RA3 still sucks.

[MinisterofDOOM]

RA3 and I have a bad history. I waited excitedly for the RA3 beta to roll around only to be hugely disappointed in the new bastardization of the "not broken, doesn't need fixing" formula which has been "fixed" to the point that the C&C nameplate no longer belongs on it. The coop-only campaign is possibly one of the worst ideas in all of gaming history, and EA also took it upon themselves to ruin most of the key gameplay elements that have defined the last 5 Red Alert titles.

So, hearing that the RA3 expansion would do away with the coop-only stupidity, I snagged a copy. Whoops.

It still sucks. Coop is gone but all the other "wrongs" EA imparted to the game are still there.

Next to C&C3 it just feels lacking. The fun isn't there. Red Alert is SUPPOSED to be C&C with a satirical red-panic setting and over-the-top units. The setting is there, and things are definitely over-the-top (floating head of death Japanese superfortress) but it's not C&C anymore. It's...it's like some lazy fan made a Red Alert mod for Generals. It is NOT Red Alert and can EAD.

Oh, and the Yuriko campaign sounds interesting but gets boring very very fast. The lack of ANY camera controls and lack of direct control over mind-controlled units is frustrating, and the cheesy voice acting is a bad way to deliver a story that's not any good anyway.

The really funny thing is that IGN repeatedly mentions in their review of RA3 (not uprising) that the formula hasn't changed since the first game. Clearly they have never actually played any other RA games or they would have said EXACTLY the opposite. The formula could not have changed more unless it changed genres completely (which it halfway did with uprising's bonus campaign!).

[Ginsu]

I'm a huge fan of the C&C series, and played Red Alert and Red Alert 2 to death. Countless real-life tasks have fell victim to procrastination brought on by these games. I bought RA3 the day it came out and was very excited. I played it that day, and the next day, and maybe one more day after that. Since then, its been sitting in my desk drawer. Unless I happen to use the case to kill a spider with, I don't see myself ever touching the game again.

I'm not sure if I can even identify all of the problems with this game. Every unit dies way too fast, so you constantly building and rarely fighting, and your battles are like spitting on a fire. There are no maps that contain secure build sites that could be thought of as fortresses, as water is now no different than land with virtually every building and unit being amphibious. You constantly feel vulnerable. Above all, as you put it, its just not fun.

[1unar3clipse]

RA3 was so bad I actually ate the restocking fee to get rid of it.

In its place I got DOW: Soulstorm

[MinisterofDOOM]

I'm not sure if I can even identify all of the problems with this game.

Exactly. It just doesn't feel like C&C OR Red Alert. C&C3's maps and units are much better.

I'd rather play RA2 than RA3.

[s13jus10]

I just downloaded the demo on PS3. I have absolutely no idea if it's the same game as the PC version, nor have I ever played any C&C/RA games.. but I will let you know my opinion after I try it out

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yeah, it's the same as the PC version, aside from some interface/control changes.

[mmm240]

I thank you for this review and will stay away.