It’s finally here: Command & Conquer Remastered Collection. This collection includes the original Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Command & Conquer: Red Alert, as well as all the DLC and exclusive campaigns from the console editions. Did you get the Limited Run physical edition for all the goodies?

Setting up shop

For the game proper, returning and new commanders will have over 100 campaign missions to challenge, for at least 30 hours of single player experience. You do need to keep in mind that this is a remastered collection, so there is no additional content, story or missions. Every campaign mission offer you the option to change difficulty level on the fly, so if you want to work on flexing on the AI – or not – then you have that.

You’ll have your classic RTS experience here: gather your resources, build your buildings while managing your power, then unit recruitment, upgrades, you know the drill. Resource management, placements and compositions would be extremely important as you go up the difficulties. The game UI has been streamlined, with buildings, units and such all in their separate tabs sorted neatly in their categories so no more hunting!

Accessibility options in the menu is very limited: it’s only a toggle for some changes to display text and text-to-speech on, so don’t expect too much from it. You can change the game speed accordingly, so that could be useful for some players.

Smoothed polygons

The Remastered Collection offers 4K resolution, and utilizing an ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop, all settings can be put to the max with the game running smoothly as can be. Granted, the games don’t have exceptionally high requirements themselves, so even a potato can probably run it no problem.

The original resolution graphics and remastered ones are on an easy toggle: the spacebar. Those pixels can be transformed into actually recognizable models or back again depending on what you feel at any point in time. Everything’s gotten a nice new polish and of course, the upgrade in details, which you can really appreciate in this new era. No more wondering what that mysterious little speck on the map is any longer!

Depending on which era of RTS player you’re from, you’re provided the options for Legacy and Modern control styles. Other than that, the most additions would be the promised retouched in-game cutscenes, which don’t have any additions but they look a little better.

Footnotes

A map editor is available, and you don’t even have to jump into either of the games to open it up as it’s available on the start up menu. Right away, you can start meddling with maps, so if that’s your thing, then go right ahead. Online matches are also available, with over 250 maps you can choose from to battle it out with players across the globe.

If you’d rather not touch any semblance of competitive play, you can also just hang out with the AI, and bring in friends to bully the AI with you. Mods are supported, so if you fancy booting up some custom map with doodads slapped onto it, feel free! It’s much better for you to play through the campaign to get used to the units first especially if you’re a new player; going up against someone else online – or even the easy AI – could see you getting obliterated.

Verdict

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is pretty much packaged nostalgia. Nothing new, but everything given a new coat of paint, and older players can appreciate the improved graphics, and newer players can understand what people loved about the series to begin with. As someone who’d played the originals as a kid, I barely remembered anything, but all the sounds came rushing back as my fingers fumbled to get my base up and running again.

Being an RTS, the skill ceiling is there, with the Casual difficulty option for you if you just want to go through seeing the stories again. With the DLC packed in, it’s a pretty good deal if you just want to have the games in one place with all the add-on content. Play whatever mode you want: the classic single player, play against others online or team up, the alternate universe Earth is open to you.

FINAL SCORE

8 / 10

Command & Conquer™ Remastered Collection

Publisher: EA

Developer: Petroglyph

Release Date: 2020-06-06

Microsoft Windows, Steam

Command & Conquer and Red Alert defined the RTS genre 25 years ago and are now both fully remastered in 4K by the former Westwood Studios team members at Petroglyph Games. Includes all 3 expansion packs, rebuilt multiplayer, a modernized UI, Map Editor, bonus gallery of unreleased FMV footage, and over 7 hours of legendary remastered music by Frank Klepacki. Welcome back, Commander.