Command & Conquer Remastered
- June 4, 2020
- Lemon Sky Studios
- 13h median play time
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection is an excellent effort and the definitive version of these games, but these games feel every second of their age.
"Command & Conquer Remastered" is a Real Time Strategy game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, with a good plot, sensational game mechanics, and stellar graphics. The remastered version includes all expansion packs, updated UI, map editor, bonus gallery, and a massive 7+ hour remastered soundtrack. Enjoy mod support, graphics switching, and hours of upscaled cinematics in this nostalgic, yet modernized gaming experience.
Reviews
- graphics2,820 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The remastered version of Command & Conquer has received widespread praise for its significant graphical upgrades, which enhance the original game's visuals while maintaining its nostalgic charm. Players appreciate the ability to seamlessly switch between the remastered and classic graphics with a simple press of the spacebar, allowing for a nostalgic experience alongside modern aesthetics. However, some critiques highlight that while the graphics have improved, the gameplay mechanics and AI remain largely unchanged, leading to mixed feelings about the overall remastering effort.
“The game has been beautifully remastered, with updated graphics and sound that enhance the overall gaming experience.”
“The remastered graphics look sharp, the old look is there too.”
“The updated graphics look fantastic and really hold up well against a more contemporary pixel art aesthetic, and the music...well, anyone who knows the pedigree here knows how great the soundtrack is.”
“Good game... but 20 years ago, remastered as in better graphics is okay but for today's market is not enough.”
“Maybe it's just me, but I thought remastered would mean updated graphics, etc. not a complete rewrite (that's nowhere close to being as good as the original) with mediocre graphics.”
“The remastered graphics look very detailed, but the gameplay is still stuck in 1995.”
- music1,816 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the remastered Command & Conquer collection has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the remastered soundtrack by original composer Frank Klepacki and his band, the Tiberian Sons. Players appreciate the nostalgic value of the music, noting that it enhances the gameplay experience and evokes fond memories of the original titles. The inclusion of a customizable jukebox feature allows players to mix and match original and remastered tracks, further enriching the audio experience. Overall, the remastered music is considered a standout feature, making the collection a worthwhile purchase for fans of the series.
“The remastered soundtrack is a particular highlight but really, everything about this pack rocks and for 17.99 you really can't complain!”
“The music is absolutely amazing, a very warm and welcome reminder to the memories of this game from my childhood.”
“The remastered soundtrack is worth it alone.”
“If only remastered music was made as separate DLC to listen... but no.”
“Please make music listenable without a game!”
“The only issues I can find are the choice to convert cutscenes from the aspect ratio of 4:3 to 16:9 and the low quality rips of the classic soundtrack.”
- story1,517 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the remastered Command & Conquer collection has received mixed feedback from players. Many appreciate the nostalgic value of the original narratives, enhanced by improved graphics and soundtracks, as well as the inclusion of all expansions and previously console-exclusive missions. However, some players criticize the mission design for being frustratingly difficult, particularly in terms of AI behavior and pathfinding issues, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. Despite these challenges, the remaster is seen as a faithful tribute to the original games, offering a wealth of content and a chance to relive classic missions.
“The remastered collection delivers the full package: the first two games along with their three official expansion packs and bonus missions.”
“The story is fun and cutscenes are just as I remembered them.”
“The missions are creative, the units are unique, I especially love the nod missions, where you have to think outside the box sometimes to win the games.”
“The pathfinding is abysmal and while the mission design is mostly thought out, scripted events can often fail if a player does not behave exactly as the devs expected it.”
“Some missions are frustratingly difficult as a result of the fixes, but you could always google for walkthroughs or watch replays in youtube.”
“The difficulty curve can be more of a plot chart.”
- gameplay1,120 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the remastered Command & Conquer series remains largely faithful to the original titles, preserving classic mechanics while introducing some quality-of-life improvements like unit queuing and a modernized user interface. However, many players note that the gameplay feels dated, with persistent issues such as clunky pathfinding and simplistic AI that can detract from the experience, especially for those accustomed to modern RTS standards. Overall, while the nostalgic appeal is strong, the gameplay may not meet the expectations of new players or those seeking more contemporary mechanics.
“The gameplay is solid and challenging, with a good balance between resource management, base building, and combat.”
“The gameplay is preserved, graphics are better and nothing was added or changed very much.”
