The Command & Conquer series has existed for years and is noted as one of the premier factions in the Real Time Strategy genre. The franchise’s success is partly attributed to the extensive fan base that constantly and consistently supports every new C&C installment. With each new addition, the loyal fans rejoice in apparent unison over the internet.

Another celebratory aspect of all C&C games is the reliable possibility that an official expansion will be released at some point not too long after the current game’s release. Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars, the most recent C&C game to be created for PC and Xbox 360, saw the creation and distribution of Kane’s Wrath on PC not long ago, and now fans gaming on Xbox 360 can enjoy the latest expansion as a stand-alone game.

Expansions are practically expected by PC gamers, but console versions have a much more difficult time reaping the benefits that computer games can provide. Luckily for fans, developers involved with RTS games on consoles have determined a fairly balanced way of placing the expansions onto consoles without forcing players to pay full price. Kane’s Wrath is $39.99 at retail stores, can be played completely solo of Tiberium Wars, and contains enough fresh content to make the purchase worth it.

Kane’s Wrath offers three new player modes: Campaign, Skirmish, and Kane’s Challenge. During the campaign, gamers can only play as the Nod faction, taking orders directly from the bald nemesis himself. Overall, there are 13 separate missions broken down into three acts, with a storyline that meshes into the universe of Tiberium Wars. Before each mission takes place, the infamous live-action cutscenes that C&C is so well known for will take place as expected, with mediocre acting in tow. The missions themselves offer a broad range of experiences for the player that includes escorting friendlies, sneaking into unfamiliar territory, and destroying the enemy. With three difficulty levels to choose from, the campaign itself has a fair amount of gameplay content to offer.

The Kane’s Challenge mode presents a unique experience all together when compared to the campaign. Players will have 10 missions to work through, with a different enemy force for each mission, and 10 different factions to play as. With those three combinations, the potential experience for each mission could be slightly unique each and every time. Kane’s Challenge serves as a type of deathmatch mode, and definitely provides more depth for the entire game.

While casual gamers can enjoy the experience of playing solo through the single player modes, the true fun and excitement comes when you take Kane’s Wrath online to battle friends for total supremacy. During online competitions, players can leap into one of five different game types, including Siege, King of the Hill, Versus, Capture and Hold, and Capture the Flag. Each mode is comparable to modes found in other RTS games, with a vast range of unique experiences to be had throughout. Although slight lag was noticeable during heavy battles with immense numbers, the online modes ran smoothly for the most part.

The controls implemented for Kane’s Wrath follow suit with the formula of most console RTS games being created recently. The command wheel allows easy, quick access to the building queues and helps in creating a more fluid, responsive experience that is expected from the C&C universe. The camera seemed constrictive at certain times, but was able to refrain from being a total nuisance throughout most of the game. Beyond the minor camera issues, the overall controls felt well done and on the right track to console RTS perfection.

Kane’s Wrath definitely provides a path of destruction expected from a C&C game, with few flaws to bear during its abusive course onto our consoles. While those fresh to the C&C franchise can still enjoy the overall experience, only those familiar with the Tiberium Wars storyline will fully immerse themselves into the game and enjoy it to its grandest extent. Kane’s Wrath still has plenty to offer for RTS fans, especially with the $39.99 price tag.

Gameplay: 8 
Command & Conquer is still around for a reason. Players enjoy the C&C formula for producing vivid, quick battles with engrossing storylines and involving enemies. Kane’s Wrath only falters with those who are fresh to the franchise and know nothing of the already developed world of Tiberium.

Graphics: 8 
Kane’s Wrath resembles Tiberium Wars nearly exactly, which is far from being a bad thing. RTS games can be fun to watch, and this addition proves that fact to be true.

Sound: 7 
The audio stimulants presented in Kane’s Wrath are the only items not really worth noting. The musical scores do nothing to force remembrance by the player, and sound effects are typical according to RTS affair.

Difficulty: Medium
Kane’s Wrath offers three different difficulty modes that will cater to any range of RTS gamer, from the casual to the hardcore.  

Concept: 7 
The concept behind every C&C game is tried and true and will surely be utilized for more years to come. The storyline might lose newcomers to the series though.

Multiplayer: 8.5
RTS games are meant to be played competitively, and Kane’s Wrath offers a multitude of online modes to destroy your friends in.  

Overall: 8 
While the storyline might ward off those who are driven by involving plots, the gameplay, fluid controls, and attractive graphics wrapped into a $39.99 package should provide more than enough fun and entertainment for any C&C or RTS fan.