Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ and Firestorm™

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ and Firestorm™ screenshot

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 958 reviews

story38 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

Tiberian Sun is a nostalgic classic that still captivates players with its engaging storyline and unique atmosphere.
The gameplay mechanics, while dated, offer a straightforward and enjoyable RTS experience, making it easy to learn but hard to master.
The game features memorable cutscenes and a fantastic soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience and drawing players back to their childhood.

The game suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and poor AI behavior, which can frustrate players.
Many modern quality-of-life features are missing, such as autosaves and improved unit pathfinding, making gameplay feel clunky.
The graphics and overall design feel outdated, which may deter new players who are not nostalgic for the original experience.

story
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The story of "Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun" and its expansion "Firestorm" is generally praised for its engaging narrative, rich in political intrigue and environmental challenges, set against a dark, post-apocalyptic backdrop. However, many players find the story fragmented and the mission design frustrating, with some missions lacking clarity and relying heavily on trial and error. Despite these criticisms, the game is noted for its immersive atmosphere and the effort put into its storytelling, making it a memorable entry in the series.
- “Interspersed with live-action cutscenes, the story has a charming quality that shows a lot of love and effort went into crafting a narrative that engages and intrigues players—which it does exceptionally well.”
- “The game’s dark and moody aesthetic matches its story of a world ravaged by wars and the spread of tiberium, creating a desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “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.”
- “The only problem – the story feels fragmented.”
- “Both gameplay and story feel like there was supposed to be more.”
- “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.”
gameplay
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The gameplay of "Tiberian Sun" and its expansion "Firestorm" is characterized by a mix of nostalgia and dated mechanics, with many players appreciating its strategic depth and unique faction dynamics, despite some clunky controls and visuals. While the core gameplay remains engaging, particularly in base-building and unit management, it shows signs of age compared to modern standards, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. The game's atmosphere, music, and modding community contribute positively to the experience, making it a beloved classic for fans of the RTS genre.
- “As for gameplay, being a forefather of the modern RTS genre, its mechanics hold up remarkably well.”
- “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.”
- “Yet Tiberian Sun was still doing the same old thing, both visually and gameplay-wise.”
- “No amount of nostalgia can hide the dated visuals or clunky gameplay.”
- “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.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers considering it the best in the series, particularly for its ability to evoke strong emotions and enhance the game's dark atmosphere. Composed by Frank Klepacki, the soundtrack blends nostalgic elements with a sci-fi vibe, creating an immersive experience that complements the gameplay and visuals. While some note that it may not reach the heights of earlier titles, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
- “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.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 25-year-old origins, with many users noting a nostalgic charm despite their old-school appearance. While the visuals may not meet modern standards, the dark and moody aesthetic effectively complements the game's post-apocalyptic narrative, and some players appreciate the atmosphere it creates. Overall, while the graphics may deter those seeking high fidelity, they still hold a unique appeal for fans of classic gaming.
- “The game’s dark and moody aesthetic matches its story of a world ravaged by wars and the spread of tiberium, creating a desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “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 transition to a more dynamically animated world filled with striking visuals and an immersive soundtrack really enhances the gameplay experience.”
- “The graphics look like they're from two decades ago, which, again, they are.”
- “No amount of nostalgia can hide the dated visuals or clunky gameplay.”
- “Modern graphics and improved mechanics would breathe new life into this gem.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, moody aesthetic and immersive post-apocalyptic setting, particularly within the Tiberian universe. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of gritty visuals, an outstanding soundtrack, and effective sound design that collectively create a compelling and atmospheric experience. While some note that gameplay may not hold up as well, the overall ambiance remains a standout feature that resonates with players.
- “The game’s dark and moody aesthetic matches its story of a world ravaged by wars and the spread of tiberium, creating a desolate, post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “Love it for its dark and bleak atmosphere and setting, slow gameplay (unlike RA2), 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 atmosphere holds up, the gameplay does not.”
- “I'll definitely give it some more tries for nostalgia's sake and the atmosphere, but honestly, if you get the C&C collection, this is not one of the first games in it worth trying.”
- “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.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on Windows 10, users report various bugs and glitches, including menu freezes and save loss. Some players find these issues manageable and not game-breaking, while others criticize the overall stability as lacking effort from the developers. Overall, it appears to be playable but with notable stability concerns.
- “Runs great on Windows 10, albeit not supporting modern resolutions, but an easy Google search will find ways to adjust.”
- “Runs great on the latest Windows.”
- “Runs great on Windows 10, albeit not supporting modern resolutions, but an easy Google search will find ways to adjust.”
- “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.”
- “- very buggy/glitchy.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, often requiring excessive time investment that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many express frustration with the repetitive nature of missions, which can overshadow nostalgic feelings for the game. Overall, the grinding experience is viewed as a significant drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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 that's until you remember how much you actually hated most of the missions due to their boring or tedious design.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, users report improvements in optimization, particularly regarding alt-tab issues and stuttering, especially in the new Steam version. However, some players express disappointment, feeling that while the games run well on modern PCs, they still yearn for a full remaster of classics like Tiberian Sun and Red Alert 2.
- “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.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 real-time videos are pretty funny to watch.”
- “The cinematic cut-scenes are nostalgic and hilarious.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability through its skirmish mode, which features a random map generator that allows players to create customized maps after completing the campaigns. This flexibility encourages players to return for new experiences tailored to their preferences.
- “Once you finish the campaigns, the skirmish mode with its random map generator ensures replayability by allowing you to create maps tailored to your preferences.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is primarily funded through microtransactions, which suggests 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 makes it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”