An instant classic that heads this genre of games
It took some tinkering to get the game to work on Windows XP, and thanks to the Internet and some helpful individuals, this didn't prove too difficult to achieve.
It was one of the few games at the time that introduced in-game videos with real life actors. I think it was the first to do so, but of course I could be wrong. Doing so helps gamers follow the storyline, which is excellent by the way, more easily.
True to the nature of strategy games of the same era, it has the standard unit selection, numbering and command systems, the standard structure building system, and the, again, standard point and click system, which all contribute to an easy to use game interface.
The graphics in this game are grainy due to the low resolution, but again it's commendable for its time. Voice acting is great accompanied by beautiful sound tracks found on the CD's.
The game is well-balanced on both the Soviet and the Allies sides. The Allies have superiority over speed and a strong navy whereas the Soviet have a formidable defence and a slow but solid land-based offence force.
You will grow to love the sound of squirmy infantry units being squashed by heavy vehicles or of high-powered cruiser artillery shells razing the enemy base to the ground.
This game features both indoor and outdoor missions. Indoor missions usually involve achieving goals with limited number of army units whereas outdoor missions entail the standard building up your base, fending off enemy attacks, gathering up a strike force to eliminate the enemy base.
It's possible to change the game speed and difficulty. So if you find the pace too slow for your taste, crank up the game speed bar all the way to the right.
Don't miss this game even if it's more than 10-year-old. It will keep you hooked on the computer screen for hours!
- James Jiao