Although a generally solid strategy title, Red Alert 3 lacks the execution to realise its full potential on the console.
Moving drastically on from the norm in the Red Alert series, a new faction is introduced in the race for worldwide military domination. Accompanying both the Allies and the Soviets, the Empire of the Rising Sun invades the USSR after some extraordinary events. On the brink of defeat to the Allies, the Commies unleash a top secret project, the time machine, shoot back to the late twenties, and execute a certain Mr Einstein. Returning to the very different events of the same time, the USSR are now on the brink of victory over the Allies when the Japanese show up, and a whole different war begins.
Featuring three generally lengthy campaigns, Red Alert 3 will more than give you enough food for thought. Each featuring one of the factions apiece, there is enough diversity with some fantastic level design and plot structure to hold your attention for the length that they'll play out, integrating the Empire well throughout. In saying that, one of the top attractions to the story mode is the over-emphasis of beautiful women – without them admittedly the three campaigns look certainly threadbare, tacky – and a little pointless. But I am definitely not asking for them to suddenly disappear, it just takes your attention away somewhat!
With the three factions is the basis of all the strategic and tactical know-how in the game. Each offering ultimately varied advantages. With the Allies, you'll be granted solid air and support units, meaning that building a range of units is best, and employing them effectively is awesomely gratifying. Choosing the Commies means getting some really beefed up units, and though vulnerable in certain areas add bite and devilment to your arsenal, and with the Empire, an advanced tech nation units are strong against a variety of opponents, adding a Blitz-esque tactic. It all adds a whole new dimension to the tactics you'll use and at the same time is pleasing to see pay off incredibly well in battle. Bearing that in mind, the latter can only really be applied in the offline-online skirmish battles, meaning that the campaign, which features limited unit selection, is a little limiting in what you can actually do.
Supporting the new, almost light-hearted approach to outrageous unit selection and in-game features, in a visual sense Red Alert 3 for the Xbox 360 tries to stay linear with the PC and PS3, but with a low quality HD set or SD tv it can look ultimately cluttered and interfere to an extent with army management, but with a decent HD presentation the décor is quite fabulous. It suits the playful feel that contrasts heavily to other Command & Conquer titles, which gives the impression that the new approach taken in Red Alert 3 is a rewarding one, which is admirable when watching those from generic infantry to heavy tanks being blown off the map by the ridiculous powers that can be used from each nation.
These you pay for with points that are gained through each mission or skirmish, and have different uses such as crashed satellites that blow whole battalions to kingdom-come, to magnetic beams that remove tanks and other metal-based units from the AoE(Area of Effect). These can turn the tide of battle, and should be used in conjunction with the faction and unit type that you have utilised, and again are wholly rewarding.
Although completely opposite to the light feel of Red Alert 3, the soundtrack slots in well. A hardcore, metal feature is true to what the game is all about, total war. It throws you straight out off the comfort zone, yet is satisfying to sit over listening to again and again, it generates the imagery of patriotism, passion and the determination that will get the adrenaline pumping by the time a skirmish is begun.
Bringing in some fresh faces, notably Gemma Atkinson as the Allies very own Lieutenant Eva, some true quality has been thrown into the mix, yet is suitably cheesy and may have you laughing in the mission briefing with some comical, yet wonderfully executed acting. It bodes well with the whole atmosphere of the situation you are always entrenched in, but this doesn't save the otherwise repetitive mission objectives and slow-paced battles that may commence throughout each campaign, meaning that its kind of a mixed bag, with some great cut scenes but conclusively mediocre set-piece battles that although sometimes can be fun, are generally off-putting.
But the from scratch skirmishes offline and on rather save the story mode. Overall you'll see the most game time from these and are extremely fun to be a part of. Whether with a stranger, a friend, or the CPU you'll find refining your strategy as delightful as any and take great pride in seeing it pay off big time, and although there isn't huge variety in skirmish modes it maintains the phrase 'total war' and will grant you the feeling of the general that you are, commanding armies about varied and challenging settings. The feeling that comes with beating online opponents never, ever diminishes.
In the long-term, if your looking for an in-depth and constantly challenging fixture, then Red Alert 3 might not well be your cup of tea. But for an occasional online or offline skirmish game that presents something 'different' in the nitty-gritty strategy genre this is more than just a decent strategy game, its a satisfying title that brings a different dimension to the RTS juggernaught. With a little more fine tuning, Red Alert 3 could have even been great, but with an overall mediocre campaign and limited choice in the skirmish settings, as a veteran strategy gamer, or hardcore C&C fan, you may want to look elsewhere after a brief time, while casual gamers will get enough give it the thumbs up.