Game:

Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996)

Duration: 10:00

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Command and conquer: Red Alert Retaliation is the third and final PC-to-PS1 port in the Command and Conquer series, and was the $20 brand new buy that introduced me to the series altogether. Retaliation is a standalone version of both Counterstrike, and The Aftermath expansions for the PC version of Red Alert.

If you are unfamiliar with the series, Command and Conquer is a real time Strategy game, which means, it's all about war. Players gather and refine a natural resource simply known as ore, in order to fund the building of things like barracks, factories, and military-tech research buildings all in a plan to build an army big enough, and use advanced tactics well enough to destroy your enemies. It's a simple sounding premise, kill the other guy, but with a nearly stupid amount of depth to it's gameplay. This game is addictive, and will steal many hours away from you.

The biggest time thief for me in Retaliation has always been the skirmish mode, or the multiplayer mode, where you can play against up to four computer controlled opponents on over a hundred different maps. And we five original Playstation owners who own a link cable can even play against friends. Provided that you have two original PlayStation systems (that are old enough models to still have the later phased-out-of-the-design link cable port), two TV's, and since retaliation comes with two stand alone disks, one for the allied single player missions, and the other for the soviet, one complete copy of the game.

The 34 single player missions are split between the allied disk and the soviet disk each with their own individual missions. World War two never happened. Hitler never rose to power. Instead, Comrade Stalin's forces have stormed Europe forcing the Allied forces to fight to keep Soviet forces from taking over Fortress Europa. Command and conquer presents an altered version of the events of history. Beating the single player missions even unlocks a secret mode where you face off against giant ants.

The Visuals are all two dimensional sprites, and sprites not being the Playstation's biggest strength means, as you build more and more, and the enemies do as well, the game can slow down quite a bit. However, sometimes the game slowing down can be a clue that the enemy is mobilizing against you. When the game slows down suddenly, in skirmish mode, or the missions, get your base prepared for an attack. While slowdown can be a death sentence for many games, it does not hamper the experience in retaliation, and even come in handy at times. The game can still handle a lot before it slows down, and as you kill more of the enemy, it speeds back up.

The music is well made as well. Sometimes soothing, sometimes upbeat, and very fitting for a game where you may spend hours locked into battle at a time. The tracks may not stand out, or be memorable, but they do not need to be in a game of this type. They stay nicely in the background and add to the experience nicely.

As you may imagine, controlling a real time strategy game with a playstation controller, does have a bit of a learning curve to it. Games like these are what the PS1 mouse controller was designed for, and using the mouse is the ideal way to play. However, I have never had a PS1 mouse, and as overpriced as they are online nowadays, will probably never pick one up. My experience with the PS1 version has always been using the controller to control the game, and while it does take a while to get used to controlling Retaliation with a D-pad, once you get the hang of it, the game controls wonderfully. Wile the mouse is ideal, you still won't miss a step using the PS1's controller.


Overall, while the PC versions of Command and conquer are easier to get your hands on nowadays, I, myself own the First Decade Collection for the PC, the PS1 version of Retaliation is still worth getting your hands on if you are still interested in collecting for the PS1. It will eat hours of time away from you, but you won't regret spending the time with it. If you own a PS1 mouse, or a PS1 link cable, as well, Retaliation is another very good reason to put them to use.

#redalert #commandandconquer #ps1games