“The gameplay is quite true to the original and genuinely fun if you like RTS C&C style, especially if you have nostalgia for the game.”
“The gameplay is a painful reminder of why total annihilation was so much better, and as far as visuals are concerned, yeah, the play area is pretty much up to par, but the videos still look like they've been upscaled to extreme proportions.”
“The remastered edition looks pretty, but behind the shiny new graphics is a frustrating mess of atrociously bad AI, limited tactical options, and incredibly frustrating gameplay elements which combine to ruin the gaming experience.”
“The gameplay is unchanged, apart from some quality of life changes like queues. The AI is still aggressive as hell, pathfinding is still 'broken' although I encourage everyone to learn the struggles from back then.”
- stability163 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, including long freezes in menus, erratic AI behavior, and connection issues in multiplayer. While some users appreciate the nostalgic charm of the original game's quirks, others find the current state frustrating, with frequent crashes and unresponsive commands. Overall, while the game runs well on certain systems, it is still plagued by numerous stability issues that detract from the experience.
“It runs great on laptops as well!”
“The game runs great and has great quality of life improvements.”
“It runs great, looks great, has cool new features that improve minimal things, but still maintains all the original without any compromise.”
“However, this game suffers from long freezes in the game menu and in the build menu.”
“The multiplayer is atrocious, crashes mid-game, and if you play with AI, forget it; when in battle, the whole game freezes and is unplayable.”
“This game constantly crashes and is buggy/glitchy; Steam support refused to acknowledge my dissatisfaction with these issues and request for a refund even though I have only had the game for three days and played for no more than 7.5 hours... with horrible gameplay.”
- optimization149 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and low frame rates, particularly during large battles or when playing on non-SSD drives. While some users report smooth performance and effective graphical upgrades, others highlight that the game struggles to run well even on high-end systems, indicating that further optimization is needed. Overall, while the remaster has modernized visuals, the gameplay experience is often hampered by these ongoing performance problems.
“This has all the nostalgia of the classic C&C and Red Alert, but optimized for modern systems and for modern aspect ratios.”
“The remaster looks great and runs smoothly.”
“Performance is buttery smooth for me the whole way through with reasonable load times.”
“The game is plagued with performance issues (at least for me) and AI pathfinding is really bad. I do recall that back in the day the AI was wonky, but it seems worse in this release.”
“The constant stuttering makes this game almost unplayable. It leads to very frequent stuttering of the game.”
“A great game, but poorly optimized. You can't have a fight with more than 30-40 units without the game becoming unplayable. I know they are aware of this and they are working on it, but this is not a game ready for release; they rushed it.”
- monetization72 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing relief that it does not include microtransactions, loot boxes, or additional paid content, which are common in modern games. While some reviewers still perceive it as a cash grab, particularly in the context of EA's history, others appreciate the fair pricing and the absence of in-game purchases, suggesting that this remaster stands out positively in a market often criticized for exploitative monetization practices. Overall, the consensus leans towards a favorable view of its pricing model, with many players feeling they received good value for their money.
“It is such a fun strategic military battle game and provides hours and hours of fast-paced competitive warfare with other online players. I definitely recommend it, especially for only costing a total of $20 with no in-game purchases required, which is rare in a game like this these days.”
“I find it baffling that EA gave us 2 full games with 3 expansions and bonus content at such a reasonable price, and there's no sign of DLC or microtransactions.”
“This is how remasters should be done - better resolution, more features that are quality of life and not game-changing, no microtransactions, developer extras, and just a good graphics polish, along with all expansions included.”
“This was a cash grab while trying to make the least amount of work put in.”
“Just a disappointing cash grab.”
“It's unfortunate that most remastered games now are just a cash grab.”
- humor69 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely appreciated for its nostalgic charm, with many players finding the intentionally cheesy cutscenes, outdated graphics, and quirky dialogue to be both funny and endearing. Users highlight the amusing contrasts between the original and remastered versions, as well as the humorous AI interactions and bloopers that add to the overall experience. While some feel the humor can be hit-or-miss, it generally evokes laughter and fond memories, making it a delightful aspect of the game.
“Great re-release of a classic, with hilarious bloopers and extras from the cutscenes, and improved graphics as well!”
“The real life cutscenes are hilariously bad and that makes them great.”
“You just gotta love the tongue-in-cheek humor and the over-the-top cheesiness of it all; the cutscene videos are great.”
