Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour review

Looks like a nerf missile. Probably isn't.

C&C: Generals : Zero Hour

Even though it’s only been eight mere months since we installed Command & Conquer: Generals on our computers, EA Games have still managed to create a substantial and worthy expansion pack for their highly acclaimed real-time strategy game. Quite often we see the release of substandard expansion packs for the majority of strategy games out there, making you feel the developers just have to squeeze their game for every dime they possibly can. Because of this you’ll be even more pleased to find an expansion pack that assures you that your hard earned money has been spent on a well thought out and solid product.

“Now with new and improved taste…”

Chemical Ali in action

Husk gasmaske.

You’ve probably seen strategy game expansion packs that contained a few new units, upgrades, buildings and so on but Zero Hour offers a lot more than just that. Bugs and other annoyances from the original game have been fixed and parts of the game engine itself have actually been reworked, including such things as graphics and user interface. This certainly makes the game a must-have for C&C fans and should easily attract newcomers as well, while extending the lifespan of Generals considerably.

It’s quite clear that the developers didn’t want to settle for just creating a new faction (added to the original three), which could easily have been the case. Instead they have chosen to change the structure of the game, improve and innovate. In Zero Hour you’ll of course find new units, technologies and the so-called “General’s Powers” for the three old factions: the USA (technologically and military advanced), China (vast numbers) and the somewhat primitive terrorist faction GLA. Besides three new single player campaigns you are also introduced to a phenomenon called General’s Challenge, which we will return to later in this review.

The best innovation, however, is the nine new sub-factions. They consist of nine new personalities with different abilities and technological advantages and disadvantages, all based on the game’s three original factions. For instance you have General Malcolm “Ace” Granger who is the air force specialist of the USA. There is General “Anvil” Shin Fai, a Chinese infantry specialist and the GLA has, for example, Prince Hassad, who specializes in the art of camouflage. The term ‘specialize’ in this context means that each of the sub-factions are based on components from their respective faction type. They now have new buildings, units and abilities that add even more strategic depth to the game. With so many of them you should have no problem finding a general in Zero Hour suited to your style of playing.

More strategy

Let's play 'chicken'!

Flotte lyseffekter.

The twelve different factions, each with their own characteristics, will certainly present you, the couch-general, with a lot of tactical and strategic choices, especially when playing multiplayer.

The before mentioned General’s Challenge is closely related to the consequences of which army you select. Like a fighting game you’ll have to select one type of faction out of the nine specialized categories and then fight the other types of generals on their terms. This will be a good preparation for facing human opponents as they are always much more unpredictable than the AI. The latter has been improved, though, from the original game and you’ll find that your AI based opponents will give you a good challenge.

As in the previous C&C games, the cut scenes in the single player part of the game will guide you through the three campaigns. These are mainly designed to get you familiar with the new units and abilities. The USA has got a microwave tank that can deactivate whole buildings and eliminate persons inside, say, a bunker. China has got the big and rather clumsy Helix helicopters, but don’t let their exterior fool you, they are quite efficient. Last, but not least, the GLA has got some off-roaders.

Some new buildings have also been added to the mix. The Chinese hackers have finally gotten their own internet centre, making them less exposed. The GLA can build false buildings, just like in World War II, which can be transformed into real buildings if you can spare the money. Although good, the campaigns do suffer from one problem: the inability to skip the cut-scenes every time a new mission loads.

Splendid graphics and user interface

"No, no, no, the OTHER house!"

The original C&C: Generals had great graphics, now they’re even more polished and detailed. The maps are also very impressive and they have been modified so that they are more playable. As a new feature the weather conditions now play a part in the game as well.

The user interface looks pretty much the same way as before, although some of the functions, for instance the super weapons for special buildings, have been placed along with the icons for General Powers. Still maintaining its intuitive design the game uses the unwritten rules for all RTS titles (Ctrl + 1-9 for group selecting, left click to select, right click to activate and so forth).

The sound in Zero Hour is well done and very appropriate for the genre. The commentaries are funny and creative, and, as is the case with the background music, none of the sound gets boring and repetitive, as one might fear.

Any armchair general’s dream

That's one big helicopter.

Zero Hour is a fast paced strategy with great combat, strategic options and resource management. Zero Hour is also an expansion pack that’s worth all the money it costs. The ingenious new improvements such as level design, units and spectacular graphics all add up to make the original C&C: Generals a much better game. This will certainly result in overtime hours in front of your screen, so prepare to clear your calendar.

A single note of criticism though. Playing Zero Hour over the Internet is a problematic task. Connection problems, various bugs and wrong ping times make online combat an uphill battle, no pun intended! A patch should be on its way soon, though - hopefully making this expansion pack a solid and memorable add-on that actually eclipses the original game it’s based on.


Translated by Julian Henlov (Progrock)