Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ and Firestorm™

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 815 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ and Firestorm™ Game Cover
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In Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ and Firestorm™, players are immersed in the Second Tiberium War, commanding either the Global Defense Initiative or the Brotherhood of Nod. Dynamic battlefields with destructible and deformable terrain, along with new units like jump jet infantry and hover tanks, add strategic depth. Units can gain experience for increased power, while new kinetic battlefield effects intensify combat. The game's mood is gritty and action-packed, focusing on an epic struggle for the future of humanity.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 815 reviews
story36 positive mentions
stability13 negative mentions
  • Tiberian Sun is a nostalgic classic that still captivates players with its engaging storyline and unique gameplay mechanics.
  • The game features a variety of combat units and playstyles, allowing for strategic depth and replayability.
  • Despite its age, Tiberian Sun remains fun to play, with many players expressing a desire for a remaster to enhance its graphics and mechanics.
  • The game frequently crashes on modern systems, particularly Windows 11, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • Many players find the AI and pathfinding to be clunky and unbalanced, making certain missions tedious and difficult.
  • The lack of modern quality-of-life features, such as autosave and improved controls, detracts from the overall experience for new players.
  • story173 mentions

    The story of "Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun" is generally praised for its engaging narrative filled with political intrigue and classic good vs. evil themes, although some players find the mission design frustrating and convoluted. While the campaign offers a mix of strategic depth and challenging missions, many reviewers note that certain missions lack clarity and can feel tedious, particularly those that do not allow base building. Overall, the storyline is considered a strong aspect of the game, with nostalgic elements that resonate with long-time fans of the series.

    • “From the moment you jump into the campaign, you are greeted with an engaging storyline packed with political intrigue, environmental challenges, and a classic good vs. evil narrative.”
    • “In conclusion, Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun and Firestorm prove that great gameplay and storytelling are timeless.”
    • “The unity of the story, the art, and the music creates an immersive space that draws you in.”
    • “The story was meh.”
    • “No idea what's going on in the story - it's tacitus macguffin this and tacitus macguffin that... worst of all is the mission design.”
    • “It's like the dollar store version of C&C; the game has huge potential but the devs just loaded it with stupidity that keeps you irritated the whole time, like units magically appearing in your base. Shoot one wrong thing and repeat the whole mission. This is a base building game and 3/4 of the missions do not have base building in them, and the list just keeps growing of cheap programming every single mission.”
  • gameplay82 mentions

    The gameplay of "Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun" and its expansion "Firestorm" is praised for its depth, strategic base-building mechanics, and unique faction dynamics, which encourage varied tactics. While some players find the controls clunky and the gameplay simplistic compared to modern standards, the engaging atmosphere, immersive soundtrack, and active modding community help maintain its appeal. Overall, the game is considered a classic with timeless elements, despite its age and some outdated mechanics.

    • “The transition to a more dynamically animated world filled with striking visuals and an immersive soundtrack really enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The distinct faction mechanics between GDI and Nod provide a unique twist to strategy, encouraging players to explore different tactics and units with every playthrough.”
    • “The game shines in its base-building mechanics and unit management, pushing players to adapt their strategies on the fly.”
    • “The problem is the gameplay itself - Tiberian Sun is one year older than Red Alert 2, but feels like it's at least five, in a bad way (RA2 is still an absolutely 10/10 game that has aged like fine wine).”
    • “The atmosphere holds up, the gameplay does not.”
    • “Very old and clunky game mechanics.”
  • music52 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the nostalgic and iconic soundtrack by Frank Klepacki. While some feel it doesn't quite match the epic vibes of earlier titles, it effectively complements the game's dark and bleak setting, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The combination of sound effects, music, and visuals creates a compelling and memorable atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The transition to a more dynamically animated world filled with striking visuals and an immersive soundtrack really enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The unity of the story, the art, and the music creates an immersive space that draws you in.”
    • “As a bonus, the soundtrack by Frank Klepacki is incredible.”
    • “Expect low video quality during cutscenes and random audio pops on the soundtrack.”
    • “The songs are meant to sound more sci-fi and alien than the groovy/epic/metal vibes of the first two games.”
    • “While Red Alert 2 is kind of Westwood's refined opus in a way, its bombastic swan song before its untimely death, Tiberian Sun is a bit slower and melancholy like the original C&C.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, immersive qualities, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack and detailed graphics that evoke a gritty, post-apocalyptic setting. Many reviewers highlight the strong lore and distinct ambiance, noting that while the gameplay may be clunky, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with players. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's most significant strengths, making it a nostalgic and engaging experience.

