Command and Conquer is one of the greatest RTS franchises in history and arguably the most prolific. Though there are many other popular strategy games out there, few, if any, have the same volume of quality titles as C&C. The series is so strong that it has survived the death of its creator company, Westwood Studios, and being acquired by EA, a company not known for the quality of its purchased and licensed titles.

C&C3: Tiberium Wars maintains this tradition of quality and in many ways is the update the series has been waiting for. Though C&C: Generals first brought the game into the 3-D world, it did so at the cost of everything traditional C&C games embraced things such as the side bar interface, and FMV cut-scenes. With C&C3, all the traditional elements are back and better than ever.

Cinematic Fury

Anyone who's picked up a C&C game before knows that the story, while camp, is key to the experience. In the beginning, the cut-scenes were low-res, with cheesy effects, but as the series went on they started to attract a well-known actor or two. Now with C&C3, the entire cast is comprised of big name sci-fi actors including cast members from Lost, Battlestar Galactica and of course the ever popular Michael Ironside.

There's only one major actor that doesn't have a TV/Film role and that's Joseph D. Kucan who returns as the illustrious leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane. Kucan reprises the role with such force and vigor that it's almost as if he never stopped being Kane. His presence and charisma goes a long ways towards making C&C3 an entertaining experience.

Most of the acting is pretty good, with the exception of one individual who appears to have gone to the Kevin Costner School of Acting since his last major role. To put it bluntly, Billy Dee Williams, Mr. Lando Calrissian himself, is as wooden as a board and as stiff as a chronic arthritis sufferer. His acting is almost terrible to the point of farce and if it weren't for the fine acting of the rest of the cast, Billy Dee would ruin the entire GDI campaign. Perhaps he just wanted to appear apathetic and insincere because he's playing a politician, but the level he sinks to is beyond excuse.

Billy Dee aside, the rest of the cast comes together nicely to tell the tale of a Nod attack on the floating GDI space station Philadelphia and the chaos that ensues. Through many battles, eventually GDI will end up on Nod's doorstep, eager to take out Temple Prime, but what happens next is so catastrophic that it completely changes the C&C universe.

Of Mice and Mechs

Like any RTS, the strength of the game lies in the power and balancing of its units across all sides. GDI has always worked by building slow, but building strong. Their rivals, the Brotherhood of Nod, has always been weak and cheap, but like most insurgent armies, knows there's strength in numbers and planning. They balance out nicely and always have for years, but C&C3 introduces a new alien race known as the Scrin and how they fit into the equation is a bit of a mystery.