Reader Reviews
First batch of 2004! Including C&C Generals: Zero Hour, Suikoden III, FFTA, Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna and plenty more.
Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour (PC)
by Lutz
I'm a massive fan of Command and Conquer. I got hooked by Dune on my Mega Drive and I've followed the series ever since. It's with a small hint of pride that I say I own every C&C game and expansion pack there is. After the glory that was Red Alert 2 I was really looking forward to C&C Generals. Well, it ain't all that great, as the EG review here shows. Personally 6 out of 10 was a bit too high for my liking. It's a very nice game to play I feel, but stupidly easy and massively un-balanced. Great fun though, ploughing an enemy base with bombers, A-10s and a particle cannon. It took the biscuit though when I did the last USA mission in 30 minutes (Whilst showing off the different units to my cousin) and not losing one unit.
However C&C Generals: Zero Hour sort of fixes this. For a start, one thing that C&C Generals was missing was, erm, Generals. There were none. However they are in the expansion pack. And aside from the same General abilities each one also has a rather new way of altering the battle. For example, one of the USA generals can build tough planes and stealth Comanche Helicopters, but cannot build the tanks. Another one has increased super weapon production, and a different negative effect. There are nine generals, three for each side, and each one alters the game rather drastically. In a way you almost have nine different sides to choose from. Sadly the GLA is still stupidly underpowered, but they are a bit better to be honest.
The AI seems to have been sorted out somewhat too. In skirmish games the computer actually appears to pay attention and counteracts moves you might make, whilst attempting to exploit your general's weakness and try to blunt the damage from your general's strengths. Multiplayer would be a lot of fun too, as tank rushing is sort of pointless to be honest and a bit on the pricey side. A lot more tactics would be involved than other C&C games, which is a big tick in the "Pro's" list.
But is it worth £20, on top of the £35 for the original? Short answer, no. EA (Bless them) should have released this expansion with the original. Add the two together and that's what you should have had in the first place. If they'd done that then you'd have £35 worth of game (Well, maybe £30). But EA is the king of fleecers in the gaming world, and this is no exception. Despite fixing the original game you still can't help but think that you've paid for two games and got one in return. With the original C&C team now no more I think that this franchise is dead. Not that that will stop EA naturally, but it still feels dead.