Red Alert 3

Red Alert was a nice branching-out of the (extremely cool) Command & Conquer universe, which itself was winning awards and just generally swanning about people's computers being cool. Life was good, the (relatively) new RTS genre was cranking and gamers were happy. Westwood (may they rest in peace - never forget!) did the only natural thing and released followups to both games, with Red Alert 2 (and the later expansion pack, Yuri's revenge) being well received by gamers. Whilst some might say multiplayer was a little single-minded (first to a super weapon wins, the end), they were extremely satisfying extensions to an already excellent franchise.

Then, sadly, things changed. Gamers changed. Westwood was consumed by the behemoth that is Electronic Arts, never to be seen again. Red Alert was dead.

Then came Command & Conquer 3. Unlike the previous Generals (in itself, a good game), C&C3 felt like a real return to the C&C universe of old. It was like the embrace of an old friend, an old friend that had aged very well indeed. With the success of that game fresh in their minds, gamers started to openly talk about the possibility of a new entry in the Red Alert series - were they deluded or were EA going to go back to the tale of an alternate World War II one more time?

On February the 14th, EA gave Red Alert fans the greatest (and, lets face it, only) valentine's present ever: Red Alert 3 was officially announced. Originally targeted at PC, 360 and PS3 (the PS3 version was subsequently cancelled), Red Alert 3 is being developed by EA Los Angeles and is on track for its global October release (on PC - the 360 version will likely follow shortly thereafter).

So, what's it all about then?

Once again, we return to an alternate World War II scenario: Hitler was prevented from coming to power, which meant no one was there to stop Joseph Stalin from charging out into Europe, plunging the world headlong into war. The time travel experiments that lead to this alternate history also lead to the creation of all sorts of alternate technology - tesla coils, heavily armed zepelins, etc - and the rise of a super power in the east, the Empire of the Rising Sun. It is between these three factions (Russia, The Empire and the Allies) that war once again rages - on the outcome of which rests the very future of mankind. Are you up to the task?

Features:

* Even more exagerated units than before, including a paratrooping armored bear (!)
* A big focus on Naval warfare - a strong feature of Red Alert 2 but seldom seen since
* You can even build most of your base on water, as well as gathering resources at sea!
* Tanya (a super commando unit) now has a time travel device, allowing her to travel back in time and regain the health she had there
* Macross-esque units in the Empire of the Rising Sun's ranks have the ability to transform
* Cutscenes featuring the customary real-life actors make a welcome return to the CG-heavy genre
* Improved multiplayer, with longer games and greater tactical options promised

Red Alert 3 is coming out in October but you can play it before then - all you need to do is buy the C&C3 expansion (Kane's Wrath) or the gold edition of C&C3 (which includes the expansion) and you get a code which entitles you (as long as you register it by September) to participate in the Red Alert 3 beta! As if getting the expansion to that excellent game wasn't incentive enough!

You can guarantee NZ Gamer will be on board as soon as we can get our grubby mitts on it - stay tuned for impressions, updated previews and the review itself just as soon as we get ahold of it. October's shaping up very, very nicely indeed comrade!