Generally, PC to console ports do about as well as transitioning from Country stardom to Pop music (it happens sometimes, but not very often). This is especially the case with the Real-Time Strategy genre, since what works ideally on a keyboard and mouse configuration seldom carry over well to a control pad. However, the team at EA LA have taken great strides to make sure that their Xbox 360 port for their recent entry to the Command & Conquer series works well on the console, and the results really show. The game uses an intuitive interface that feels great doesn’t hinder the experience as in other RTS ports. While the PC is still the ideal way to play, this is a great alternative for gamers without a high-end PC.

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars brings players back to the struggle between the Brotherhood of Nod and the Global Defense Initiative. The two factions seem to still be at war, this time with a focus on Tiberium, a volatile substance that is taking over the planet and forcing the whole of humanity into “Yellow” or “Blue” zones. Whereas the GDI wants to rid the world of Tiberium infestation, the Brotherhood of Nod is looking to carry on the dream of their (assumed) deceased leader by covering the entire world in Tiberium, thereby leading humanity to its next stage of evolution.

The Command & Conquer series has been a long-time favorite of many RTS gamers, and C&C 3 is a logical step for the series. The mission structure is very solid, and the game’s story mode is an engaging play-through. The campaign’s story is divided by cut-scenes that feature some pretty big Hollywood talent, like Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams, and Josh Holloway to name a few. The scenes are a bit on the cheesy side, but fit well within the game’s universe and never take you out of the experience.

Of course, the real gauge of an RTS game’s success on a console is the controls. Last year, EA released The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II on the Xbox 360, which was well-received due to its solid control scheme that was completely redone to make for a conducive experience on the system. C&C 3 continues this tradition with easy to grasp controls. Selecting your units and ordering them around the map is a breeze, as they can be selected via the trigger and shoulder buttons. Your unit commands are mapped to the D-Pad, while moving around the map and rotating the screen is done with the left and right thumbsticks, respectively. While it’s certainly not perfect, it does the trick fairly well with only a short learning curve.

The game also has some pretty impressive Xbox Live features. The game offers four new online modes in addition to the Versus mode found in the PC version. There’s a Capture the Flag mode, King of the Hill, Capture and Hold, and Siege. The latter has you building up your resources and units while under protection. Once the protective barrier has lifted, it becomes all out Armageddon when you must take your units and rush your opponent. All in all, the online modes were a blast, and ran smoothly over Xbox Live.

Graphically, the game looks generally pretty good, save for a few hitches here and there. The units look great, and there are some really nice special effects. However, the environments look a little washed-out at times, and there are a few moments of muddy framerates. However, overall the game looks very good on the Xbox 360.

The music and sound effects are very well done, with ample battle effects and a great thematic score. The voice acting is also very good, albeit done with the same cheese factor as the cutscenes (which oddly add to the game’s charm).

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a solid port of a great PC game, allowing for a unique console experience with great controls and deep online features.

Gameplay: 8.7
C&C 3 manages to actually make RTS gaming on a console a fun experience with solid controls and fast-paced action. The missions are compelling and the online play is great, making this an entry to the series that’s not to be missed.

Graphics: 8.0
The game looks pretty good, but has some issues, like framerate problems and murky environments.

Sound: 8.5
The sound effects are pretty solid throughout, with great battle sound effects and a nice atmospheric score.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
There are several ways to muck up an RTS transition from PC to console, but C&C 3 on the Xbox 360 does it right with a great control scheme.

Multiplayer: 8.7
C&C 3 has some great multiplayer modes (four more than the PC version), including King of the Hill, Capture the Flag, Capture and Hold, and Siege.

Overall: 8.7
Command & Conquer 3 is a great port of the PC game, offering robust online play and an intuitive control scheme.