Preaching the console-RTS Gospel: Command & Conquer 360 demo run-through
About a couple of months ago, I decided to give the idea of real-time strategy (RTS) gaming on a console setup a quick survey, in anticipation of both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of EALA‘s Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. Well, a couple of months hence, EALA finally releases the anticipated Xbox 360 demo of C&C3 – and now, just like its predecessor Battle for Middle-Earth II, it’s time to see if EALA can rise to the challenge of console RTS once again.
The short version is, if you believe that BFMEII-360 was a decent effort – and it is – then C&C3-360 also makes the grade. It’s a little more finger-twisting, because its PC brother reintegrates the classic C&C sidebar interface system into the post-Warcraft III/Starcraft interface introduced in C&C: Generals, but no less inaccessible with the 360 controller.
No, the sidebar doesn’t come in this game, you should know that by now if you have the demo. The popup trigger bars from BFMEII make a comeback, but this time it has been augmented to implement the build-from-anywhere ease of the classic C&C sidebar. To do that however requires a two-level command tree: select the build/command tab, select the command to give. That wouldn’t be too bad – just hope your D-pad ain’t wonky.
Anyway, thank God for Boot Camp. It’s more than enough to introduce you to the basics of the augmented control system. Easy inputs for critical commands like Attack-Move takes quite a load off of your star-laden shoulder boards, but elements like having to select the building, and then opening its popup menu to repair it, detract. Those common commands, which need to be plugged in quickly on the battlefield, have to be assigned to a (relatively) one-click command.
Commander, the demo impression continues when you hover the cursor over the Full Article link and click A… okay the left mouse button, just like on the PC.
About a couple of months ago, I decided to give the idea of real-time strategy (RTS) gaming on a console setup a quick survey, in anticipation of both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of EALA‘s Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars. Well, a couple of months hence, EALA finally releases the anticipated Xbox 360 demo of C&C3 – and now, just like its predecessor Battle for Middle-Earth II, it’s time to see if EALA can rise to the challenge of console RTS once again.
The short version is, if you believe that BFMEII-360 was a decent effort – and it is – then C&C3-360 also makes the grade. It’s a little more finger-twisting, because its PC brother reintegrates the classic C&C sidebar interface system into the post-Warcraft III/Starcraft interface introduced in C&C: Generals, but no less inaccessible with the 360 controller.
No, the sidebar doesn’t come in this game, you should know that by now if you have the demo. The popup trigger bars from BFMEII make a comeback, but this time it has been augmented to implement the build-from-anywhere ease of the classic C&C sidebar. To do that however requires a two-level command tree: select the build/command tab, select the command to give. That wouldn’t be too bad – just hope your D-pad ain’t wonky.
Anyway, thank God for Boot Camp. It’s more than enough to introduce you to the basics of the augmented control system. Easy inputs for critical commands like Attack-Move takes quite a load off of your star-laden shoulder boards, but elements like having to select the building, and then opening its popup menu to repair it, detract. Those common commands, which need to be plugged in quickly on the battlefield, have to be assigned to a (relatively) one-click command.
The critical weakness of this setup is that the pacing in C&C3 is way faster than BFMEII, and absolutely faster than C&C: Generals (if you’re more used to that game). Dare I say it, the game pacing in fact approaches C&C: Red Alert 2. Even the Mammoths build and run like Speedy Gonzales compared to the Chinese Overlords in Generals. For the 360 version, you have to become very intimate with the control system, until it becomes second nature. Any less becomes a hitchup in command and control, and at this level of pacing, it’s suicidal.
Of course if you’ve become married to the control system (yeah, we’re talking that intimate), the kids you have will rip the field apart.
Just be glad the demo’s difficulty is on Easy. It gives the necessary space to acclimatize to the control system, get to know the girl a little better. It doesn’t give the satisfaction of a job well done (I want to kick Brutal a**), but at least it does the job.
Unless there’s a ton of BFMEII vets out there, I can’t speak for the Xbox Live challenge, haven’t played enough to make the call. Multiplayer’s too limited – random one-on-one matchups – and there’s no Skirmish for practice, which are the only downers to the demo. (On the other hand, at 1GB on the HDD, the demo’s quite big already.)
Bonus points for live-action cutscenes. Even more bonus points for indulging in sci-fi geekness. Quad bonus for hot women in uniform. Take it away, Sam and Boomer – er, Athena – er, really hot human-friendly toaster pilot.
I was half-expecting General Granger to sneak up behind me
and snap my neck in half…
There you have it. EALA has done it again. Even better: they’ve managed to adapt the classic C&C interface into something that seamlessly works in a quad-shoulder button setup (e.g., Wireless Controller). Of course, I would have swapped a couple of control inputs for added speed (e.g., Repair Structure by holding RB and clicking A on a damaged structure only or something).
Also, now that Microsoft has announced the 360 Keypad, it would have been very interesting to see this integrated into C&C3‘s control setup: build or command at the touch of a key. That would kick the control setup even faster and more fluid than it is now. The ultimate solution would be using USB mice and keyboards, but again, EALA was trying to prove something with the controller (and they’ll have to work that out with Microsoft first, anyway).
So, Commander. Up for the challenge once again?