    • “Love it for its dark and bleak atmosphere and setting, slow gameplay, music, great lore, and interesting campaigns!”
    • “Great atmosphere with gloomy post-apocalypse vibes, coupled with some of the best 2D pixel art in gaming.”
    • “The game has an incredible atmosphere and soundtrack, and the gameplay, clunky as it is, is as solid as you'd expect from the C&C series.”
    • “The atmosphere holds up, the gameplay does not.”
    • “While not flawless, it is very ambitious in comparison to the first games and has still probably the most distinct atmosphere out of all the C&C games.”
    • “The cutscenes have some major atmosphere.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but atmospheric, with many players appreciating the unique art style and aesthetics that have aged better than early 3D graphics. While some users note that the visuals can be improved with modern resolutions through simple file edits, others express a desire for a remaster to enhance the overall experience. Despite the old-school pixelation, the game's visuals still evoke nostalgia and charm, making it enjoyable for those who can overlook the graphical limitations.

    • “The transition to a more dynamically animated world filled with striking visuals and an immersive soundtrack really enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The graphics, revolutionary for their time, remain a testament to the dedication of Westwood Studios in crafting a world that is as beautiful as it is deadly.”
    • “The dark sci-fi setting is fantastic in my eyes and I enjoy the aesthetics fully.”
    • “Old and gritty graphics.”
    • “Modern graphics and improved mechanics would breathe new life into this gem.”
    • “If you can get past the graphics, it's totally worth a playthrough.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting frequent bugs and glitches, including menu freezes and save loss, which can detract from the experience. However, some players note that despite these issues, the game remains playable and enjoyable, with no major crashes reported. Overall, while stability concerns exist, they do not completely undermine the game's appeal.

    • “Runs great on the latest Windows.”
    • “And when I go to the menu during a mission, the menu freezes on screen - can't click buttons.”
    • “The game loses saves and freezes too much, a zero effort offering from EA.”
    • “Good old Windows 95/98 game freezes where only a user log off/PC reboot gets you out.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, often feeling that the mental investment required is not worth the rewards. Nostalgia may initially mask these frustrations, but many ultimately recall the missions as monotonous and poorly designed, leading to a sentiment that extensive grinding feels like a second job.

    • “Tedious and boring; Nod artillery has perfect accuracy and over three times the range of any GDI unit. It's just not worth the mental investment.”
    • “Seeing through nostalgia always makes you happy, but then you remember how much you actually hated most of the missions due to their boring or tedious design.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization of the new Steam version has received negative feedback, with users expressing disappointment over its performance despite other games being well-optimized for modern PCs. There is also a sentiment that a full remaster of classic titles like Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2 could have significantly improved the experience.

    • “A new Steam version should be well-optimized and playable, so I have to give this a negative review.”
    • “But while all the games are optimized to run on modern PCs, I still can't help but think how amazing a full-on remaster of Tiberian Sun could have been, alongside Red Alert 2, which is also a great game.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its entertaining real-time videos and nostalgic cinematic cut-scenes, which many players find both funny and engaging.

    • “The cinematic cut-scenes are nostalgic and hilarious.”
    • “The real-time videos are pretty funny to watch.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is primarily funded by microtransactions, indicating a reliance on in-game purchases to generate revenue.

    • “The game feels heavily funded by microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
    • “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases is frustrating and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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