I got my first real gaming PC during the golden age of RTS games. I could regale you with tales of staying up way past my bedtime, whiling away the hours building bases and rushing my unsuspecting opponents. I loved the games that featured alternate history timelines, evocative unit design, and unique storylines for each balanced faction. A little FMV-style storytelling didn't hurt either…
I miss the heyday of real-time strategy games and have been looking for something updated to scratch that itch. Enter Tempest Rising. This love letter to classic RTS games from the late '90s and 2000s is giving me exactly what I've been missing. Let's take a look at why you might want to dive into the conflict between the Global Defense Force and the Tempest Dynasty.
1997, just like you remember it
One of my favorite things about this kind of game is the tone. The ones I enjoy the most are like incredible B movies that allow for bold character design and storytelling. Slipgate Ironworks, the devs behind Tempest Rising, are obvious fans of the genre because they're utilizing classic tropes to great effect.
The game takes place in 1997, but unlike our world, where the unchecked proliferation of boy bands was our biggest concern, this world is dealing with nuclear fallout. The Cuban Missile Crisis triggered World War 3, hurtling our planet into years of devastation. As a result of that conflict, though, a mysterious electrical plant called Tempest spread across the globe—perhaps as a resource to be harvested. During the two story-driven campaigns, a cast of characters catches you up on the particulars, delivering the vital importance of each mission directly to the camera. It's dramatic and right up my alley.
Pick a side
Any RTS worth its salt comes down to the factions. You need to have well-balanced and opposing forces that are suited to your playstyle. Tempest Rising starts by highlighting the primary conflict between the Global Defense Force (GDF), the world's largest military organization, and the Tempest Dynasty, an insurgent group that lays claim to the Tempest as their birthright. Each faction has an 11-chapter campaign, which you'll want to dive into to get an idea of what makes each of them special. For instance, GDF can gather intel through their SyComm system, which allows them to produce specialist units, while the Tempest Dynasty can upgrade some of their buildings, mid-battle, to gain a competitive advantage.
This attention to detail extends to the units too. Each side features a cadre of elite specialists with a variety of abilities. For the GDF, Captain Dylan Tremblay is a riot medic who can deploy healing turrets that keep your infantry on their feet. On the other side, the mechanist, Sergeant Srdjan Radojević, can repair nearby armor and deal damage to others by taking the damage on himself.
Typically, if you aren't into a certain faction's playstyle, you never end up exploring what they can do, but both factions in Tempest Rising have an RPG-style set of mechanics built in. Whether you're playing story mode or in a multiplayer skirmish, you can customize your upgrades for a more malleable playstyle. No matter what, one of the factions will reach out and grab you. (Dynasty till I die, no disrespect to my GDFriends out there.)
What are your orders, Commander?
Between the two factions, there are 22 missions for you to experience, with an additional nine maps for skirmish and multiplayer modes. If you're a fan of RTSes, I don't need to tell you how utterly replayable those maps will be. This game is a sterling example of classic real-time strategy with modern advancements. You can grab it right now to play today. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm diving back in. My Dynasty comrades need me.
