| Command & Conquer: Red Alert | |
|---|---|
 Logo ofCommand & Conquer: Red Alert | |
| Developer | EA Mobile |
| Publisher | EA Mobile |
| Series | Command & Conquer:Red Alert |
| Platform | iOS |
| Release | November 1, 2009[1] |
| Genre | Real-time strategy |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a2.5Dreal-time strategyvideo game developed and published byElectronic Arts foriOS. It was released in October 2009 in theApp Store.
The game contains two playable factions, Soviets and Allies, which both previously appeared inCommand & Conquer: Red Alert andCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 2 with a third playable faction, the Empire of the Rising Sun fromCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 3, available as an in-app purchase.[2]
Red Alert retains the core real-time strategy mechanics of theCommand & Conquer series. Opposing factions harvest resources from ore fields using refineries and then use those resources to construct military bases and forces on-site. The gathering mechanic is streamlined so there are no collector units, only refineries that provide a steady cash flow. Structures form a shallow but widetech tree with a variety of units and buildings. Units and buildings are selected and moved by tapping on them and on various areas on the battlefield. The camera moves around the battle field by dragging and scrolling on the touchscreen and zooms in and out by pinching the screen.
Players have the choice to choose between two factions, the Soviet Union and the Allies, each faction has its own unique set of units and buildings. Units in the game come from various past and presentRed Alert games such as the War Bears and Apollo Fighters fromRed Alert 3 as well as Prism Tanks and Apocalypse Tanks fromRed Alert 2, the game also comes with its own range of new units which were not present in otherRed Alert games. Most buildings retain their designs fromRed Alert 2 with the exceptions of certain buildings such as the Allied Tech Lab which uses itsRed Alert 3 design while others have completely new designs.
The game has a total of 12 different playable maps in the skirmish mode of the game.[3]
The game takes place shortly afterRed Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge and before the Soviets' defeat at the beginning ofRed Alert 3. Thus the second time-travel that took place duringRed Alert 3 has not taken place yet, hence the presence of technologies such as Prism Tanks and Towers which were removed inRed Alert 3.[4]
The events in the game lead to the Soviets acquiring time travel technology.
The game was announced for iOS at theElectronic Entertainment Expo 2009 with a playable demo showcasing the game at the Electronic Arts booth. Further details were revealed in September as well as a flurry of new screenshots showcasing the game.[3] EA has also announced to release an additionalmultiplayer update for the game at launch so as to enable the multiplayer function in the game to allow players to play with each other overWi-Fi andBluetooth. EA wanted to release anexpansion pack for the game in 2010, to include a new faction, the Empire of the Rising Sun, as well as new units for both the Soviets and the Allies.[2] In August 2015, EA removed the game from the App Store, because it did not update the game to the latest iOS.[5]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 73%[6] |
| Metacritic | 72/100[7] iPad: 64/100[8] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| TouchArcade | 3.5/5[9] |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert received "mixed or average reviews" from critics upon release, according to review aggregation website Metacritic. The iPhone version holds a Metacritic score of 72 out of 100, while the iPad version received a lower score of 64, reflecting a more critical response to its upscaled presentation.[6][8]
Critics generally praised the game for successfully adapting theCommand & Conquer real-time strategy formula to touchscreen controls. Slide to Play described it as playing better than other real-time strategy games on iOS, though noting a lack of game modes.TouchArcade similarly praised the touchscreen interface, highlighting the intuitive controls, effective use of multitouch gestures, and overall usability for the genre on mobile devices.[9]IGN highlighted the streamlined resource management as making the game more approachable on mobile devices, but criticized the limited content and the absence of multiplayer functionality at launch.[6]
Despite positive remarks on controls and presentation, several reviewers criticized the game for its limited amount of content.TouchArcade noted that the included campaigns were brief and functioned more as tutorials, with only a small selection of skirmish maps available without additional downloadable content, which reduced replay value.[9]
Reviews were more critical of the iPad version, with several outlets citing technical limitations and a lack of optimization for the larger screen.Eurogamer and NZGamer both remarked that the upscaled visuals and performance issues detracted from the experience, whileIGN described the release as a rushed port that failed to take full advantage of the platform.[8]