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

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,894 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.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,894 reviews
story42 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is a timeless classic that still holds up well, providing engaging gameplay and nostalgic memories for many players.
  • The game features a fun and campy storyline with memorable characters and iconic cutscenes, making it enjoyable for both new and returning players.
  • The community support through mods and platforms like CnCNet enhances the experience, allowing for multiplayer and improved graphics on modern systems.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes during certain missions and limited resolution options, requiring players to manually edit configuration files for better performance.
  • Multiplayer functionality is not natively supported, forcing players to rely on third-party solutions, which can be frustrating for those looking for a seamless experience.
  • Despite its nostalgic value, the game feels dated in terms of controls and mechanics, which may deter new players unfamiliar with older RTS games.
  • story125 mentions

    The story of Red Alert 2 is characterized by its campy, over-the-top narrative and engaging cutscenes, which blend humor with strategic gameplay across two distinct campaigns for the Allies and Soviets. While the missions are generally well-designed and varied, some players have noted frustrating difficulty spikes and technical issues, such as crashes during key cutscenes, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game's unique charm and nostalgic appeal continue to resonate with fans, making it a standout title in the RTS genre.

    • “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.”
    • “Its an outstanding RTS with an intentionally cheesy but well-written story.”
    • “The story is enjoyable, but the replayability of the game is lasting.”
    • “The game crashes after the mission 'The Fox and the Hound', and an error message pops up during the cutscene that keeps coming up every time, essentially locking the campaign.”
    • “Sadly, with the base game, it's a bit of a different story, and the constant crashes and feeling of slowness while playing on speed 5 will make it a slog getting through it.”
    • “So you need to skip the animation, therefore missing some important parts of the story.”
  • gameplay67 mentions

    The gameplay of Red Alert 2 is widely praised for its fast-paced, engaging mechanics and strategic depth, making it a standout title in the real-time strategy genre. While some elements may feel dated and certain mechanics can be clunky, the game remains enjoyable and accessible, especially with the addition of the Yuri's Revenge expansion, which enhances gameplay with new units and balanced factions. Overall, it combines nostalgic charm with solid design, ensuring a fun experience for both new players and veterans of the series.

    • “If you like an excellent RTS with a good story and extraordinary gameplay, you've come to the right game.”
    • “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.”
    • “The mechanics are simple enough to grasp quickly, yet offer endless possibilities for strategic thinking.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, I think it's definitely aged worse compared to Starcraft or Age of Empires 2, but it's still fun if you like the old C&C games.”
    • “While some of its mechanics are a bit clunky, and its AI and graphics are still a bit outdated, it's mechanically 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.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised as iconic and integral to the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting Frank Klepacki's exceptional soundtrack as a standout feature. Described as catchy, immersive, and adrenaline-pumping, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay and evokes nostalgia, making it a memorable aspect that players often revisit outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered one of the best in the real-time strategy genre, elevating the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The game's soundtrack, composed by Frank Klepacki, is iconic and enhances the immersive experience.”
    • “Probably the greatest real-time strategy game ever made; plus an OST that truly brings it.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game are considered dated by many players, with calls for a remaster to bring them up to modern standards, such as 4K HDR and ray tracing. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and the visuals that still hold up reasonably well, others note that the graphics can feel primitive compared to newer titles. Despite the outdated visuals, the gameplay remains solid and enjoyable, with many players expressing a desire for enhancements without losing the game's classic essence.

    • “The exceptional feature of RA2 & YR is the diversity of battles and landscape in each war, with graphics that are very realistic, featuring commanding 3D and sound effects with logical time and space algorithms, creating a very realistic war gaming experience that brings to life the entire adventure, which is always freshly renewed in every series the play is repeated!”
    • “The graphics still hold up, and so far I haven't suffered any issues.”
    • “Fantastic isometric art style, great visuals, sound effects, music, and general design.”
    • “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.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2" is a standout feature, characterized by witty writing and engaging live-action cutscenes that deliver a blend of satire and nostalgia. Players appreciate the game's clever use of stereotypes, particularly in its portrayal of the USSR, and find the storylines both hilarious and memorable, contributing to its status as a beloved classic in the RTS genre. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it a must-play for fans.

    • “There are two campaigns for the main factions, Soviet and Alliance, each highlighted by the funny writing mostly portrayed via the live-action performances sprinkled throughout the missions.”
    • “Amazing satire humor in the cutscenes, especially the USSR stereotypes.”
    • “This game is packed with humor, 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 a straight-up port, so expect really low resolution in case your monitor can't support it.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, particularly through its engaging multiplayer mode and well-balanced gameplay. Players appreciate the variability in campaign missions and the enjoyable story, which contribute to a lasting experience that stands out among RTS titles. Overall, the combination of community engagement and diverse gameplay options ensures that players can return to the game indefinitely.

    • “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 story is enjoyable, but the replayability of the game is lasting.”
    • “The superb balance, decent humor, and immense overall replayability make this game stand out from almost any other RTS games for a reason.”
    • “The multiplayer mode offers endless replayability and community engagement.”
    • “Replayable indefinitely.”
  • 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.

    • “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.”
    • “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 it 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 tedium.

    • “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, with users highlighting the reliance on microtransactions and the perception of it being a lazy port. However, some appreciate the convenience of not needing outdated discs 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.”
  • 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 characters, making them relatable and engaging. However, some players feel that certain characters could benefit from more backstory or resolution to enhance their overall impact.

  • 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
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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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