Hi everyone. Just spent the last couple of days transporting units using chronosphere, covering vehicles with protective iron curtains and paving a path of destruction with shogun executioner.

No idea what I am talking about? Its Electronics Art Los Angeles’s latest game called Red Alert 3. Here is the review on it if you are interested. It got 8.5 over at Gamespot.com. For reference, FallOut 3 got 9.0 and Call of Duty: World at War got itself a 8.5 too.

I wish I can tell you I thoroughly enjoyed it like how I enjoyed the previous Red Alert series or the Command & Conquer original series (Tiberium Dawn, Tiberium Sun and Tiberium War). So if I want to summarise the entire game into one word, I would say …

Lost of Passion.

Hmm, 3 words then. Seriously, where has the passion gone to? If you have been playing all of Westwood’s (the original developers of C&C franchise) games, you can really feel the decline of the passion from the start all the way to now.

Why do I say that? See the points and see if you agree with me:

• The installation screen was once a proud differentiator. It has animations on it that can make an flash animator cry. Now it is nothing more than a windows based installation screen.
• Each unit was properly introduced with animations and explanations. It makes you feel attached to each and every new unit type when you are entering a new mission. Now? Sometimes, you sometimes don’t even use that unit. (yes, Red Alert 3 does try to bring it back with a short video clip of each. But really, its nothing compared to what was done previously)
• End of Mission animations. Notice that they have disappeared? Previously, if you win or even lose a mission, a proper animation was played for each outcome. Now, you get a splash screen saying ‘Defeated’ or ‘Victorious’.
• Storyline has also declined. Yes, granted this is a subjective matter, but it still lost its appeal for me. Previously, you’ll enter a new battle with very high energy and wanting to kick the enemy’s bottoms. But now, I find that this is where I saved my game most and calling it a night.

There is one thing that does not disappoint though. Its Music. Oh yes, each iterations brings back some of the previous music only remixed. And that is a good thing. Made me download a couple of them for my listening pleasure. Here is one of the good ones.

Red Alert 3’s ladies (warning, spoilers)

Alright! Now onwards to the fun part. Red Alert 3 spice up the game with ladies that are your intel officers or communication liaison. Whatever posts they are in, it doesn’t matter, for they all come with tight leather pants or arguably the shortest skirt in military history. Here are the pictures for your enjoyment. Again, spoilers warning.