Command & Conquer™ Generals

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 661 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Command & Conquer™ Generals Game Cover
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"Command & Conquer Generals" is a real-time strategy game set in a modern and near-future warfare scenario. Players can command the forces of the United States, China, or the Global Liberation Army, each with their own unique units and tactics. The game features detailed 3D environments and destructive capabilities, including advanced aircraft and tanks, for intense battles.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 661 reviews
story9 positive mentions
monetization7 negative mentions
  • Command & Conquer: Generals is a classic RTS that still holds up today, providing engaging gameplay and nostalgic value for fans.
  • The game features three distinct factions with unique units and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.
  • Despite its age, the game offers a fun multiplayer experience and has a dedicated modding community that enhances its replayability.
  • The game suffers from numerous technical issues on modern systems, requiring third-party patches and workarounds to run properly.
  • There is a lack of official support from EA, with no updates or remasters to improve compatibility or fix bugs.
  • The portrayal of factions and themes can be seen as politically incorrect and may not resonate well with today's audience.
  • story48 mentions

    The story in the game is generally considered weak and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels like a loose collection of missions rather than a cohesive narrative. While some missions are entertaining and offer unique challenges, the overall campaign is criticized for being short and simplistic, with only seven missions per faction and minimal cutscenes. Despite its shortcomings, the gameplay remains enjoyable, and the game's humor and parody elements provide some charm, particularly for fans of the genre.

    • “Great soundtrack and a fun storyline.”
    • “The story is not deep, just extremely fun since it makes fun of each faction.”
    • “Plenty of maps to play on and each campaign has a really interesting story.”
    • “The setting was boring, there was close to no story, cutscenes were not a thing, and the single-player campaign didn't feel good enough. It was too short, with only 7 missions per faction, and it tried to show off the game's 3D engine too much, which quickly became annoying since you can't skip those scenes. The missions were not thought through and can screw you up if you don't know what to do beforehand.”
    • “There is a vague modern-world story tying three cartoonish versions of the USA, China, and the Middle East together into a generic brawl with all the familiar RTS tropes.”
    • “The story is somewhat thin if that's an important aspect for you, and few levels offer any significant challenges.”
  • gameplay44 mentions

    The gameplay of "Command & Conquer: Generals" is characterized by its classic real-time strategy mechanics, focusing on base building, resource gathering, and tactical combat. While some players appreciate its straightforward and engaging nature, others criticize it for lacking modern innovations and experiencing technical issues like pathfinding problems and frame rate drops. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience with solid mechanics, though it may feel dated compared to contemporary titles.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are tight, intuitive, and incredibly satisfying.”
    • “Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a newcomer, Generals is a must-play that promises hours of engaging gameplay.”
    • “Extremely fun and addictive gameplay, especially the skirmishes.”
    • “The gameplay is also rather ponderous, mostly because of the pathfinding.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it’s the same old RTS formula — build, gather, attack — without any modern twists or innovations that you’d expect in a 2024 release.”
    • “Mechanically and visually it's right between the transfer over from 2D to 3D, and it suffers a fair bit from clunkiness because of that.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its early 2000s origins, yet they were considered groundbreaking at the time of release. While many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and unit distinction, they acknowledge that modern titles have significantly surpassed it in visual fidelity. Overall, the visuals may not hold up against contemporary standards, but they still evoke fond memories for long-time fans of the franchise.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly good for its time; the movement, the sound, everything.”
    • “For a game released in the early 2000s, the graphics hold up remarkably well.”
    • “The graphics is great for its time, and unit distinction was never better before or after in the C&C franchise.”
    • “Still one of the better RTS games out there, despite the graphics looking quite dated today.”
    • “The graphics are old and they look like ass.”
    • “The visuals have aged fairly poorly, although it's still a very playable game.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its iconic and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience and is often described as legendary or superb. Many players have noted that the soundtrack features standout tracks, particularly for specific factions, making it a memorable part of the game. However, a few reviews mention that some aspects of the music may be considered middling, lacking in memorability compared to the standout pieces.

