Command & Conquer Red Alert™ 2 and Yuri’s Revenge™

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,954 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Command & Conquer Red Alert™ 2 and Yuri’s Revenge™ Game Cover
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In Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, lead the Soviet or Allied troops in a single-player or Skirmish game to win the war for world domination, using top-secret technologies and a wide range of units. The expansion, Yuri's Revenge, challenges you to defeat an army of mind-controlled Soviet forces. Dominate land, air, and sea battles with over 80 units and structures at your disposal.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,954 reviews
story44 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Red Alert 2 is a timeless classic that continues to captivate players with its engaging gameplay and nostalgic charm.
  • The game features a fun and campy storyline, memorable characters, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Despite its age, the game still holds up well, with a dedicated community that keeps it alive through mods and online play options.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes during cutscenes and limited resolution options that require manual tweaking.
  • Multiplayer functionality is lacking, as players must rely on third-party solutions like CnCNet to play online.
  • The port to modern systems has not addressed many quality-of-life improvements, leaving some players frustrated with outdated mechanics and controls.
  • story132 mentions

    The story of Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri's Revenge, is characterized by a campy, over-the-top narrative filled with political satire, engaging characters, and memorable cutscenes that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the unique mission designs and the blend of humor and strategy, although some missions can be frustratingly difficult and plagued by technical issues, such as crashes during key cutscenes. Overall, the storyline remains a nostalgic and entertaining aspect of the game, keeping players invested even after many years.

    • “A timeless storyline that still excites.”
    • “The game introduces a unique blend of political satire, intrigue, and thrilling battles that make every mission feel epic.”
    • “The over-the-top campy storyline and the iconic cutscenes are a delightful throwback to a time when games didn’t take themselves too seriously.”
    • “The story is as dumb and as cheesy as it can be, but with an extended cast and better quality than the first game by a margin.”
    • “There's even an unresolved issue where a main story cutscene continuously crashes, and the only way to beat the game is to skip that cutscene.”
    • “Plays well, however the Soviet campaign is broken; an error message pops up during the cutscene after the 'Fox and the Hound' mission that keeps coming up every time, essentially locking the campaign.”
  • gameplay71 mentions

    The gameplay of Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri's Revenge, is celebrated for its blend of accessible mechanics and strategic depth, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans. While some mechanics may feel dated and the graphics lack modern polish, the fast-paced, balanced gameplay and unique faction dynamics create a compelling real-time strategy experience that remains engaging even years after its release. The game's charm is further enhanced by its humorous storytelling and a dedicated community that continues to support it with mods and additional content.

    • “The game's mechanics are simple enough for newcomers to understand yet complex enough to keep even veteran players on their toes.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and thrilling; you’ll find yourself glued to the screen as you build your base, manage resources, and deploy units in exhilarating battles.”
    • “Each faction has its own unique units, structures, and playstyle, providing diverse gameplay experiences.”
    • “While some of its mechanics are a bit clunky, and its AI and graphics are still a bit outdated, it's still a very solid RTS with exceptional game design.”
    • “The more I dig through this series of games, the more I realize the first two games are the only ones worth playing; the rest are ruined by absolutely horrible mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay still holds up to this day, but sadly the engine does not, as expected of early DirectX games.”
  • music57 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by Frank Klepacki, is widely praised for its iconic and adrenaline-pumping tracks that enhance the immersive experience and evoke nostalgia. Players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with memorable voice lines and catchy tunes that make it enjoyable both in-game and outside of it. Overall, the music is considered a defining element of the game, contributing significantly to its status as a classic in the real-time strategy genre.

    • “The music, composed by Frank Klepacki, is a perfect blend of adrenaline-pumping beats and atmospheric tracks that capture the intensity of battle.”
    • “The game's soundtrack, composed by Frank Klepacki, is iconic and enhances the immersive experience.”
    • “An absolutely legendary RTS, everything about this game is perfection, the fast-paced gameplay, the B-movie acting, and the adrenaline-pumping soundtrack are just a few things about this game that make it a masterpiece.”
    • “But will play music with a blank screen.”
    • “To anyone playing this for the first time, it may not seem very polished or perhaps graphics wise it may seem dated but trust me this game has some of the most amazing single player maps in the entire franchise and an undeniably sexy soundtrack.”
    • “The cheesiness, the missions, the music.”
  • graphics56 mentions

    The graphics of Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge are generally considered dated but still hold a certain charm, with colorful isometric visuals that remain functional and recognizable. While some players appreciate the nostalgic appeal and gameplay, many express a desire for a remaster that updates the graphics to modern standards, as the current visuals can feel primitive compared to newer RTS titles. Overall, the game's graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, but there is a consensus that enhancements would significantly improve the experience.

