Shakespeare’s immortal line bears
repeating: “Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war.”
When it comes to Command & Conquer:
Renegade (Westwood Studios and Electronic Arts), havoc is the operative word.
Major Nick “Havoc” Parker possesses major attitude and major firepower. This
mission-based program continues the fine tradition of the C&C series, and delves
again into the struggle between GDI and the terrorist organization, the
Brotherhood of Nod.
The C&C legacy launched in 1995, and
since then has produced some of the most successful real-time strategy games.
But unlike previous incarnations, Renegade treads new ground –this is a
first-person shooter product, with emphasis on the shooter.
This is a game with arcade features
(power-ups and weapons that you collect as you go), as well as the element of
strategy, weapon load conservation and brute force (as in the one with the
biggest weapon wins). Havoc will be enabled to drive several vehicles (the tank
does a nice job of running over folks instead of wasting ammunition), collect a
wide variety of weapons, and shoot an endless stream of bad guys. Oh yeah, he
also gets to rescue some folks along the way, and gets an occasional bit of
help.
The battle, essentially, is for
control of the planet and the dwindling power source known as tiberium. Nod
possesses the same level of technology (though it takes different forms – such
as nuclear as compared to an ion beam, which is equally as devastating), has an
equal number of soldiers, but steps apart from GDI (the Global Defense
Initiative) in that it is ruthless. This time around the enemy is a division
within Nod known as the Black Hand. They are a group of exotic assassins,
fanatical and capable of anything.
It is up to Havoc to discover just who
they are, and stop them. Easier said than done, even though there is computer
interface known as EVA, which will help him pinpoint objectives, and uses a
radar-type screen to display where the enemy is.
If there is a drawback to the game it
lies in that the AI is not overly strong. Considering that the enemy is engaged
in a firefight of enormous proportions, running straight into a gun, or standing
immobile with backs to the approaching shooter seems a little ridiculous.
The control elements are mouse and
keyboard-based. Anyone who has ever played this style of game will immediately
recognize the pattern of movement controls. Targeting is done with the mouse.
The left button is for shooting, or in the case of explosive elements, to plant
the explosive. The right button detonates explosives, or activates the sniper
scope when you are using that particular rifle.
The sound is exactly what one would
expect from a game with a highly trained soldier who likes to play by his own
rules, and the brusque officers he rubs the wrong way. There are one-liners,
idle but harsh-sounding threats, death screams as well as the usual assortment
of explosions and other battle sounds.
Graphically the game is very well
rendered. The mapboards seem enormous and the environments are interactive – to
a degree (you can shoot holes in an overhead light, and though the bullet holes
are visible, the light remains on). The effects and animation are both very
good.
This game is rated Teen for blood and
violence.
Command & Conquer: Renegade is the
kind of game that is immersive simply because of the non-stop action. It will
challenge players of different skill levels, does provide its share of eye candy
and a few chuckles. While it may not be the best C&C title released, it is
entertaining.
Install: Medium
This program requires about 920 megs of
hard-drive space, installs with one disk and uses the other for gameplay.
Gameplay: 8.2
Once into a mission, the game moves well.
There are times when you get instructions from command after doing exactly what
they are telling you to do. While the mapboards are big, the storyline is
linear.
Graphics: 7.5
The polygonal look of the game isn’t bad,
but lacks the clarity of Serious Sam. The environments are interactive to an
extent.
Sound: 7.5
Some clever one-liners brighten up an
audio track which delivers precisely what one would expect.
Difficulty: 8
The game is easy to play, with control
elements that familiar. There are three difficulty levels that should challenge
players of various skill levels.
Concept: 7.8
This game format is a first for the C&C
series and Westwood should get credit for journeying this remarkable series down
a new road.
Multiplayer: 7.8
This game features team-based action, and
is well supported online.
Overall: 7.7
The shooter action doesn’t measure up to
a Serious Sam, and there are flaws with the AI in the single-player game, but
this is a solid title.
