Red Alert 3: Nikola Tesla and You

EA has done well for itself in keeping with what gamers want to play. They've always been popular with the Real Time Strategy fans, and it is my prediction that they'll remain that way with Red Alert 3, a gem of a game. Upon first glance it reminds me of the transition that Blizzard made in coming from Warcraft 2 to Warcraft 3. The Graphics are great, game play has been upped to a new level and if you liked Red Alert 2, you're going to love Red Alert 3.

Graphics in the game are (like Warcraft 3) cartoony. If you've been a fan of Warcraft 3 or even World of Warcraft you'll be fairly used to the graphics. In the Fable review I did previously I mentioned that people with an affinity to the cartoony graphical style won't be disappointed. It's the same with Red Alert 3. Everything is pretty well detailed and you'll see the effects of your battles long after they're over with, which lends a real sense of depth to the game. Sparks are flying, Tesla is rattling the earth, and you get to see it all - plus it's glorious aftermath.

You can now play three different factions within the landscape of Red Alert. You can play as Japan (with those awesome transformers, more to come on that), the Soviet Union, or the Allies. Players will find the Soviet and Allied way of doing things pretty familiar. Your Soviet bases and structures will initially start being built, them complete over time. Your allied structures will be built in the menu, then dropped into the game, and the Japanese will build their structures with pods. It's hard to explain, but basically you pick your building, it gets completed, then you guide it with the pod to where it needs to be. This allows the Japanese a little more freedom in expansion, but they're also more vulnerable as they're transported.

An interest adaptation to the franchise is that now structures are a little more versatile. Most of the can be built in the land or water which gives the player many more options and it really lends to a sense of control within the game play.

Red Alert 3 boasts even more nontraditional combat mechanisms and weapons that Red Alert 2 or 1. You'll see Dolphins, Squid and other crazy nonviolent things converted into fierce killing machines. A really cool innovation that might come off as comical to some (me) is that Japan has created some form of transformers. They're big hunks of metal that "transform" and adapt to their environment. It's a really cool addition and really adds something to the monotony of tank vs. tank battle previously seen in the franchise.

Oh, How could anybody forget. Bears. That's right. Bears fight for you. I believe that information to be sufficient at this point.

When we're talking Red Alert, how can anybody forget the super weapons. EA has really raised the bar here. Instead of just saying "let's add a nuke...again" they've created some awesome, if even outlandish tricks you can pull out to stun and incapacitate your opponent. You can send units spiraling into space, bring things crashing down FROM the atmosphere, or warp in a massive bomb that is guaranteed to make your opponent soil his or her pants. That's not all, we still have our favorites from the previous Red Alert Games. The Chronosphere is in there as well as the Iron curtain.

One tiny (and I do mean tiny) shortcoming of the game is speed. It can seem taxing on your mind at times to get all of the things you need to get done within that short time frame. I know what you're thinking. "But, that's how RTS is supposed to be played". Yeah, yeah I know, but there are times when you can feel a little bit overwhelmed with the whole speed of the thing. It's not often but it'll happen (or maybe you're just more leet than I).

The music score and sound in Red Alert 3 is stellar. Every theme fits the mood and really adds to the sense of urgency in the game. As with the other Red Alert games, you'll have comic relief in the form of your units one liners when selected or commanding them.

All in all, Red Alert 3 is a gem of a game and though the pacing is a tad too fast at times, it's mostly a minor thing. Sound is great, graphics are stellar, and the game play will leave you with an addiction for at least a month or two.