COMMAND AND CONQUER: RED ALERT

Reviewed By: Matt Quinn
VOLUNTEER GUEST REVIEWER

GAME TECH INFO

Computer Platform: PC
Produced by: Westwood Studios
Price Range: $15-30
Learning curve time: 10 min.
Age level: 10+
ESRB Rating: Teen
Patches / Upgrades: Counterstrike, Aftermath
System Requirements: 486, VGA graphics, 40 Megs

Genre: Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
Christian Rating: 3 of 5
   (some objectionable elements)
Gameplay: 5 of 5
   (excellent)
Violence: 2 of 5
   (heavy)
Adult Content: 3 of 5
   (mild)

What if someone went back in time and killed Hitler? "Command and Conquer: Red Alert" explores this idea and its unintended consequences.

Sometime in the 1950s, Albert Einstein constructs a time machine and travels back in time to the 1920s. He meets Hitler in Vienna and while shaking his hand, teleports back to the 1950s. The result is quite lethal for Hitler. Einstein thinks that with Hitler gone, there will be no World War II.

Wrong.

Screenshot from 'Command and Conquer: Red Alert' With Hitler gone, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin makes his move for world domination. Advancing across Europe with his vast, nuclear-armed army, Stalin seems invincible. The game gives you the choice to command the Soviet Union or the allies, a motley crew of West European nations, Soviet defectors, and guerrilla fighters. World War II is now a much nastier prospect.

The gameplay, graphics, and storyline in this game are excellent, although some aspects are a little farfetched (the Allies have teleportation in the 1950s?). Whether you play as the Soviets or the Allies, you get innovative missions with fun units. However, the Allied missions are much more difficult than the Soviets (due to the fact that the Soviets outnumber the Allies 5-1).

Box of 'Command and Conquer: Red Alert' On the morals side, the game is mostly clean. It is a war game, so there is violence, but most of it is done in a non-graphic fashion (fading blood spots on the battlefield, electrocuted sprites that dissolve in two seconds). There is one scene where Stalin and his lover make out, but it is very brief. Stalin, as you may expect, is evil (he admits to murdering 10 million people and even eliminates a character onscreen), but he gets what he deserves in both campaigns. There is some profanity (high level PG at most).

On the positive side, it teaches people to stand up for what they believe in and that there are often unforeseen consequences for our actions. The game may not be appropriate for those under 10, but for those older, it is recommended for its excellent story, good graphics, and challenging gameplay,

Year of Release—1997

Neutral—This game is plain fun. As long as your playing with the Allied forces. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like trying to destroy the world trade center and the Pentagon seeing that these events actually happened on September 11. I like playing with the Allied forces because they are the “good” side. I tried to play with the Soviet side just to see what it was like and I felt so bad about it, I couldn't continue. The whole “mind control” thing isn't so bad. However, it does have its problems. The whole destruction of the pentagon lowers my overall take on this game. My Ratings: [4/5]
—Ron Coley, age 27

Comments from Young People…
Positive—Okay, I wanted this game for Christmas, but I got it for my birthday. I have never been addicted to such a game like this. I am perhaps the greatest C&C fan of them all, and this is certainly the best one. The units are unique, and the graphics are amazing. The only part I found offensive, was, one D*** word in a briefing. I would recommend this game to anyone you like RTS games. (I also recommend StarCraft!) My Ratings: [4/5]
—Tom, age 11

Red Alert is an almost clean game, besides the fading blood spots on screen and the little explosions. There is one inappropriate movie where Stalin and his secretary "fool around". But all in all it's a pretty good game, addictive too. I first got the game when I was 10 and I found nothing wrong with it. The storyline is very captivating and makes you want to keep playing. And the missions are pretty easy. My Ratings: [4/5]
—Jon, age 14

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Christian Spotlight review are those of the reviewer (both ratings and recommendations), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Films for Christ or the Christian Answers Network.