Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour

Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour

PC Game Review

Publisher: EA Games

Developer: EA Games

Genre: Strategy

After playing countless hours of Command and Conquer Generals multiplayer via LAN and against the computer you would think it would be enough for this strategy game. But unfortunately for your school grades, this game will have you hooked for a long time to come. Some of the important additions to the game are basics they should have put in the first. For example, when playing in the old version, you had to search for some of the buildings to use your super weapon or satellite revealer. Now they are all neatly arranged on the side of your screen. Other small improvements include the way you interact with the radar map. Pressing right click will have different results then just an ordinary left click.

The major improvements in the game come in forms of new units for every side, new technologies, bonuses for generals, buildings and the choice of 3 new generals for every faction. When playing with the normal teams, the game will feel more balanced and it gives you that "Ahh, this is how the game must have been developed from the start" feel.

You will get used to the new units very quickly and wonder how you got through the first game without them. After playing Zero Hour with some of the technologies, it will be impossible to go back to playing the ordinary Generals.

The graphics in the game haven't broken any new ground, so from first glance they will appear to be the same as the original. But during multiplayer I recommend using only high-end PCs since some the older model PCs and most laptops will suffer from slowdown, especially when you have a lot of units present on the map at one time. EA Games has had this problem since the days of Red Alert but still haven't fixed it.

With all the new additions and improvements it seems that the game has become slightly unbalanced. The GLA side of the game doesn't have any major new improvements at all, and they have become the weakest side of the three. I have no complaints as I always choose USA, but some of the GLA fans might call foul.

Nevertheless, the game will have you building your bases and developing new strategies as you go along and beat your opponents, using their weakness against them. That is the best part of playing a strategy game; whether you are a sneak attack or an all-out attack kind of person, you have to use the best-suited units against your enemy. If he has anti-air then attack using heavily armored tanks. If he uses tanks then send an air strike followed by some Comanche helicopters. All right, that's it for me. Now, I have to defeat this new Chinese Tank General.

Total Score: 8.2 out of 10