Command & Conquer™ Generals

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,322 reviews

story18 positive mentions

monetization14 negative mentions

Command & Conquer: Generals is a classic RTS that still holds up today, offering engaging gameplay and nostalgic value.
The game features three distinct factions with unique units and playstyles, providing a dynamic and enjoyable experience.
Despite its age, the game remains fun and addictive, with a strong modding community that enhances replayability.

The game suffers from significant compatibility issues on modern systems, requiring third-party patches and workarounds to run properly.
There is no online multiplayer support, and many players experience crashes and performance issues.
EA has made little effort to update or remaster the game, leading to frustration among fans who expected better support.

story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
71%
10%
The story in the game is generally considered weak and thin, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and engaging cutscenes. While the campaign consists of seven missions for each of the three factions, the narrative is often described as a loose collection of missions rather than a cohesive storyline, with some missions being fun and unique but others frustratingly difficult. Overall, the gameplay is praised, but the story is seen as a secondary aspect that does not significantly enhance the experience.
- “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.”
- “Aside from that, it does what a good RTS from such a golden age should do: 3 distinct factions, a lengthy single-player campaign with a good variety of missions, and guaranteed fun with friends.”
- “The story is somewhat thin if that's an important aspect for you, and few levels offer any significant challenges.”
- “There is a vague modern-world story tying three cartoonish versions of the USA, China, and the 'Global Liberation Army' together into a generic brawl with all the familiar RTS tropes.”
- “In case you are new to the series, Generals takes place in a modern era war between the US and China against the GLA; the story is mediocre at best but the missions are a fun challenging experience with some decent in-game cutscenes.”
gameplay
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
5%
The gameplay of "Command & Conquer: Generals" is characterized by its classic real-time strategy mechanics, focusing on base building, resource gathering, and tactical combat, though it lacks modern innovations and polish. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and straightforward nature of the gameplay, others criticize issues like pathfinding and technical performance, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many find the gameplay engaging and addictive, particularly in skirmish modes, making it a recommended title for RTS enthusiasts.
- “The gameplay mechanics are tight, intuitive, and incredibly satisfying.”
- “"Command & Conquer: Generals" is a classic RTS game that delivers intense and tactical gameplay.”
- “Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a newcomer, Generals is a must-play that promises hours of engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is also rather ponderous, mostly because of the pathfinding.”
- “I had to refund the game because the negative key points that affect gameplay outweighed the nostalgia I was seeking.”
- “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.”
graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
4%
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 some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and unit distinction, many note that the visuals have not aged well compared to modern titles, leading to calls for a remaster with updated graphics. Overall, the game's graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia but are often criticized for their blocky and low-resolution appearance.
- “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 visuals, though dated now, were groundbreaking at the time, and the sound design still hits the right notes—who can forget those unit quotes?”
- “Still one of the better RTS games out there, despite the graphics looking quite dated today.”
- “The visuals, while sharpened a bit, still scream last-gen.”
- “The graphics are old and they look like ass.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
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, with standout tracks for specific factions. While some reviews note that certain aspects of the soundtrack may be middling or not particularly memorable, the overall consensus highlights its ability to energize the game and remain a favorite in players' playlists.
- “Oh, and did I mention the godly soundtrack?”
- “Superb gameplay, fantastic music, and massively quotable unit voice over.”
- “The soundtrack is something of a regular occurrence in my background music playlist.”
- “The soundtrack is iconic along with the unit voice lines and dialogue.”
- “Soundtrack is really fitting to the game and to the factions as well.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of witty quips, amusing voice acting, and nostalgic commentary on its dated graphics, which players find endearingly funny. While the game leans towards a more realistic style compared to its sci-fi counterparts, it still incorporates humor that resonates with fans of classic RTS games. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted elements that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “With great diverse factions and funny quips.”
- “The voice acting is pretty funny though.”
- “It's so funny to go back to now and remember that none of this registered as weird to me as a kid.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized as a blatant cash grab by EA, with users expressing frustration over the lack of updates, bug fixes, and essential features like multiplayer and widescreen support. Many feel that the game exploits its franchise's name recognition without delivering a product that meets modern standards, leading to numerous refund requests. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative regarding the game's value for money.
- “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.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor performance even on modern hardware. Many feel that the lack of updates and optimization from EA has resulted in a frustrating experience, detracting from the nostalgia of the classic title. Despite attempts to adjust settings for better performance, the overall consensus is that the game fails to run smoothly.
- “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.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. The long, unskippable cutscenes and visibility issues due to the low camera angle and fog of war contribute to a tedious experience, particularly when trying to complete objectives after a match is already won. Overall, the grinding can feel overwhelming and frustrating, leading to a desire for a more streamlined approach.
- “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 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.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing frequent freezes and difficulties achieving a playable state despite troubleshooting efforts. While more tech-savvy users may find workarounds, others struggle significantly, leading to frustration. Overall, stability issues appear to be a notable concern for many players.
- “Runs great too!”
- “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).”
- “The rocket buggies are incredibly frustrating!”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Players highlight the exceptional replayability of the game, primarily due to the abundance of available mods that enhance gameplay. Even after many years, titles like Generals and Zero Hour maintain their appeal, ensuring that players can enjoy a fresh experience repeatedly.
- “Generals and Zero Hour still hold their replay value after all these years!”
- “With numerous mods available, the replayability is endless.”
- “Generals and ZH still hold their replay value after all these years!”
- “The mod makes the game way more playable.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere has received mixed reactions; some players appreciate its cheesy charm and find it engaging, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere can significantly enhance gameplay for those who embrace it, offering potential for countless hours of enjoyment.
- “And while some (yours truly included) were able to swallow the cheesy new atmosphere, the others (like one of my friends) were not.”
- “Generals can offer countless hours of playtime if you can dive into the game's atmosphere and gameplay.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional attachment to the game, indicating that its arrival on Steam has reignited their passion for gaming, particularly within the RTS genre. This sentiment suggests that the game holds significant nostalgic value and has a profound impact on their gaming experience.

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Command & Conquer™ Generals
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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour Image

91%3.6kreviews