    • “Great soundtrack and a fun storyline.”
    • “The soundtrack is iconic along with the unit voice lines and dialogue.”
    • “Oh, and did I mention the godly soundtrack?”
    • “The soundtrack is something of a regular occurrence in my background music playlist.”
    • “The soundtrack is really fitting to the game and to the factions as well.”
    • “Video editing with the game's soundtrack.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of witty commentary, amusing voice acting, and a nostalgic charm stemming from its dated graphics. Players appreciate the diverse factions and humorous quips, which add a lighthearted touch to the otherwise realistic setting. Overall, the game balances its serious themes with moments of levity, making it enjoyable for fans of the RTS genre.

    • “Comparing to the Tiberian series that goes completely science fiction and the Red Alert series being more black humor, Generals' style is somewhat more realistic, especially after 10 years of its release when GLA terror becomes reality.”
    • “I definitely recommend the game to anyone interested in RTS, more modern-ish gameplay settings, and overall classic RTS games with some humor in them.”
    • “The voice acting is pretty funny, though.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over the lack of effort in updating or improving the game for modern standards. Many reviewers highlight the absence of essential features like multiplayer, remastering, and bug fixes, leading to a perception that the release is primarily aimed at capitalizing on the franchise's name rather than delivering a quality experience.

    • “At best, it feels like a quick cash grab off the name recognition without putting in the work to make it worthy of today’s standards.”
    • “This game is great, but I hate the way they treat this franchise for a quick cash grab.”
    • “However, this port on Steam is just another absolute cash grab from EA: no multiplayer, no remastered content, no bug fixes, no launch error fixes, no widescreen support, and I can't use my own CD key from Origin.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with players reporting poor performance even on modern hardware. Many feel that despite the nostalgic value, the lack of optimization from EA significantly detracts from the experience, leading to frustration and a desire for better performance solutions.

    • “Smooth performance and nothing changed in the solo campaign.”
    • “Choose high performance for the game in Windows graphics settings within Windows 11.”
    • “Got it to run, but performance is terrible even on a modern rig.”
    • “I feel like I could get better performance by running a VM and just playing the old game.”
    • “As awesome as I remember, it is a shame EA didn't bother to do some optimization for this classic to perform better on modern machines.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. The long, unskippable cutscenes and frustrating gameplay mechanics, such as low visibility and unpredictable building invulnerability, contribute to a tedious experience, especially during repeated playthroughs.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The cutscenes for the campaign are very long and unskippable; not a downside for the first playthrough, but it gets tedious if you come back to the game at a later time.”
    • “It's also tedious trying to track down every last building in the fog of war when you've clearly won the match, especially when buildings can randomly become invulnerable to small rockets.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback; while some users report it runs well, others experience frequent freezes and difficulties in achieving a playable state, particularly when using certain vehicles. Troubleshooting and mods have not universally resolved these issues, indicating a need for further optimization.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I haven't experienced any stability issues; it feels very reliable.”
    • “The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “People who are more savvy with a PC have figured this out, but I spent a couple of hours trying my best with troubleshooting tips and mods and could never get the game in a playable state.”
    • “It freezes from time to time (like the original C&C Generals).”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players highlight the extensive replayability of the game, largely due to the availability of numerous mods that enhance gameplay. Even after many years, the original versions, such as Generals and Zero Hour, continue to offer significant replay value.

    • “The mod makes the game way more playable.”
    • “Generals and Zero Hour still hold their replay value after all these years!”
    • “With numerous mods available, the replayability is endless.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews; some players appreciate its cheesy charm and find it engaging, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, those who embrace the atmosphere are rewarded with countless hours of enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Generals can offer countless hours of playtime if you can dive into the game's atmosphere and gameplay.”
    • “While some (myself included) were able to tolerate the cheesy new atmosphere, others (like one of my friends) were not.”
    • “Generals can offer countless hours of playtime if you can immerse yourself in the game's atmosphere and gameplay.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional attachment to the game, indicating that its arrival on Steam has reignited their passion for gaming, to the extent that they may not engage with other titles. This highlights the game's nostalgic value and its ability to evoke deep feelings of connection and satisfaction.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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