Over the past three decades, I’ve been deeply involved in PC gaming, and watching once-popular genres like real-time strategy (RTS) diminish is a tough reality to accept. The RTS genre, which once boasted powerhouses such as Age of Empires, StarCraft, Warcraft, and Command & Conquer, now seems to exist only in the form of remastered classics, occasional sequels spaced out over decades, or indie games trying to breathe new life into the formula. However, there’s a new RTS on the horizon: Tempest Rising, from Slipgate Ironworks, a studio known for innovative ideas in the genre with Ancestors Legacy.
What stands out most about Tempest Rising is that it’s clear the creators are devotees of the original Command & Conquer series. This isn’t a criticism, as a new C&C game isn’t on the horizon anyway. Instead, Tempest Rising seems to be aiming to expand upon the robust framework established by the defunct Westwood Studios. Similar to its predecessor, Tempest Rising offers two playable factions, each with distinct gameplay dynamics, and it introduces a unique resource, the Tempest, which plays a central role in driving the main narrative, much like Tiberium did in the original games.
Beyond the initial surprise that it’s reminiscent of ‘Command & Conquer’, there are many appealing aspects to ‘Tempest Rising’. For instance, the core gameplay requires you to make strategic decisions in real-time, ones that impact not just your immediate tactics but also your long-term strategy throughout the match. Moreover, the energy and passion in the characters’ voices during both campaigns is palpable. In an era where real-time strategy games are mostly born out of passion for the genre, it seems clear that ‘Tempest Rising’ was crafted with a great deal of love.
After overcoming the initial surprise at its resemblance to Command & Conquer, Tempest Rising has several appealing aspects.
To elaborate on that point, the gameplay in
What sets this game apart is its pace. It rarely feels slow or cumbersome. Instead, it appears as though it was designed with the expectation that players will master the game swiftly, with online battles frequently being decided by brief skirmishes rather than prolonged all-out wars where both sides keep producing new soldiers and tanks indefinitely. The title is aptly named Tempest Rising.
The basic gameplay is straightforward: Initially, you construct a Power Core, which serves as the power source for your base. Each subsequent building you establish either opens up additional buildings or creates new military units to strengthen your army. To continue this cycle, you need to establish harvesters that gather Tempest, our primary currency, and ensure there’s an adequate supply of power generators being built to facilitate further expansion of your base. Throughout the game, you’ll also construct various buildings for soldier training, tank production, and even aerial vehicle manufacture. These units can be deployed into your growing army, or reserved for reconnaissance and quick skirmishes.
In the skirmish and online settings, the game “Tempest Rising” truly shines because it allows unrestricted access to all mechanics of your chosen faction. While this doesn’t diminish the enjoyment of the single-player campaigns, which are quite entertaining in their own right, they do feature a somewhat cheesy storyline with forgettable characters who issue mission instructions. Nevertheless, the game’s level design and missions compare favorably to top-tier titles in the genre. In addition to typical match missions, you’ll encounter specialized ones, such as those requiring you to infiltrate an enemy base and destroy crucial structures with only one unit.
During my gaming adventures, I’ve noticed that the characters who guide me through my missions during the campaign have an unusual animation style.
One potential rephrase of your text could be: One disadvantage of the primary campaign is that the third faction hasn’t been released yet, although the narrative subtly suggests its presence. There’s a lot to anticipate given the intriguing nature of Tempest and the conflict surrounding it. Another issue is that the character models who brief you on missions during the campaign have odd animations. This is particularly noticeable with your initial commander, as the lip syncing with dialogue sometimes feels disconcerting and occasionally borders on the uncanny valley. Fortunately, this problem isn’t as apparent with characters who wear masks.
In many real-time strategy (RTS) games, the campaigns in Tempest Rising serve as a comprehensive tutorial. New mechanics, units, and factions are gradually introduced throughout the stories, aiming to make players comfortable with the game’s systems by the end. This familiarity is intended to encourage players to participate in multiplayer battles against others online. At its peak, Tempest Rising can evoke the sensation of spending hours playing StarCraft: Brood War late at night, immersed in the glow of my monitor. With two playable factions, there are numerous strategies to master.
Initially, the Global Defense Forces (GDF) and the Tempest Dynasty might appear to play similarly, but upon closer inspection, distinct nuances between them emerge that become more pronounced in practice. The GDF, for instance, focuses on units with a finesse touch, such as Drone Operators and Specialist Snipers, while still incorporating vehicles. However, many of these vehicles are specialized, catering to specific roles like anti-infantry or anti-armour, ensuring each one fulfills its unique purpose.
“Tempest Rising is a really good looking RTS”
In contrast to the Ground Defense Force (GDF), which leans more towards an infantry-focused strategy, the Tempest Dynasty appears to favor a “brawn over brains” approach. Their units are equipped with larger firearms capable of causing greater damage and there’s a higher emphasis on vehicles. In combat, you might encounter entire squadrons of flamethrower tanks supported by trucks armed with SAMs, which is quite different from the GDF’s battle style. Furthermore, the Tempest Dynasty constructs its buildings internally before placing them, unlike the field-built structures of the GDF. This seemingly minor difference can have a significant impact, particularly when you need to swiftly deploy turrets to defend against an enemy attack on your base.
It’s important to mention that Tempest Rising boasts impressive graphics for a real-time strategy game. The visuals can be quite stunning, particularly during the epic clashes between massive armies. The screen becomes filled with bullets and drones, while infantry units are sent flying when hit by an airstrike’s explosion. Meanwhile, flamethrower tanks skillfully outmaneuver Grenadiers to protect your structures from excessive damage. The stunning visuals pair beautifully with some excellent music that, though catchy, tends to repeat the same metal tracks over and over.
Tempest Rising evokes a heartwarming nostalgia, reminiscent of when Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games were at their peak in gaming popularity. Despite some minor flaws in the game, it’s remarkably well-crafted. Considering all aspects, only a third faction (yet to be included) and perhaps more maps for skirmish and multiplayer modes seem to be lacking from this game.
This game was reviewed on PC.
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2025-04-21 13:41