The best RTS game i have ever played
The new C&C formula that Zero Hour was built upon is a welcomed break away from the traditional styles. Buildings are not confined to a small radius that makes super weapons oh-so-super-deadly. Units that are specialized do their jobs remarkably, unlike many other RTS games where late game renders lower tier units obsolete, and lack variety where higher tier units just build upon lower tier units' health, damage etc.
Graphics are kick-ass considering the time it was under development. Guys, development comes before release, for those who can't differentiate between the two. And the sound department did an exceptional job. Units respond when commanded and for those who did not check out the General Challenge, the defending general AI will taunt and curse at appropriate times, adding reality to the game even when you are not already engrossed about the progress and outcome of the challenge. The sound adds so much reality to the General Challenge that it makes you feel that you are really up against a real general. (Of course this depends on the difficulty you do the Challenge, I did on 'Hard' only, just so you know where this is coming from.)
Definitely a value for money product. More of a more-value-than-money product. Its worth more than its price. In fact, this is one of those seriously grossly under-rated games. Sure it may not have that bright, shiny facade that many other over-rated games that eventually turned successful have, its substance is truly unrivaled even until today (check the date of post). I am a real gamer and have experienced, extensively, numerous other RTS games such as Warcraft I, II & III, Starcraft, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth I & II, Age of Empires I, II & III, Company of Heroes etc.(All of which are inferior to Zero Hour.) And belief me when I say I really compared it with other games without prejudice(I'm a fan of all those games listed as examples). Its multiplay value surpasses that even of World of Warcraft (which I play too) in the sense that it delivers excitement and substance quickly where in WoW, raids are mind-numbing slow and monotypic. Even PvP is plain repetitive and hardly gives variety due to limited customization, not to mention predictable responses to most actions. The vast number of strategies Zero Hour offers only adds on to its high value. If you can't think of a counter strategy to a tatic, you just ain't thinking hard enough. Spend some time pondering over that and you will see what I mean. A pity that other games that are not even original works of its authors are given so much more credit for stealing other people's work. (Hint: one of such has a four letter abbreviation which is disgustingly over-rated and negligible amount of its content is original. It also runs on the engine of another program.)
Replay value of Zero Hour is simply through the roof. I have been through other games and even for periods addicted to them, but none has been able to keep the fire alive for so long. 4 years and I still can't get enough of Zero Hour.
This is truly the only game deserving a perfect 10 rating. I have touched on every aspect of the rating system in comparison to the time of its development and release. My rating is justified.(Unlike other reviews where a certain game is given a string of perfect 10 when the content of the review says "I have not played this game yet". That is just trash talk to get the ratings up.) There really should be a revision rating as many high rating games are just addictive at first, then loses out really bad after extensive gameplay, whereas other games are not as appealing within the short amount of time given to cough up a rating as when fair amount of time is devoted to it. One example would have to be the Warcraft franchise (sorry to mention this again), which is really appealing at first, even I got addicted, but is really dissatisfying after extensive gameplay. This can be justified by the number of really dissatisfied customers in the WoW forums and reviews from various web sites including this one. We all have different preferences and I am not asking you to switch your opinion. So here's my 10 cents, my 2 cents is free.