Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour

About

"Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour" is a strategy game that takes you to global conflict zones with new masterminds of modern war. The game features 15 new missions, next-generation 3D units like ECM Tank, BattleBus, and Spectre Gunship, and 9 enemy commanders with unique strategies and tactics. Upgrades and customizations add more depth to your gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,588 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

gameplay
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The gameplay of "Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour" is widely praised for its addictive and strategic depth, building upon the classic RTS formula with new factions and mechanics that enhance the experience. While some players note a lack of innovation and the game's age, it remains engaging and fun, especially with community mods that expand its content. Overall, it is considered a timeless classic that continues to captivate fans of the genre.
- “Its addictive gameplay, engaging storyline, and robust multiplayer features have withstood the test of time.”
- “Overall, Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour is a timeless classic that continues to captivate strategy enthusiasts with its depth, variety, and thrilling gameplay.”
- “The addition of generals, each with unique abilities and strategies, adds depth and variety to the gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it feels like the same ol' C&C with minor tweaks.”
- “Plus, they lean heavily on the same, tired mechanics—there's no innovation.”
- “As for the gameplay, mind you that while solid, it's still a two decades old game with its bugs and crashes (at least, the first time you launch it), but after that, it plays flawlessly.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its early 2000s origins, yet they still manage to convey the intensity of battle effectively. While some players appreciate the nostalgic art style and detailed environments, many express a desire for modernization and remastering to improve performance and compatibility with modern displays. Overall, the visuals hold up reasonably well for their time, but significant graphical updates are recommended to enhance the experience.
- “For a game that originally released in the early 2000s, the graphics still hold up well today.”
- “The crisp visuals, detailed environments, and impressive animations create an immersive battlefield experience.”
- “Old school game and graphics, but still an amazing classic!!!”
- “Even in the lowest graphics and resolution possible, the performance is very bad.”
- “First off, the graphics are ancient.”
- “It's an old game where the age of the graphics is obvious even to the blind.”
story
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The game's story is generally viewed as entertaining but not particularly deep, with a focus on humor and engaging cutscenes that set up missions. Players appreciate the nostalgic elements, voice acting, and the continuation of campaigns across factions, although some feel the campaigns are too short and lack variety against new subfactions. Overall, while the story may not rival earlier titles in the series, it complements the addictive gameplay and robust multiplayer features, making for a fun experience.
- “You have three campaigns that put you once again in command of one of three factions with live action/CGI fully voice acted cutscenes that set you up for your next mission with an intriguing story.”
- “The expansion adds new campaigns for each faction, deepening the story and stakes for each side.”
- “Story for each campaign ties directly in with the next.”
- “The story doesn't hold a candle to the old C&C or Red Alert, but that really doesn't matter in this case, because the game is just plain fun.”
- “I feel like in the campaign you never really play against the new subfactions this game brings (except one mission as GLA), which I think is a shame.”
- “Best of luck getting the game to play through the story; I got 'serious error' every time I was about to advance through the story campaign... overheating, or hardware is not powerful enough?”
music
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its iconic soundtrack, which many players consider a staple in their playlists and a key element of the game's atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the combination of epic music, memorable voice lines, and immersive sound effects that enhance the overall experience, making it a beloved aspect that they hope remains unchanged in any future updates. The soundtrack not only complements gameplay but also evokes nostalgia, with players fondly recalling moments of victory and engagement.
- “The soundtrack is iconic along with the unit voice lines and dialogue.”
- “The sound design is equally impressive, with powerful explosions, authentic military chatter, and a stirring soundtrack that enhances the intensity of every battle.”
- “The single-player campaign offers thrilling missions, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is something of a regular occurrence in my background music playlist.”
- “Please, do some updates for this game, make it great again, maybe even a nice remaster with better graphics, without changing the actual mechanics or music.”
- “The music—oh, the music!”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
The game's optimization for modern hardware is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, crashes, and a lack of support for higher resolutions. Despite some enjoyment of the gameplay, players often resort to patches or mods to improve performance, indicating that the game feels outdated and poorly optimized for contemporary systems. Overall, while the game retains its charm, its technical shortcomings detract from the experience.
- “Would advise using gentool (gentool.net) to make sure it runs smoothly on modern systems, including HD+ widescreen options.”
- “But even without optimization it’s still playable and a lot of fun; the gameplay is just incredible.”
- “There will hardly ever be a better RTS; improve multiplayer and fix minor performance issues and the game will rock again.”
- “Even in the lowest graphics and resolution possible, the performance is very bad.”
- “This is so badly optimized, even for modern hardware.”
- “Best RTS ever, but poor optimization for modern PCs and no support for even 1080p or online play.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
13%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse factions, customizable units, and a variety of maps and game modes that keep multiplayer sessions fresh. The addition of challenge modes and an active modding community further enhances its longevity, making it a beloved choice among RTS fans even years after its release. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to offer unique experiences with each playthrough.
- “For me, the variety of available solo gameplay means that replay value is very high.”
- “The customizable units further enhance the replayability, allowing players to tailor their armies to suit their play style.”
- “The variety of maps and game modes further enhances the replayability, making each multiplayer session feel unique.”
- “Even years after its release, it remains a beloved game among RTS fans and continues to be played thanks to its replayability and active modding community.”
- “The game's diverse factions, each with unique units and playstyles, offer a high level of replayability.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on recent operating systems and Proton, players report significant lag and permanent freezes during extended play sessions, particularly on certain buggy maps. Overall, the experience can be marred by these stability issues despite some positive performance aspects.
- “It runs great on recent OS, and after all these years, it doesn't look as bad as I imagined it would look.”
- “Runs great on Proton too.”
- “The game gets laggy when playing for a long time, then freezes permanently.”
- “There are some buggy maps.”
- “The glitches in the game are quite frustrating.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its competitive edge, enhanced by commendable sound design featuring iconic voice lines and effects. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by detailed unit designs, explosive special effects, and dynamic environments, all contributing to a vibrant and engaging gameplay atmosphere.
- “The detailed unit designs, explosive special effects, and dynamic environments contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “The sound design is equally commendable, with iconic voice lines and sound effects that add to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “It's great, such gameplay, resource balancing, music, atmosphere; it has it all.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny unit lines, iconic quotes, and absurd scenarios, such as the chaotic effects of using powerful weapons like the MOAB and nuke cannon. Players appreciate the blend of modern realism with futuristic concepts, making the gameplay both entertaining and memorable, especially during LAN parties. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the straightforward missions and unique character dynamics.
- “From the funny unit lines to the epic music, I have always enjoyed this game.”
- “Also, I know the physics are awful, but nothing is more hilarious than dropping a MOAB or using the nuke cannon on a group of ground units and watching them get thrown in every direction, including up, just to fall back down almost a minute later.”
- “The missions are straightforward, the generals in the challenges are hilariously iconic, and the LAN parties are out of this world fun.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress, particularly through repetitive campaign missions. While there are appealing new units, the overall experience can feel overly grindy at times.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it adds to the overall experience.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but it's worth it for the rewards.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Nice new units, but many tedious campaign missions.”
- “It's a bit grindy sometimes.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as a blatant cash grab by EA, capitalizing on nostalgia without offering any updates or improvements to the game. Players express frustration over the lack of support and the presence of ads, contrasting it with a time when games were more straightforward and ad-free.
- “Honestly, it feels like EA just threw this out there for a quick cash grab.”
- “But to put a game on Steam from 2003 with zero updates or support in 2024 is a lazy cash grab.”
- “EA is purely cash grabbing on nostalgia, not actually improving anything.”
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.