Strategy gaming has finally begun to make headway on console systems, and thanks to flagship franchises such as Command & Conquer leading the assault, developers continue to test new ways to perform actions with a limited number of buttons.

When the phrase “Command & Conquer” lands lightly upon unexpected ears of fans, a tumultuous explosion of curiosity and excitement is bound to occur. This raw, undeniable passion is one of many perks that sets the C&C franchise apart from most other real-time strategy games. Fans will praise the combat units for their uniqueness, worship the competitive nature behind every multiplayer encounter, and dub the over-the-top cut scenes as Academy worthy.

And although some might claim that fans of the C&C realm of domination might be a little obsessive, there is no denying that not only is Command & Conquer a series worth enjoying, but the Red Alert branch is arguably the best branch of all.

See, C&C has been around for a fairly long time, and during this lengthy stint of epic win, the franchise has branched off into different gaming experiences that still manage to maintain a likeness to the overall feel. After the initial game released in 1995, a version called “Tiberium Wars” was released shortly after. The Xbox 360 and PC have already witnessed a fresh release of this branch. “Generals” was another branch released in 2003, but is typically not associated with the rest of the series because of the vast amount of differences used during gameplay. Finally, “Red Alert” was first released in 1996, and has since received a second, and now a third addition to its end of the branch.

“Red Alert 3”, newly released to PC and Xbox 360, takes the first and second editions’ concepts and amplifies them appropriately. Players are given the chance to experience each of the three factions through campaign, co-op, online, or competitive play. The Soviet faction plays in obviously integral part during the campaign, as the game is aptly named after this aggressive history-altering militia. The Allied forces represent America, and swing more towards the classic approach in terms of military units. The newly introduced Japanese Imperials also bring a brand new way to experience gameplay by forcing players to build cells, and then expelling those cells into actual buildings.

Each campaign offers 10 levels to blaze through, and each level can be experienced with a friend via co-op. If at all possible, you should always try and play the missions with a friend by your side. The co-commander AI offered by the game is very lackluster in terms of thinking properly and making the correct choices. Often times, I found certain secondary objectives being disrupted or ruined, thanks to my co-commander’s poor decision to destroy the wrong building. While the co-commander feature is conceptually capable of drastically improving the C&C experience, the developers really should’ve allowed players the ability to remove AI aid at times.

Although not as graphically impressive on the 360 as it is on PC, Red Alert 3 still utilizes vibrant colors and combinations to catch the eye and really draw in the player. Loads of action can take place on screen all at once, and with the abundance of colors, things occurring at different corners of the display can become quite confusing. At times, I found myself wonder exactly where an enemy engineer had just been spotted, or which of my units was being attacked. This chaos, paired with your co-commander’s constant flubs, really caused some unnecessary headaches.

Of course, the cut scenes were always satisfying to watch, which is expected from the Red Alert series. Many recognizable celebrities make appearances throughout each campaign’s cut scenes, including J.K. Simmons as the Allied President, Tim Curry as the Soviet Premier, and even the beloved Jenny McCarthy as an Allied commando. These scenes are so over-the-top and candidly silly that they will surely have you smirking while you plot your next move. Personally, the cut scenes were a part of my drive to get through each mission, instead of following the actual storyline.

The most important and integral part of a real-time strategy on a console system revolves around how well the controls work. Fortunately, EA has been testing and implementing and tweaking their RTS controls for some time now, and are always making improvements. Red Alert 3’s controls might be the best available thus far in a console RTS.

The left analog stick controls cursor movement across the interactive map. You can also leap onto the small map on the right-hand side of the screen and scroll across it. The right analog controls camera movement. Moving the stick left or right will rotate the camera freely, while pulling or pushing the stick will zoom in and out on your detailed troops. The command wheel that seems to be a staple with most console RTS games is available in Red Alert 3 as well, but the ability to hold down the right bumper and press “X” to activate a unit’s special ability is a welcome addition. Once the player adapts to the controls, navigating the map and ordering units around should become second-nature.

The units themselves are always fun to interact with, and each will present a uniquely entertaining personality that typically mimics the unit’s purpose. Beyond the typical battle options such as patrol and engage, each unit also has a special skill that can be utilized for different scenarios. Some tanks can leap gaps, while certain warships can submerge underwater and become invisible to enemy radar. The player can even obtain points as the mission progresses that are spent on top-secret abilities. These abilities range from the Orbital Dump, which drops satellite debris onto an enemy base, to the fan favorite chronosphere. Commandos are also available to build, and always pack some extra power and skill. The Allied commando is modeled after Jenny McCarthy, while the Soviet commando is tailored after Gina Carano.

Obviously, no RTS game is ever remembered too specifically for its campaign modes or wonderful storyline. Truly awesome RTS games are remembered because of their competitive intensity during multiplayer matches. Luckily, Red Alert 3 allows for online matches with over 20 maps to battle on. You can skirmish against up to four players, free-for-all with set starting conditions, or team up and battle two other enemies. While the competition is awesome, there appear to be no new additions in terms of settings or game variants. What’s worse, players who do not have friends on their list playing Red Alert 3 cannot search for a match with a random person. This single missing feature really hinders the game’s transition from being good to being great.

Only a few other complaints were prominent, but also slightly expected. The framerate seemed to slow up and lag during more intense battles on screen, and the cap on units is set fairly low at 50. While the soundtrack fits perfectly with the theme of the Red Alert series, the constant nagging by your co-commander AI will surely begin to drive you nuts. Lastly, a majority of the missions are similar in structure, and only provide variance by asking you to utilize different modes of attack. Beyond these issues, the rest of the game appears to be quite solid and even enjoyable for the most part. If EA continues to tweak the Command & Conquer franchise in the right areas, the RTS genre will continue to improve on the Xbox 360.

If you love RTS games for their quick-fire action and over-the-top gameplay, then Red Alert 3 could very well satisfy your needs. If you are a fan of the C&C series and find yourself craving more of those wonky cut scenes, then Red Alert 3 will undoubtedly satiate your tastes. But if you look for technical prowess, insanely tough enemies, or intense strategy, then Red Alert 3 might not be the answer your looking for.  

Gameplay: 7.0
Controls work wonderfully after a bit of practice, but the overall storyline is lackluster at best. With a co-commander, the enemies seem easier than they should be, but at times, your ally can also cause unnecessary issues.  

Graphics: 8.0
The cut scenes with live action and real actors always prove to be extremely entertaining and comical. The vibrant colors constantly exploding on-screen truly tell you that this is a C&C game.

Sound: 7.0
Music tracks set the mood during intensely blazing battles on screen, but the random banter of your co-commander and enemy will try very hard to remove you from your happy place.

Difficulty: Medium
Red Alert 3 allows the player to select their own difficulty level. Online competition can always up the challenge as well.  

Concept: 6.0
While the Command & Conquer concept is tried and true, and the new special abilities are a welcome addition, not too much else has changed from previous versions.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Battling online against friends will surely be one of the highlights of owning Red Alert 3 for many people. Completely dominating those friends will make every penny worth the purchase.  

Overall: 7.0
While certain issues are there, such as the lack of battling random people online or the slight framerate issues, other promising features have risen from the destructive ashes of rebuilding a franchise.