Command & Conquer™ and The Covert Operations™

About

"Command & Conquer™ and The Covert Operations™" is a classic real-time strategy game where players choose to lead the humanistic GDI or the Brotherhood of Nod, each with their own unique faction and objectives. The game includes the expansion pack "The Covert Operations," adding new challenging missions to the original campaign. Prepare for intense battles and strategic warfare in this legendary RTS.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Command & Conquer™ and The Covert Operations™ screenshot

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews

story14 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Command & Conquer is a classic RTS that helped popularize the genre, offering engaging gameplay and a nostalgic experience for fans.
The game features a memorable soundtrack and live-action cutscenes that add to its charm, making it a fun trip down memory lane.
Despite its age, the game is easy to learn and provides a good challenge, making it suitable for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, making it frustrating to play, especially during critical missions.
Many modern quality-of-life features are absent, leading to clunky controls and poor AI behavior that can detract from the overall experience.
While nostalgic, the game's outdated mechanics and design may not hold up well against contemporary RTS titles, prompting many to recommend the remastered version instead.

story
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
81%
6%
The game's story revolves around a conflict between two factions, the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod, set in a near-future sci-fi world. While some players find the narrative engaging and nostalgic, others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence, with many missions feeling disconnected from the overarching plot. The expansion content has been noted for its difficulty and lack of meaningful story additions, often perceived as filler rather than enriching the game's narrative experience.
- “Released as the first expansion pack for the beloved 'Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn,' it introduces a stellar array of new missions, gameplay mechanics, and an enriching storyline that truly builds on what made the base game so fantastic.”
- “The story and characters, while not too complex, are still engaging and always interesting to listen to.”
- “The game tells the story of a world war between two globalized factions: the Global Defense Initiative of the United Nations and a cult-like militant organization called the Brotherhood of Nod.”
- “Plus, there's no real story addition, and the missions feel like filler content rather than a meaningful expansion.”
- “Neither of the campaign’s plots make much sense or have any narrative through line you’re following other than vaguely showing battle lines moving across Europe and Africa when you select your next mission.”
- “The story and cutscenes are nostalgic but aren't worth playing the game for.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The gameplay is a mix of engaging strategy and nostalgic mechanics, praised for its depth and complexity, particularly in the expansion "Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations." While some players find the mechanics clunky and frustrating compared to modern titles, many appreciate the easy-to-learn yet challenging nature of the gameplay, which remains enjoyable even after years. The combination of a compelling narrative and a memorable soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making it a beloved classic for fans.
- “It's one of those cases when, while heavily relying on presentation, the game didn't forget about the gameplay, which was still a king.”
- “The added depth through stealth operations and espionage tactics keeps things fresh and engaging, adding layers of complexity to the already rich gameplay.”
- “In summary, 'Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations' is a fantastic expansion that breathes new life into the classic gameplay, offering fans and newcomers alike a chance to engage in thrilling strategy and warfare.”
- “The clunky mechanics make it harder to enjoy, especially if you're used to modern strategy games.”
- “So hard that you have to start abusing in-game mechanics and flaws in the AI in order to proceed.”
- “I don't like the mechanics of this game; maybe I should not have played Command and Conquer: Generals and Red Alert first, because it's frustrating and the mechanics and strategy in this old version of the game were annoying.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The music in the game, primarily composed by Frank Klepacki, is widely praised for its electronic and industrial-infused sound, often described as one of the greatest soundtracks in video game history. Players appreciate its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immerse them in the gameplay, with many expressing a strong emotional connection to the tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is celebrated as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, immersing you in the tense world of tactical warfare.”
- “And then there’s the soundtrack, one of the greatest in video game history, which sounds like Ministry crossed with Pretty Hate Machine era Nine Inch Nails.”
- “I'm telling you, it's the very best music you'll ever hear in a video game.”
- “No music heard.”
- “Good OST ruined by garbage AI.”
- “Better music.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the remastered visuals and iconic 2D art that captures the series' essence, while others criticize the outdated aesthetics and lack of graphical options. Many players appreciate the nostalgic feel of the original graphics, but some find the initial experience jarring due to the game's age. Overall, the remaster is seen as a significant improvement, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of the visual updates.
- “Remastered with good graphics, brand new OST, and fully mod support, which will give you a remastered experience and bring back your old memories.”
- “Graphically, the game holds up nicely, with iconic 2D visuals that capture the essence of the series.”
- “Their careful adaptation to modern computers and the remastered graphics are far superior.”
- “For the first five minutes, my eyes bled so badly from the graphics that I wasn't sure I could continue.”
- “The game really lacks options for graphical settings; it kind of just jumps you straight into the game.”
- “From my point of view, 25 years later, it's still a primitive boyish strategy that relies mostly on quick reflexes and is full of sad grey/brown colors in the graphics.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and monotonous, often describing it as meaningless and repetitive. Many feel that it requires an unrealistic commitment, likening it to needing a "second life" to keep up with the demands.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Meaningless and repetitive grinding anytime, anywhere.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches such as helicopters failing to pick up players and flying into danger zones. Players have noted that these bugs can disrupt gameplay, particularly when exploiting the AI's economy.
- “The game has a lot of glitches, like the helicopter not picking me up and flying off into a SAM site.”
- “The game has a lot of glitches, like the helicopter not picking me up and flying off into a SAM site.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on Windows 10 and higher, the pathfinding and AI performance have not aged well, leading to frustrating gameplay where units often misbehave and enemy AI can be unresponsive. For players seeking improved resolution and multiplayer experiences, community patches are available to enhance the game further.
- “All in all, it's a very convenient way of owning TD because it runs smoothly and instantly on Windows 10 and up. If you're into high resolution and multiplayer, just like all other CnC games, CNC Net and Nyers patch on Mod DB are places to go.”
- “Pathing and AI performance have aged like milk; either your units will willfully take themselves up the garden path if you don't micromanage them, or the enemy AI will sit in a corner to think about their actions, both to the player's chagrin.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by a compelling soundtrack that immerses players in the tense environment of tactical warfare, creating a captivating and engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, immersing you in the tense world of tactical warfare.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight the outstanding replay value of the game, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Moreover, the replay value is outstanding.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply resonant, as it allows them to connect with history on a personal level, evoking feelings of nostalgia and reflection through the exploration of past events and their transformations.
- “From a historical perspective, comparing the changes allows you to feel as though you are touching history.”