- atmosphere39 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the Command & Conquer series, particularly in its remastered versions, is widely praised for its ability to evoke nostalgia while maintaining the original's unique charm and aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music, sound design, and engaging cutscenes that contribute to a compelling narrative experience, with many noting that the remastered graphics enhance rather than detract from the classic atmosphere. Overall, the games successfully blend modern updates with the iconic elements that defined the series, creating a rich and immersive environment for players.
“The remastered collection hits exactly the same as the original games did - their own unique atmosphere, campaigns that made you feel like a character in a movie, and a perfectly remastered and expanded soundtrack that could only be described as overkill of the highest order.”
“The graphics, world-building, soundtrack, and atmosphere all combine into something that is entirely unique and timeless.”
“The old C&C games have a strong atmosphere, take themselves seriously for the most part, and come with interesting cutscenes and great art design.”
“Without sacrificing its original style, content, and atmosphere, the C&C remastered collection feels, sounds, and looks better than it has ever done before.”
“Sounds and music bring back the original atmosphere better than anything.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits strong replayability, bolstered by features like skirmish modes, workshop support for mods, and improved gameplay mechanics that enhance the experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgia factor while also enjoying the modern updates that make the game more accessible and engaging. However, some feel that despite these enhancements, newer titles may offer a more complete experience, suggesting that replayability may vary based on individual preferences.
“It even has replay value; I still launch a skirmish game from time to time. It's very well suited if you only have a 30-minute time window available to play a game.”
“Workshop support takes everything a step further, adding a lot of replayability with some of the awesome mods available.”
“The added multiplayer and skirmish modes are excellent too, and I can see they will provide a lot of replay value.”
“To be honest, it won't make a difference; people will play a couple of times and then move on. RA, RA2, etc. are playable as they are now with an active multiplayer community; graphics won't make a big difference.”
“Simply HD graphics do not make this replayable for me.”
“Its just now that newer games are a thing; seriously, TS and RA2 are so much more playable now compared to this, even with the new graphics. They play so much better than these games and should only be seriously played to get the campaign story or a shot of nostalgia, and that's about it.”
- emotional33 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing nostalgia and a deep connection to their childhood experiences while playing the remastered version. Reviewers highlight the heartfelt tribute to the original game, evoking memories of simpler times and shared moments with family, which often brought them to tears. Overall, the remaster is seen as a touching homage that resonates strongly with long-time fans, making them feel young again and rekindling fond memories.
“Even though my last playthrough of the original version must have been more than 20 years ago, replaying the campaigns in this remaster made me feel like it was yesterday.”
“This game made me feel like a teenager again, and that's the best recommendation I could give.”
“Yesterday I was hit by a nostalgia that made me cry: my father and I played the Command and Conquer games a lot.”
“It was fun back then, but the AI (both enemy and my group) and the boring story do not captivate me in 2020 anymore.”
“The emotional depth I expected was completely missing, leaving me feeling disconnected from the characters.”
“I found the story to be predictable and lacking in emotional impact, which made it hard to care about the outcomes.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many noting that it requires significant patience and micromanagement. While some appreciate the nostalgic value and the game's charm, the outdated mechanics and repetitive tasks can detract from the experience, leading to a sense of boredom. Modifications and modern tweaks can alleviate some of the grind, but many still feel that the gameplay is overly slow compared to contemporary titles.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A one-word description of how it feels to seriously play the game again in the year 2023 might be 'tedious'.”
“Chasing faster-than-light tanks around the map for hours at a time while they pick off your harvesters only to have the game crash you back 30 minutes of progress (if you are lucky) gets tedious.”
“It's pretty tedious to have to click hundreds of times to add a large amount of water.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in this remastered old-school RTS is praised for its artistic design and charm, reflecting the passion of its creators. Players appreciate the engaging story and the unique challenges presented, which enhance the overall experience despite some frustrations. The combination of beautiful character designs and a captivating soundtrack further enriches the game's narrative depth.
“The character designs are amazing, charming, and beautifully crafted, showcasing the passion of the developers.”
“This game features a mission with an incredible story that enhances the character development experience.”
“The remastered music complements the character development perfectly, adding depth and emotion to the gameplay.”
Critic Reviews
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection Review – A New Dawn On An Old Day
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection is an excellent effort and the definitive version of these games, but these games feel every second of their age.
80%Command and Conquer Remastered Collection Review — Construction Complete!
80%