Tiberium
Preview
Command and Conquer goes first person
by Keaton Arksey
previewed on PC
Gameplay
With Vega being a field commander, strategy plays a part in the gameplay. You can control up to 4 squads in battle. How you get the squads is up to you. Either by capturing Tiberium spikes or securing drop zones can you net some new squads. There are 4 unit types in the game, from the 2 varieties of infantrymen strong against air and ground units, air support, or giant armored mechs called ‘Titans’. As usual for strategy games, every unit is strong or weak against another unit.
Luckily for you, as long as you have control of drop zones and Tiberium, you can constantly receive wave after wave of reinforcements. Your HUD can tell you where your squad mates are, and if they are behind cover. In the console versions, the squads are assigned to the four directions on the D-Pad. Simply point the cursor and press the D-Pad button to order your units to attack or move. If you prefer the more traditional route, you can also access an overhead map to deal out orders.
The squad gameplay also factors into multiplayer. Instead of choosing a class and joining a team with other people, everyone is their own squad commander, with a group of AI controlled squad mates. The commands that you can give your squad aren’t complicated and can be done on the fly. This is all part of EA LA’s plan to focus the game less on strategy and more on action.
Vega won’t just have the support of his squad during the game. Much like in other FPS games today, he has a regenerative health system as well as a jump pack that will allow him to reach new heights. The game itself also takes a page out of games like Rainbow Six Vegas with a cover system that allows Vega to snap in and out of cover by using the L trigger on console versions.
Contender
Currently Tiberium is planned for a third quarter release for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. With the brand recognition of Command and Conquer, the power of Unreal Engine 3.0, and a mix of FPS and strategy gameplay, Tiberium looks set to prove itself a contender in the heavy fall lineup.
