Thanks toCommand and Conquered Remastered Collection, fans of the acclaimedCommand and Conquerseries can enjoy Westwood Studios' hitC&C: Tiberian DawnandRed Alert–upgrades courtesy ofEAand Petroglyph Games. However, withBlizzard’sWarcraft 3: Reforgedremaster garnering negative reception, perhaps it’s time for another classic to finally get remade:Red Alert.
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Aside fromC&C, it’sRed Alertthat set the stage for the gaming world to welcome thrilling RTS titles set in alternate histories. WhereasC&Cexplored the conflict of the Global Defense Initiative and the Brotherhood of Nod,Red Alertexplores the conflict between the Allied Forces and the Soviet Union. However, what would make aRed Alertremake stand out? And why shouldn’t devs touch this classic?
10Remake It: This May Resolve A Continuity Problem
Some fans still debate about the true placement ofRed Alertwithin theC&Ctimeline. After all, Westwood originally createdRed Alertas a direct prequel toTiberian Dawn. InRed Alertcutscenes, Kane fromC&Cappears as one of the advisors of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet campaign. The game even implies that Kane himself orchestrated the events that startedRed Alert.
Moreover, Adam Isgreen, formerC&Cdesigner, alsoconfirmedthatRed Alert’s Allied campaign should lead directly intoTiberian DawnwhileRed Alert 2hails from Westwood’s canceledC&C& 3prototype. As such, EA making aRed Alertremake may encourage them to finally settle this conflict.
9Don’t Touch It: Unsettled Continuity Adds Appeal
However, a lot of fans might also argue that there’s no need to settle anything with the timeline. In fact, this “incomplete” feel serves as a meta way of reminding players that famous franchises often make mistakes in their infancy, as there’s a ton of experimentation with the brand.
Moreover, thanks to the way Westwood told the originalRed Alertstory, there’s no direct hints to its relationship withC&C. As such, looking at it as a game of its own, there’s no continuity issue to worry about.
8Remake It: See Units, Structures In Crisp 4K
Modern RTS titles give players the opportunity to zoom in and see their units attack opponents in high-action glory. Moreover, these titles often let players customize unit colors and even the custom weapons they have. ARed Alertremake may feature not just upgraded graphics, but the opportunity for players to customize the way their units look, which fits the alternate history vibe of the franchise.
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Thanks toRed Alert’s mixture of themes such as time travel and Tesla-based technology, aRed Alertremake can finally bring to life concepts of Tesla Coils, the Chronosphere, and even Tanya Adams.
7Don’t Touch It: Pixels Are Part Of The Brand
Unfortunately, despite the prospects of a graphical upgrade, aRed Alertremake might just look like other modern 4X or RTS titles. For instance, 2009’sRed Alert 3has graphical similarities to other RTS titles of the time likeWH40K: Dawn of War2 (2009). These similarities might be evident in aRed Alertremake as well.
Of course, modern graphics chips today help devs unleash their full creative glory in unit and structure design. However, some purists might also argue that the pixelated graphics and the “archaic” approach to futuristic interfaces and tech contribute to the coreRed Alertaesthetic. From this perspective, a remake might ruin this retro approach.
6Remake It: Make More Cinematic Sequences
RecentC&Ctitles retained the same “video call” cinematic sequences, where NPCs actively talk to the player throughout the campaign. However, these “calls” have tidbits such as faction-specific design, and interactions faithful to the rather B-Film aesthetic of the franchise.
ARed Alertremake can transform its original cutscenes and add the improved graphics games such asTiberian Twilighthave. In fact, EA can opt to make actual cinematic sequences that make the remake feel like an alternate history war film. Since it’s the first game of its series, EA can take its own visual spin and still be unique.
5Don’t Touch It: Camp Has Its Appeal
Fans ofC&CandRed Alertfind themselves drawn into their universes because of storytelling. Unlike other RTS titles,Red Alertapproaches its alternate history with B-Film craziness. In fact, it’s this approach that makes its over-the-top plotlines stand out. Much of this appeal can be attributed to cutscenes where NPCs directly speak to players.
As such, Allied Commanders directly talk to the President of the United States (complete with red phone). Meanwhile, the USSR Commander directly answers to the Premier, as well as speak with thick-accented USSR officials.
4Remake It: Transform It Into A 4X Game
ARed Alertremake will enable EA to apply a wide range of new mechanics and gameplay options to the title. For instance, theRed Alertremake can take the “generals” mechanic fromC&C: Generalswhere players can take on the identity of different generals and have access to special units.
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EA can take this mechanic and spin it into makingRed Alertaturn-based4X game of its own. For instance, in this imaginary 4X title,Red Alertcan feature different countries in both Allied and USSR forces, each of them with special attributes that can influence the way they try to control the world.
3Don’t Touch It: Simple RTS Forces Mastery
TouchingRed Alertmight motivate devs to try out crazy mechanics that might taint the original spirit of the game. In this regard, players loveRed Alertfor its simple and fast-paced gameplay. Unlike other titles, units inRed Alertcan immediately meet in skirmishes in just a few minutes of unit preparation.
Instead of the clunky nature of other RTS titles,Red Alertfeels lightweight and easy to get into, which the game should retain. Moreover, this feature also forces mastery on the part of players.
2Remake It: Create More Exciting Multiplayer Matches
Thanks to modern tech, more people can now access multiplayer games via a robust networking infrastructure. ARed Alertremake can not only spark a return to the franchise, but also a return of an active user-base if EA decides to pursue multiplayer support.
Not to mention, a remake with updated gameplay and graphics may also help players get back to the RTS eSports scene– which can be a breath of fresh air in an eSports scene heavily focused on MOBA, FPS, and fighting games.
1Don’t Touch It: Create Another C&C Game Instead
Instead of making aRed Alertremake, perhaps EA should try making anotherCommand and Conquertitle. For instance,the endingofC&C 4: Tiberian Twilightleft a wide opening in the series' overall continuity that can be resolved with another title. Additionally,C&C Generals 2may also be an ideal choice for a continuation.
Instead of banking on nostalgia, players might find it more appealing to play continuations of these franchises. Knowing what happened to Kane after this “ascension” still lingers in the minds of long-timeC&Cfans.
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