The single player campaign, owing to inspiration from Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, gives the player the role of Lieutenant Parker (An officer in the United States Army), in charge of a company, while the AI handles the remainder of action on the battlefield. This contrasts the approach of most RTS titles, in which the player is in charge of whole armies and thus responsible for most of the action on the battlefield. The player will experience many different locations from various parts of the United States then to Soviet-occupied Europe then Russia and then back to the United States for the grand finale.
The storyline ultimately forces the player to differ from the usual reinforcements seen in the skirmish mode or the multiplayer mode. The campaigns limit what the player can order and where they can deploy. The Single-player campaign is narrated by Alec Baldwin. The AI in the campaigns could be considered inferior when compared to the skirmish mode, as their locations and moves are fairly predictable. The Friendly AI also frequently gives hints and tips making the game easier, though it may aid struggling players. The campaign can be played on Easy, Normal and Hard. At the conclusion of a campaign mission, a summary screen shows the usual performance statistics as well as any combat medals, ribbons, badges that a player has earned based on their performance.
Introduction[edit]
There are a few commands that were not taught in the tutorial.
Here are a few that will be of assistance as you get started on the single player campaign.
Group similar units – double-click on one unit
Locate camera view on unit (find unit) – right click on icon on bottom of screen
Follow in camera view a particular unit – double right click on icon on bottom of screen
Set up hot key for unit/group of units – highlight desired units and hit CNTL-0 through CNTL-9
Hot key for special attack of unit – E
Important Note: You must hold down the E key while targeting enemy units. Fire before releasing the E key.
Hot key for special defense of unit - R
Mission 1: Invasion![edit]
Rescue the Infantry
Although there are plenty of units on the screen, you will only be in control of three armored transports.
Set up the hot keys 1 through 3 for each of the transports to gain quick control of the TOW missiles and to keep them moving to the next objective.
Alternatively, group all three armored transports under hot key 1.
The firing system is quite simple. Select your transport, hit E -- or click on the offensive ability – then aim at enemy vehicles and let loose.
Follow the two clearly marked control points, eliminating enemy vehicles in the area of the final control point to move on to the next cut screen.
Secure the Supply Depot[edit]
You are provided two squads of infantry. Place them into your armored transports and move them to the next control point.
This control point just happens to be your first drop zone and you will be provided a fourth armored transport.
Note: This mission displays neither the Reinforcement Menu nor the Tactical Aid bar. We will learn more about those later on.
Recon the Route to the Kingdome[edit]
Simply move forward to the entry of the city block. You will encounter armored units and it is possible to lose armored transports in this attack.
If you lose units, extra armored transports will be provided to you.
Don’t expect this to “automatically” happen on later missions.
After you empty out your TOW missiles on the enemy vehicles, you might want to utilize your defensive ability, smoke screen, to prevent additional damage – or back up out of range until your TOW missile ability recharges.
Clear the Route to the Kingdome[edit]
Rushing down the narrow street toward the Kingdome at this time will result in 100-percent fatalities.
You must clear the route with Tactical Aid before moving any of your vehicles.
In fact, it is not necessary to move your vehicles at all in this portion of the mission.
You will have two types of Tactical Aid available: Precision Artillery and Heavy Artillery Barrage.
Another name for Heavy Artillery Barrage is Imprecise Artillery, if that makes any sense.
Utilize the Precision Artillery to take out each of the buildings along the route that have enemy troops inside. Heavy Artillery Barrage will have basically no effect.
Up to three strikes can be purchased at the same time. This way, you won’t have to wait for the recharge time to strike again.
Note: The recharging of the Tactical Aid points during this “quasi-training mission” has been simplified somewhat and will behave differently later on.
Clear the LZ at the Kingdome[edit]
First things first. Before moving any of your units, repair the Bradley Armored Transport with the Troop Transport supplied to you at the end of the alley.
Click on the Troop Transport, THEN the repair function, then the vehicle to be repaired.
In other words, just clicking on the Troop Transport that has the repair ability, then the Armored Vehicle won’t do anything.
Then simply move up to the large plaza where the four control points are shown en masse.
Avoid any peripheral conflicts in the area. It is not necessary to engage the enemy outside of the landing zone.
There will be armor holding the four different locations.
Have all of your Armored Transports hot keyed as Number 1. Click on TOW missile, then attack. Click on TOW missile, then attack. Click on TOW missile, then attack.
If you click on TOW missile, then press attack, attack, attack in succession, the TOW missile is not re-engaged and the missile will not fire multiple times.
When only infantry are left in the square, move your vehicles in the middle of the square to clean up the area.
Set Up A Perimeter at the Kingdome[edit]
Basically, just stay in position and take out the few additional enemy units that come into the area.
Evacuate Remaining Guardsmen[edit]
Continue to move to the succeeding control points. Plenty of armor will be encountered.
Clear the Underpass[edit]
An ambush is waiting for you at the underpass. Be sure to clear the left section of the plaza before opening your units to multiple points of fire.
Notice the machine gun emplacement at the underpass. These defenses are built automatically by simply having units inside the perimeter control point. This will be explored further in later missions.
Parting thoughts: In future missions, replacement troops WILL NOT be automatically supplied.