    • “One of the most surprising things about Red Alert 2 and Yuri’s Revenge is how well the graphics and sound have held up.”
    • “The game’s colorful, isometric visuals are both charming and functional, with units and buildings that are easily distinguishable at a glance.”
    • “The attention to detail in the graphics and sound design transported me to a world where every decision mattered.”
    • “The graphics aren't much to look at and the gameplay is old-school RTS, but if you enjoy quick RTS gameplay, it is amazing.”
    • “The graphics have not aged well.”
    • “Graphics are showing their age and the controls are more primitive than I realized coming back to it.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and satirical writing, particularly in the live-action cutscenes that feature exaggerated stereotypes and comedic twists. Players appreciate the blend of strategy and humor, noting that the funny storylines and memorable characters contribute significantly to the overall enjoyment and nostalgia of the experience. Despite its age, the game's humor remains a standout feature, making it a beloved classic among RTS fans.

    • “The campaign missions in both games are engaging and varied, filled with twists, dramatic cutscenes, and just the right amount of humor.”
    • “Amazing satire humor in the cutscenes, especially USSR stereotypes.”
    • “This game is packed with humor and soul and utter madness and it apologizes for nothing.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and no technical issues, while others experience frequent crashes, glitches, and bugs, particularly on modern PCs. Many users note that the game feels like a poorly optimized port, leading to frustration with its low resolution and buggy menus. Overall, while some enjoy a stable experience, others find it unplayable due to significant stability issues.

    • “It runs great.”
    • “Good game, runs great on Windows 10.”
    • “So far the game runs great with no slowdown and crisp play.”
    • “Update: although good, it crashes, freezes, glitchy and often crashes in some way.”
    • “This Steam version is exceptionally buggy; sometimes you need to save the game exactly before ending a campaign since it will crash on the 'thank you' animation.”
    • “Unplayable on some modern computers; can't play more than 10 minutes before it freezes. It's not updated to anything standard; it's a straight-up port, so expect really low resolution in case your monitor can't support it.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, particularly through its engaging multiplayer mode and well-designed campaign missions, making it a standout in the RTS genre. Players appreciate the balance, humor, and variability that contribute to an experience that can be enjoyed indefinitely. Overall, it offers a nostalgic yet fresh challenge that keeps players coming back for more.

    • “Absolute banger of a soundtrack by Frank Klepacki, campaign mission design and variability is great, story FMV cinematics are wonderful, and overall replayability in skirmish or multiplayer is second to none.”
    • “The superb balance, decent humor, and immense overall replayability make this game stand out from almost any other RTS games for a reason.”
    • “If you’re looking for a game that offers endless replayability, genuine challenge, and a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of RTS, then look no further.”
    • “The multiplayer mode offers endless replayability and community engagement.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    While the game features engaging campaigns and notable live-action performances, users report significant performance issues and a lack of overall optimization. However, utilizing CNCNet can improve resolution and online play, offering a more optimized experience despite the game's inherent shortcomings.

    • “It allows play online, enhances graphics, and improves performance.”
    • “I highly recommend using CNCNet even if you are only planning to play the campaign; it offers better resolution, online play, and is more optimized.”
    • “But it isn't optimized.”
    • “Horrible performance issues!”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to progress. Many express frustration with the need for frequent saving and the cumbersome adjustments needed to improve performance, which adds to the overall grind.

    • “I even tried saving every couple of minutes so I can go back in and try again, but it's so tedious and tiresome.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's more tedious to change the resolution (you now need to change an additional .ini file), and the slowdowns are not fixed by default.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, primarily driven by microtransactions, yet some players appreciate the convenience of not needing outdated physical media or EA's Origin platform to access the game.

    • “The laziest port and most insane cash grab ever, but at least I don't have to rely on 20+ year old discs or install EA's Origin anymore to play one of the greatest games of all time.”
    • “Just an old cash grab for EA.”
    • “Funded by microtransactions.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is enhanced by Frank Klepacki's music, which combines adrenaline-pumping beats with atmospheric tracks, effectively capturing the intensity of battle.

    • “The music, composed by Frank Klepacki, is a perfect blend of adrenaline-pumping beats and atmospheric tracks that capture the intensity of battle.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and personal growth of the protagonists, making them relatable and engaging. However, some players feel that certain side characters lack sufficient development, leaving their stories feeling incomplete.

  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional impact of this RTS is unparalleled, with players expressing that no other game in the genre can evoke such deep feelings and connections.

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

Buy Command & Conquer Red Alert™ 2 and Yuri’s Revenge™

Play time

26hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
20-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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