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Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge PS3

Format:
PS3

Genre:
Strategy

Buy/Support:
Support Rowan, click to buy via us...

Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge is a downloadable continuation of the Red Alert series, impressively fully playable as a standalone game. Being a download, the game doesn't have tones of features and the controls are difficult at times, but with a tough challenge mode awaiting, and all new units to try you'll definitely get your money's worth.

The game is a port of the PC expansion Red Alert 3: Uprising, except it's been stripped down to only the challenge mode, hence the name. The first thing that is surprising about this downloadable game is that as aforementioned it's standalone, meaning you won't need the original game to have a blast, a major plus already. Once the games loaded up you'll notice that the menu consists of a tutorial mode, so you can practice up before going straight into challenge mode, or if you're a newbie to the series,learn how thegame works. As for me I had already played the game numerous timesand its predecessors, as the result of being a Comand and Conquor nerd, but the tutorial will sink you nicely in. I mean there's nothing better than talking tanks complete with accent's,explaining how the game works.

On to the challenge mode. You're probably thinking that being downloadable that the game is rather on the short side. Well you'd be wrong, it's actually pretty lengthy, spanning over many different levels. The levels obviouslyincrease in difficulty the further you progress, and you'll find yourself having a few really tough battles lateron, and I'd consider myself pretty good at Real Time Strategies's.

The various challenges are displayed on a world map; they range from main challenges and side missions, the side missions being very useful for acquiring each faction's new tech. The main game challenges are easier withbetter tech, but what's great here is that new units are stashed away within existing tech, ranging from theawesome Rising Sun's Steel Ronin, robots with giant spears capable of destroying whole tank divisions, to theSoviet mortar cycle's, believe it or not being a motorbike armed with a mortar, it's all here.

The game introduces some more great battle tunes comprising of a few new ones from Frank Klepacki himself,incaseyou don't know Klepacki has been doing the Comand and Conquor songs since the very beginning. He's acquiredahugefanbase, so expect to be humming these tunes inside your head. I particularly liked the new Soviet theme,and it didn't take long to cement itself inside my head.

There's a nice addition in the form of a leader board to show off to all your friends, as it charts your percentage completion of the challenge mode, judging by some of those scores though, it's all very competitive.The only problem the game has is that it simply hasn't got the control fidelity that the PC offers;clearly Real Time Strategiesgames on consoles are going to be trickier with the absence of a mouse. EA has done theirbest to try and counterthis with a command wheel, which gives you access to all buildings and units, however it's allwelland good duringthe peaceful part of a battle but when things get frantic it's very hard to keep up withthecontrols. Don't let this discourage you though, I did get used to them after a while, but obviously the mouse isa better suited.

It's addictive as well, I had lots of moments where I would say to myself just one more battle here, not realising the time had flown by, consequently missing my favourite programme. Most of the battles aren't massive,but there are longer ones to contend with. Reaching the par times on each challenge is the hardest thingthis game has to offer, they are seriously difficult, as of yet I haven't actually got more than 5 or so underpartime, it's all good though as it helps extend the games lifespan, so if you're up for an insane challenge give it a shot.

The hammy acting is all here, as Comand and Conquor fans have come to expect, I was laughing at a particular insult I got fromone of the commanders who used Soviet Orbital Drops, and the drops are filled with rubbish from outer space,so when I beat this commander she said that I won because I'm like the rubbish. It's hammy and cheap, and very entertaining. If you can put up with sometimes iffy controls you'll have a real blast with this game and it'sabsolutely worth your hard earned cash. It's also lengthy enough to be considered more of a game than DLC, which is great for people who like a lasting experience. If you like Real Time Strategies and have some spare cash lying about, pop down to your virtual shop and make sure you pick this gem up.

Written by Rowan Brown

You can support Rowan by buying Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge



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Rowan Brown writes the Teen Gamer column.

"I write about my favourite games from a younger person's perspective. It's often surprising how different this ends up to other more grown up reviews."

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