Tempest Rising – Everything You Need to Know

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Despite the real-time strategy genre not currently enjoying the same level of popularity as it once did, there are still some high-quality options for fans to explore, and occasionally, exciting new entries like Tempest Rising emerge. In the absence of AAA studios, indie developers and smaller teams have stepped up to fill the gap, and with its upcoming release, Slipgate Ironworks and 2B Games, along with publishers 3D Realms and Knights Peak, aim to contribute to the genre. As we get closer to the game’s launch, let’s delve into some key details about it and what it promises to offer.

STORY AND SETTING

In a world that diverged from our own during the Cuban Missile Crisis, World War 3 erupted instead of peace. Thirty-four years later, vast swathes of this devastated planet are riddled with radiation, but strangely enough, these very areas are where a mysterious, plant-like energy source called Tempest has sprung up. Guess what? Tempest is the hottest commodity in this war-torn world, fiercely contested by rival factions who are still at each other’s throats. And here I am, a gamer, finding myself right smack in the middle of this tempestuous conflict!

INSPIRED BY COMMAND AND CONQUER

It’s worth noting that the game Tempest Rising draws significant inspiration from the classic strategy game Command and Conquer, with its developers even referring to it as a spiritual successor. The game’s themes, narrative, gameplay mechanics, and storyline all carry strong echoes of the original, which are evident in various aspects of the game. Additionally, the music for Tempest Rising is being created by Frank Klepacki, who is renowned for his work on Command and Conquer.

CAMPAIGNS

In line with a real-time strategy game supposedly influenced by Command and Conquer, Tempest Rising is set to include two distinct campaigns. The narrative revolves around two primary factions, and you’ll have the opportunity to experience each campaign from the perspective of a different faction.

CAMPAIGN LENGTH

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m hyped about diving into “Tempest Rising”! This game seems packed with a solid single-player experience, featuring eleven missions for each campaign. Scenes unfolding the story will be sprinkled throughout these missions. The duration of each campaign isn’t clear yet, but according to Brandon Casteel, the lead game designer, we can expect meaty missions with lots of gameplay time in each one. Plus, it seems that the missions won’t follow a rigid structure and will offer variety, as hinted by Casteel.

MULTIPLAYER

A game like Tempest Rising, reminiscent of Command and Conquer, isn’t fully realized without a comprehensive multiplayer experience. As expected,

FACTIONS

In “Tempest Rising,” two major groups will drive the narrative: the Tempest Dynasty and the Global Defense Force, each having their individual storylines. In multiplayer, an additional group, the Veti – a sophisticated and tech-savvy alien race from ancient times – can be played by gamers. Each group offers distinct unit lineups, systems, and gaming approaches. However, at launch, the Veti will not be accessible; the exact timeline for when they’ll become playable is still undetermined.

GLOBAL DEFENSE FORCE

In the remnants of the universe depicted in ‘Tempest Rising’, the Global Defense Force (GDF) stands as the most powerful military force. Comprised of the militaries from the United States, Canada, and Western European countries, the GDF focuses on cutting-edge technology, scientific research, space travel, surveillance, and intelligence operations. In gameplay, the GDF emphasizes precision attacks and rapid mobility; however, they are equipped with heavy weaponry if such a need arises.

TEMPEST DYNASTY

After World War 3, a significant portion of Earth’s western half developed into the GDF (Global Defense Force). Conversely, some Eastern European and Asian countries united to establish the Tempest Dynasty. Many of the dynasty’s original nations had been heavily affected by radiation fallout, which unfortunately was not their initial predicament. However, this misfortune has since provided them with an abundance of Tempest, a resource they now greatly benefit from. Equipped with this powerful resource, the Tempest Dynasty in the game can leverage high-energy systems, units, and structures to its strategic advantage.

SPECIALISTS

In keeping with the norm, each group in “Tempest Rising” will boast its own collection of strong, distinctive units, each with unique skills. The GDF, for one, includes the drone assassin Comandante Vasco Delgado, the riot medic Captain Dylan Tremblay, the comms officer Captain Ed Hayes, and the sniper Captain Bronagh Cregan. Conversely, the Tempest Dynasty will offer characters like physicist Dr. Aigul Yusupova, machinist Sergeant Srdjan Radojević, anti-vehicle sniper Bataar Nergüi, and combat support specialist Mykyta Moroz, among others.

SUPPORT POWERS

In the game ‘Tempest Rising’, each faction possesses unique support abilities that operate similarly to super weapons from the ‘Command and Conquer’ series. The Global Defense Force (GDF) can utilize air strikes, troop carriers filled with peacekeeping troops, communication jammers, and additional capabilities. In contrast, the Tempest Dynasty can deploy volatile Tempest missiles, scatter battlefields with hazardous mines, deliver automated medical facilities to the battlefield, and more.

SPECIALIST MISSIONS

In the style of Commando missions from the “Command and Conquer” series, the campaigns in “Tempest Rising” will also include stages where players control only a Specialist unit. The exact number of these missions hasn’t been specified yet, but during a Gameshedge interview, lead game designer Brandon Casteel did mention that there will be Specialist-focused missions in the game.

NO NAVAL BATTLES

In many instances, naval battles were a key aspect of the play mechanics in “Command and Conquer” series. However, “Tempest Rising” is breaking away from this pattern as its creators, when talking with Gameshedge, stated that they chose to exclude naval gameplay due to the complexity it would introduce, potentially overwhelming the gaming experience. Whether or not it will be reintroduced in future updates has yet to be determined.

In simpler terms, Casteel explained that incorporating naval elements into a game significantly increases its complexity. This is because you need to consider events along the coastline, interactions between air, ground, and naval units, more intricate map design issues, and decreased production of air and ground units. Balancing all these factors can be challenging, especially when the primary focus should be on mastering the basics of a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game. He added that while it’s not entirely ruled out, making naval elements work successfully in a game is extremely difficult, with very few games managing to pull it off effectively.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

The specific system requirements for “Tempest Rising” have not been disclosed yet, but the minimum requirements have been made known, and fortunately, they’re not too high. To play the game, you’ll require a processor such as an i5-7400 or a Ryzen 5 1600, coupled with a graphics card like the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB or the Radeon RX 580, and around 30 GB of available storage space.

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2025-04-06 20:41