiers.
The Command & Conquer universe offers a rich and deep heritage, which was a risky prospect in trying to recreate. Thankfully Westwood have applied this to Renegade with fantastic effect. C&C fans will love running around the different environments, as ORCA`s fly by overhead, Harvesters collect Tiberium and gunboats firing from off-shore positions.
From a visual point Westwood`s proprietary engine does a great job of rendering both indoor and outdoor locations. You`ll move seamlessly from expansive outdoor locations to large indoor venues, as you move inside any of the buildings that populate the landscape. Whilst it all comes together well, at least from the outside, the engine doesn`t handle detail very well. The landscape looks great from a distance but looks rather simple when viewed up close. Whilst indoor locations feel very sparse and uninteresting with little in the way of small touches to catch your eye; the occasional video-screen will be playing a briefing voiced by Kain, standard sci-fi monitors are fitted to every wall.
What it does do well is ensure that there is always something going on onscreen, whether it`s the numerous troops that populate each level, helicopters flying overhead or reinforcements arriving by parachute. Most importantly everything looks like you`d expect, Mammoth Tanks look as powerful up close as you`d imagine, ORCA`s hover around the skyline like humming birds; it`s as an authentic representation in the first-person as you`d ever hope to expect.
The missions are long affairs (so make use of the quick save), which are split into primary and secondary objectives. Different objectives will appear as the mission progresses, ensuring that the game feels a lot less linear then it actually is. The generic FPS game mechanics are all here however, colour coded key cards anyone? Nevertheless there is a definite feel that you can approach the mission in which ever way you see fit, a stealth approach works best in some cases, whilst others will see you using as much C4 as you can carry, the choice is always ultimately up to you however, which is a nice touch.
The standard selection of multiplayer modes are on offer, however it`s the Command & Conquer mode that will please fans and those looking for something different. Unlike the single player mode, players can take on the role of NOD in multiplayer, as each side has fully working bases complete with barracks, war factories/airstrips and defence units.
From the barracks and war factories you can purchase unit upgrades or vehicles. Your credit will continually rise as long as you`ve got harvesters out there collecting Tiberium, as you upgrade you can change your character class from anything from a sniper to an engineer. The same tactics that you use in the RTS` will do you well, such as cutting their credit by destroying their harvesters to taking out their SAM sites to allow your aerial attacks. The FPS genre needs innovation like this, hopefully this mode will catch on and we`ll have countless C&C games being played in the old way but from a new perspective, well not quite but almost. You`ve also got to give credit to Westwood for trying something new and innovative.
