Command & Conquer 4 is without a doubt the worst sequel in gaming history. It was this part that started the death of the cult RTS series. The creators wanted to introduce something new, but instead turned everything upside down.
Old love never rusts. I have a deep affection for the Command & Conquer series and I am very sorry to see how EA parted ways with the popular RTS. Especially for you, I decided to tell you about the worst sequel in the history of games. I will tell you about the game that killed a franchise beloved by many players with its existence.
What exactly is Command & Conquer?
Command & Conquer is a series of real-time strategy games (RTS) that debuted in 1995 and was created by Westwood Studios. The gameplay involves expanding the base using collected resources. Players are tasked not only with defending their base from opponents, but also with creating their own armies by completing individual tasks.
One of the most iconic sub-series within the franchise is Tiberium, which focuses on conflicts surrounding the mysterious, titular green crystal. The story begins in the 1990s, when a meteorite hits Earth, spreading the green stone across the surface of the planet. After examining it, it turns out that this substance has unusual properties: on the one hand, it is highly toxic, harmful to the environment, and on the other, it is an incredibly efficient source of energy.
Tiberium becomes a major factor in the conflict between the two factions. On one side of the barricade is the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), seeking to protect humanity and world stability. On the other side is the Brotherhood of Nod, led by the messiah, the mysterious, charismatic chieftain Kane, who wants to use the crystal for his own purposes.
- Major parts related to Tiberium include:
- Tiberian Dawn,
- Tiberian Sun,
- Tiberium Wars
- Tiberian Twilight.
The entire series is characterized by intense gameplay, strategic resource management and dynamic action. The story is decorated with live action cutscenes, in which professional actors took part. Each of the parts complemented each other, creating a coherent whole. Or at least it was so until the creation of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight.
The inglorious sequel
We all know that creating a sequel is quite a challenge for creators. On the one hand, the work must match the level of its predecessor, and on the other, present something fresh so as not to bore the audience. After all, if we do not change anything, we stand still, and this in turn leads to symbolic regression, falling behind. The creators of Command & Conquer knew this perfectly well. They were able to create a brilliant sequel, while maintaining the original atmosphere of the series. An example is the extremely popular Tiberium War, released in 2007.
The real trouble came to the creators when the last part of the Tiberium series was announced. It was supposed to wrap up all the threads, explain them and provide the fans with a satisfying finale that everyone had been waiting for for many years. An epic, closed ending, the complete joy of participating in a great adventure – all of that was ruined. And the culprit of the whole thing turned out to be Command & Conquer 4.
The action takes place 6 years after the Tiberium War. It is 2062, and humanity is on the brink of extinction. As in previous installments, the whole thing is divided into two campaigns, each telling the story of one side of the conflict. It may sound not so bad at first glance, but in practice it turned out terrible. The plot had many gaps, the story did not stick together and, contrary to appearances, rarely referred to the main events of the previous parts.
Unnecessary excess of style over substance is a perfect summary of the whole. Something that worked was transformed into a new experimental system. Tiberian Twilight turned the familiar gameplay upside down, completely eliminating base expansion or resource gathering from the game. Units could be produced freely until a predetermined limit was reached. The effect? In my opinion, the tactical side suffered significantly because of this. The player stopped thinking about expanding influence on the board, which was something special in previous installments. To achieve success, all that was needed was to constantly click on unit production and then send them to slaughter.
Below I’m posting the difference between the third and fourth installments in the series. It’s hard to believe that the release time between these two titles is only three years.
Terrible opinions
Of the nearly 4,000 reviews on Steam, only 16 percent are positive. At the time of release, players vented their negative emotions, writing many posts about the weak sequel.
Hardcore fan groups have made it clear that, for them, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight never came out. They don’t consider it a canonical production due to its many plot flaws and terrible narrative structure.
EA has shown how one game can kill an entire franchise
Do you know how many Command & Conquer games were created after the inglorious fourth installment? In 2012, a browser version of the game in the Tiberium universe premiered. It was based on online cooperation and battles between clans. It looked like Tiberium War.
Electronics Arts tried to revive the brand by announcing work on Command & Conquer Generals 2. Although the title promised a lot and looked amazing, as the months passed the producer changed his promises. The game was to offer a fully complete single-player campaign. Ultimately, however, it was decided that it would be released for free and would focus on multiplayer. Of course, the project died at some point, and the Command & Conquer series with it.
It’s 2024 and there’s no sign of the cult series returning. EA has shown everyone how one tragic decision can ruin everything they’ve worked on for years.
Personally, I am very sorry that I had to witness all these events. I know that what I am about to write is a pipe dream, but I still have secret hopes for the great return of the king of RTS.
Source: antyweb.pl
