Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Command & Conquer + The Covert Operations delivers a signature real-time strategy experience that remains as addictive today as it was at launch. You begin by harvesting Tiberium crystals with your Harvester units, building power plants to maintain operational capacity, and constructing barracks and factories to expand your military might. Every decision—from resource allocation to unit composition—carries weight, turning each skirmish into a tense dance of aggression and defense.

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The core gameplay loop of base-building, tech progression, and combined-arms combat is smooth and intuitive. Units move responsively, and the interface provides clear feedback on health, production queues, and waypoint assignments. Skirmish AI offers a respectable challenge, adjusting its aggression if you play too defensively or too recklessly. In multiplayer, the friction of human unpredictability only heightens the thrill, as you feint attacks, perform surprise flanks, and manage macroeconomy under fire.

The Covert Operations expansion adds eleven specialized missions that shake up the standard formula with stealth objectives, timed rescues, and high-risk sabotage. These missions force you to think beyond brute force, using disguised units, hidden passages, and careful reconnaissance. New unit types—such as the Harpy jet or the Black Hand commando—inject fresh tactics into both solo and skirmish modes, ensuring that the experience feels both familiar and excitingly novel.

Graphics

Though rooted in 1990s technology, Command & Conquer’s isometric pixel art retains a timeless charm. The terrain tiles blend seamlessly from lush green fields to scorched deserts, and each structure and unit is crisply detailed. Infantry barely stand two pixels tall, yet you can instantly identify GDI Achilles tanks from Nod Flame Tanks. The color palette and interface contrast make it easy to differentiate friend from foe, even amid chaotic battles.

Cutscenes leverage full-motion video (FMV) with live actors, lending the game a campy, cinematic flair. While the production values are dated by modern standards, these sequences exude personality—complete with dramatic angle shifts, rousing speeches, and sinister monologues from Kane himself. They anchor the strategic gameplay in a world of conspiracies and global stakes, making every mission feel part of a grand narrative.

The Covert Operations expansion retains the original tilesets but introduces new graphics for covert-specific units and mission markers. Smoke effects, explosion sprites, and water reflections receive small but welcome polish. On modern systems, resolutions can be upscaled, and community patches further smooth out frame rates and correct minor graphical quirks, delivering an enjoyable visual package that holds up surprisingly well.

Story

At its heart, Command & Conquer spins a tale of two factions vying for control of the mysterious Tiberium, a green crystal that consumes the planet. You choose between the global defense coalition GDI (Global Defense Initiative) or the fanatical Brotherhood of Nod, led by the enigmatic Kane. Each side offers distinct units, strategies, and moral shades—GDI’s heavy armor and air superiority versus Nod’s stealth tactics and guerilla warfare.

The Covert Operations expansion deepens the lore dramatically. Set after the base game’s campaigns, you undertake black-ops missions on remote islands, industrial complexes, and Nod strongholds. You witness the fallout from major skirmishes, rescue key scientists, and sabotage experimental Tiberium plants. These missions reveal hidden agendas, splinter factions within Nod, and the lengths to which each side will go to seize power.

Character-driven cutscenes frame every chapter, weaving humor, betrayal, and intrigue. Kane’s chilling calmness and Colonel Burton’s stubborn grit become familiar foils. Even minor NPCs—radio operators, field commanders, and defectors—bring the world to life with personality. Though simple by modern narrative standards, these story beats resonate through the game’s iconic soundtrack and memorable lines, leaving a lasting impression.

Overall Experience

Playing Command & Conquer + The Covert Operations is like revisiting a cornerstone of RTS history. The core mechanics are crisp, the strategic depth remains satisfying, and the sheer variety of missions ensures hours of enjoyment. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer curious about the genre’s roots, the compilation offers a complete package that balances challenge and accessibility.

The campaign length—spanning both the base game’s 40+ missions across GDI and Nod, plus 11 specialized covert ops—provides excellent value. Skirmish and multiplayer modes extend replayability indefinitely, with community maps and online lobbies still accessible through modern patches and services. Experimenting with different faction combos, map types, and AI difficulties keeps the experience fresh long after the story concludes.

In an era of photorealistic graphics and sprawling open worlds, Command & Conquer’s streamlined, focused design stands out as a reminder of strategic elegance. The Covert Operations expansion enriches that foundation, inviting you to explore stealth tactics and narrative detours that feel both nostalgic and unexpectedly deep. For anyone seeking a foundational RTS with personality, polish, and enduring playability, this compilation remains a must-have.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10