Red star

The Red Alert series has always been known for its bizarre plot lines and strange battle units, but Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 blasts the whole concept into the weirdness stratosphere. While the first two titles in the spin-off series were based around an alternative timeline in which Albert Einstein went back in time to kill Hitler, the latest instalment is set in an alternative to that alternative, where the Soviets have gone back again - this time to kill Einstein.

War - with a smile

It turns out, the aim of this mind-bending endeavour was to create a Soviet dominated universe (don't ask how), but instead, a new world order has been fashioned in which the Allies, the Russians and an Imperial Japanese force known as the Empire Of The Rising Sun battle it out for global domination. At this point the Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 script writers were probably ushered away for psychological testing.

The ridiculous plot is a good indication of the fact that Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 should not be taken entirely seriously. It's a tongue-in-cheek take on the usually deadly serious real-time strategy genre in which players command dozens of military units while mining for ore, building bases and constructing dozens more military units.

In Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, players get to choose any of the three armies before embarking on a nine-mission campaign to rule our battered planet. Tasks involve the usual selection of foolhardy assaults and desperate siege defences, which will all be extremely familiar to RTS veterans, but provide a fun framework nevertheless.

Red factions

Each faction has its own array of unit possibilities: the Russians, for example, boast some mega-muscular hardware such as the deadly Sickle anti-infantry walker and the amphibious Bullfrog vehicle, capable of launching soldiers over scenic barriers like human cannonballs. The allies get lots of ultra high-tech super-toys like the immense Assault Destroyer - effectively a battleships on wheels. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3's new addition, the Empire Of The Rising Sun, seems to have based its military R&D on manga comics, chucking killer ninjas, psychic schoolgirls and transforming robots into the warzone.

As you'd expect, the ensuing strategy madness is a visual maelstrom of eye-popping explosion effects, cool unit animations and burning architecture. With three armies battling it out, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 never lets up, demanding cool composure and the multi-tasking skills of a four-headed demi-god.

Amid the chaos, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is sensible enough to include a steady progression system. Gathering resources leads to more cash, which opens up a generous tree of unit upgrades and special weapons, eventually leading to cosmically destructive items like the Empire Of The Rising Sun's brilliantly named, Psychic Decimator.

The great thing is, you don't have to face the fight alone. Every mission in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 has a co-op option, enabling you to recruit a friend to the cause. If you're playing alone, you get an AI commander to fight beside you - they're not military boffins, but they're competent enough at the basic RTS gameplay to be left alone.

'Star' wars

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is a worthy successor to the legendary second title. Even those who've never picked up an RTS game before, let alone one in the C&C series, will quickly become immersed in the hectic action. Quaintly, the game even retains the series' live-action cut-scenes - a feature we've not seen in games for several years. With the likes of Tim 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Curry and George 'Sulu' Takei hamming it up like their careers depend on it (perhaps they do?) these are almost worth the entrance price alone. Funny games - that are actually funny - are a pretty rare thing. Which is why this is one red alert that really shouldn't be ignored.

GAME's Verdict

• Some great comic touches.
• Well-balanced and hilariously conceived battle units.
• Great co-op mode.

• AI commanders could be better.
• It's not going to convert die-hard RTS haters...
• ...While purists may not appreciate the sheer daftness on offer.

Review by: Keith 'War Ninja' Stuart
Version Tested: PC
Review Published: 30.10.08

Red Alert 3's Gemma Atkinson talks Shinobi, Wii Sports and her first videogame appearance...

Hi Gemma, how are you?

I'm good thank you, very good.

You're acting in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. Are you a gamer yourself?

I was growing up, not so much now with work, but growing up I was very much into the Sega MegaDrive and Commodore way back, and the PlayStation. I know it's an old one, but my favourite game growing up was Revenge of Shinobi.

What was the last game you played?

It was Wii Sports, we play on that a lot at home. It's a family game so my Mum gets involved too.

Have you tried Wii Fit?

I can't get the mat! They're out of stock everywhere – I'm trying to get hold of one but nowhere's got one. I'm going to keep trying though, it looks good fun.

How did you get the Red Alert 3 gig?

Basically just from mentioning in an interview that I liked computer games. The Red Alert people contacted me and asked me if I'd be interested in being in the game, and I jumped at the chance.

What did working on Red Alert 3 entail? Were you involved in the game-making process at all?

No, nothing like that. I basically turned up to the studio in America, learned the script and did my pieces to camera. It was a proper studio, they had a command centre set up with a green screen and everything. It took about 16 hours, but we did the whole thing in one day.

So do they lip-synch after you've recorded the dialogue?

Actually no, they do it all at the same time, it's pretty intensive, but I'm happy with how it came out.

Can you tell us about your character and her place in the story?

She's Lieutenant Eva McKenna, and she's got a bit of a crush on her commander so she plays it quite cool with him. She has a rival as well, which is quite fun ‘cuz she also fancies the commander. She's very clever and she's got her wits about her – she's a straight-talking kind of girl.

Will this get you playing Command & Conquer, maybe turn you into a bit of a PC geek?

Yep, definitely, I want to test it out and my friends all want to test it out too. My Mum actually works on a PC so she'll be playing it at work and hopefully not getting in trouble!

Thanks Gemma.

Interview by: Mark Scott
Interview Published: 14.08.08