Tempest Rising

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Hours played at review time, across 991 reviews with recorded playtime.

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Tempest Rising Review - A New Storm, Built on Old Foundations Rating: 8.5 out 10 Tempest Rising is a modern real time strategy game that proudly wears its Command & Conquer & Starcraft influences on its sleeve. Set in an alternate history world scarred by nuclear war, rival factions battle for control of Tempest, a mysterious and powerful resource capable of reshaping the world. Rather than chasing the latest gaming trends, Tempest Rising doubles down on what made classic RTS games so addictive: battles, building sprawling bases, managing resources, commanding unique armies, and watching carefully laid plans either lead to glorious victory or spectacular collapse. It's a refreshing reminder that sometimes the best innovation is simply remembering why the genre became a classic in the first place. Construction Complete - The Pros + A love letter to classic RTS games. Tempest Rising feels like the modern successor to Command & Conquer, emphasizing fast paced action over endlessly optimizing your build order. The visuals and interface are modernized without losing that old school RTS identity. Veterans will feel immediately at home, while newcomers won't need a history lesson to enjoy it. + Two solid campaigns with meaningful faction differences. Both playable factions initially seem familiar, but the deeper you get, the more their identities emerge. Different units, defensive options, economic approaches, and mission design make replaying the campaign worthwhile. You'll inevitably finish one campaign wondering what you missed on the other side. + Mission variety keeps things fresh. Instead of relying solely on traditional base building missions, the campaign mixes in focused tactical scenarios, objective driven battles, and specialist centered operations. It keeps the pacing consistently engaging instead of becoming a marathon of building refineries and waiting. +Presentation punches above its weight. For what's essentially a AA production, the game looks polished. The interface is clean, voice acting is solid, and action cutscenes are a nostalgic nod to the RTS classics that inspired it. It's a welcome change from static dialogue boxes that many smaller studios settle for. + Specialist units are a welcome addition. These hero like characters bring unique abilities that shine during more focused missions. While they naturally become less important once your full army is online, some of the campaign's strongest moments revolve around making smart use of their abilities instead of simply overwhelming the enemy with numbers. + Outstanding value. Tempest Rising frequently goes on sale for less than the cost of a fancy coffee. For RTS fans looking to scratch that Command & Conquer itch AND witha DLC already on the horizon, that makes it an easy recommendation. Low Power Mode - The Cons - The story gets the job done... and that's about it. Two factions fight over a mysterious resource. A third faction eventually enters the picture. That's enough to drive the missions forward, but don't expect memorable characters or a narrative that sticks with you after the credits roll. The gameplay is clearly the star of the show. --Technical issues hurt the experience. Random crashes are particularly painful in an RTS where missions can easily stretch beyond thirty minutes. Autosaves softened the blow, but having to replay major battles or dealing with saves that simply refuse to load, is an excellent way to turn excitement into frustration. -Macro eventually solves everything. Once you establish a healthy economy and find the right unit composition, battles begin to feel formulaic. Experienced RTS players will quickly settle into an efficient rhythm, and even higher difficulties can become exercises in executing the same winning strategy repeatedly. The Calm Before the Storm - The Neutral +/- Faction balance feels solid, with distinct identities. One faction rewards a more defensive, long-range approach, while Dynasty thrives on early aggression and relentless pressure. Neither feels overpowered, but each offers enough unique units and strategies to encourage different playstyles. Final Verdict Tempest Rising doesn't reinvent the RTS genre, it reminds you why it became one of PC gaming's best. With engaging campaigns, distinct factions, polished presentation, and mission design that favors action over downtime, it's the closest thing to a modern Command & Conquer I've played in years. A forgettable story, occasional technical hiccups, and a macro game that eventually becomes predictable keep it from true greatness. Even so, those flaws never overshadow its biggest strength: delivering fast, satisfying real-time strategy that proves sometimes the best innovation is simply remembering what made the classics so much fun.