The new engine is better than preivous CnC games!
GRAPHICS
The 3D engine offers more strategic element into the game. You can place structures in any direction to aid in your strategic planning. Landscape and models are more solid. Buildings in the way of your units' fire will take damage and can be destroyed,certain tall buildings will fall, damaging/killing unsuspecting units.
GAMEPLAY
You cannot simply spam units to win, and doing so will hurt your economy,and even worse, provide experience for your enemy units to gain in veterancy,making them deadlier and harder to kill.
Resource gathering is from supply piles and no more from your harvesting fields. They run out eventually, and each faction has their own alternate resource gathering structures.
THE STORY
Just your average War on Terrorism,nothing special.
CONCLUSION
Generals is definitely a must if you're an RTS fan.