Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is the most recent addition to the Command and Conquer franchise, developed and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is a futuristic real-time strategy game that takes place on Earth, infested with a green (occasionally blue) alien substance known as Tiberium, which is terraforming the earth at an extraordinary rate.

It is highly praised and is leads the Command and Conquer franchise back to its roots - the previous installment of Command and Conquer - Generals, and its expansion pack Zero Hour - both occur in real-time earth with no mention of either of the two previous universes (Red Alert or Tiberian) and has a different gameplay style altogether. C&C3 sees the return of Tiberium, the sidebar, Harvesters, and various other C&C-specific units such as the Mammoth Tank.

Gameplay is hardly realistic - buildings seemingly come out of the ground and a certain unit - the MCV - literally transforms into a massive working structure called the Construction Yard. Regardless, the gameplay is relatively easy to learn and is highly praised by major reviewers.

Tiberium is the only resource players will need to collect. It is harvested by slow-moving yet highly resilient vehicles called Harvesters (see the list of units). Tiberium spreads from Tiberium-filled chasms, which slowly regenerate the field they are tied to, providing players with an unlimited amount of it. It may take a while, however, for the fields to regenerate once depleted. Tiberium will also produce more Tiberium nearby, but at an extremely slow rate. Additionally the substance is extremely dangerous to humans and will kill them at a relatively quick rate (previous instalments, which had humans mutate occasionally, have been done away with for now).

The second resource is electricity. It is displayed as a bar near the minimap, and when demand exceeds supply, production is slowed and the minimap as well as all base defences turn off. The creation of additional power plants will increase production.

Command and Conquer 3 is also notable for its real-time FMVs, which feature famous Hollywood actors and actresses including Grace Park, Michael Ironside, and Billy D. Williams. Joseph D. Kucan also reprises his role of Kane, an enigmatic yet extremely cunning and brilliant man who leads the Brotherhood of Nod.