Tempest Rising

Classic RTS continue to struggle, if you ignore Age of Empires. Homeworld 3 flopped, Company of Heroes 3 is crawling along and Warcraft & StarCraft are only getting the remaster treatment. Despite this, the call for new games like Command & Conquer is always there, EA's franchise is currently dormant. So the existence of Tempest Rising is no surprise, as the game literally looks like a modern C&C.

What would Command & Conquer or similar RTS games from the 1990s and 2000s look like if they were created using today's state-of-the-art technology? That's the question that Slipgate Ironworks of Denmark, Saber Interactive's 3D Realms label and Knights Peak Interactive are trying to answer with Tempest Rising. Its gameplay features base building, resource management and tactical combat. A classic RTS in other words.

The game takes place in a battle-scarred 1997 from an alternate timeline, where the Cuban Missile Crisis has escalated into nuclear war. In the aftermath, a strange red electrical tendril spread across the planet. Known as the Tempest, this phenomenon changed the course of history and awakened an ancient species known as the Veti. The Tempest is also a source of money in the game, which can be collected and refined, much like C&C's Tiberium, but in red.

Players will command the mobile and advanced peacekeeping corps of the Global Defense Forces, or the hard-hitting and desperate Tempest Dynasty, or a third faction that will be added at a later date. All factions are asymmetric, with unique harvesting mechanics, resource systems and units, resulting in a wide range of possible play styles. Tempest Rising features two 11-mission campaigns, skirmishes (against AI), custom games and Glicko 2-rated ranked multiplayer matchmaking - everything a typical RTS needs.

Tempest Rising plays like a classic RTS, although the construction phase is completed relatively quickly and then the expansion phase begins to open up new resource deposits. As the game progresses, however, the gameplay becomes more complex, as many key units have special functions, such as laying anti-tank mines or deploying artillery, which must be activated manually and require micromanagement. There are also buffs from reconnaissance or enemy tagging, stealth units, weapon systems with varying effectiveness against six types of armour, air transporters and much more. There are also very powerful infantry specialists, only a few of which are allowed in your ranks, and special actions such as air strikes or reinforcements. There are no super weapons like ion cannons or atom bombs. All in all, despite being based on C&C from almost 30 years ago, the game is more complex and varied.

The factions also differ. The Global Defence Force (GDF) can order multiple buildings at once. They use the faction-exclusive resource 'Intel', which is generated by certain buildings and technologies. Intel enables special abilities such as enemy tagging, which gives allied units attack and range bonuses. They also have cloaked units in their arsenal. The Tempest Dynasty is similar to the Brotherhood of Nod. They are very mobile, as are their (mobile) refineries. Their units include flamethrower vehicles, rocket batteries, a rolling ball against infantry and smaller vehicles, and a long-range fighter ship.

All construction and production is controlled by a construction bar on the right-hand side of the screen - very C&C, but divided into buildings, defence, infantry, vehicles and air power. It is also possible to run multiple production queries for different unit production buildings. However, activating special unit abilities or understanding buildings with upgrades is on the opposite side of the interface, and therefore a little too far away.

While focusing on traditional RTS strengths, there are built-in customisation options that allow players to approach the game in their own way. And the game sounds familiar too, with Command & Conquer composer Frank Klepacki providing the soundtrack. Good to know: THQ Nordic was originally going to publish the game, but the project was moved internally in the run-up to the break-up of the Embracer Group. It then fell to 3D Realms, which is now part of Saber Interactive. The game is co-published by Knights Peak, the premium games publishing label of My.Games.

Tempest Rising will be released on PC on 24 April 2025. The standard edition will cost €39.99. The deluxe edition of the game, priced at €49.99, includes a week of Advanced Access to the full game, a digital art book and the game's complete digital soundtrack, featuring 43 tracks by C&C composer Frank Klepacki, Michael Markie, Hexenkraft, Music Imaginary and Sigurd Jøhnk-Jensen.

Conclusion

Tempest Rising is a classic RTS with a modern look that will hopefully breathe new life into the genre.

Features

• Classic RTS with modern technology
• Campaigns, skirmishes, custom games and multiplayer
• Inspired by Command & Conquer