The latest instalment in the Command & Conquer series gets a mode to satisfy players who want to invest in the game’s characters and story as EA’s announces that Generals 2 is not a multiplayer only game.
Anyone who remembers the original Generals game will also have noted that the title came with not one but three single-player campaigns. Very few gamers may have played it but it was there and it was an option. Not only that but it provided a nice change of pace to the hectic multiplayer action.
There were three factions that players could play as with the United States, China and the Global Liberation Army. Each had its unique weapons and units and there was similar overall story arch for all three but the outcome was different every time each faction completed their respective campaign.
It was by no means the best single-player campaign in a real-time strategy game, with other Command & Conquer titles such as Tiberium and Red Alert, boasting more engaging storylines and memorable characters.
Many believe that the mode was a nice option to have as it allowed players to connect to the various factions but EA seemed to have scrapped it for Generals 2.
However, the publisher has taken a U-turn and announced that the second instalment in the series will also boast a single-player campaign for players to plough through when their internet connection fails.
The game was originally titled, Command and Conquer, after it was confirmed that the game would be the first triple-A RTS (real-time strategy) from EA to be based on the model. The game is now officially titled ‘Generals 2’.
However, the implementation of the single-player campaign would depend on fan feedback. Knowing EA that could mean DLC in the future as well, however it is too early to say anything for certain.
EA seem to be investing a lot in the game, as the Generals 2 will run on the same version of the Frostbite engine that Battlefield 3 did, meaning it should look gorgeous and run smooth, provided of course the user’s PC can handle it.
Frank Gibeau, the EA Labels president, also pointed out that the fact the game was built on the free-to-play model meant that the developers could change the game around and provide additional content based on how players reacted to the game.
It will be interesting to see how both the game and its use of the freemium model will work out. But what about the reader; will Generals 2 be able to live up to its predecessor, which is a cult-classic in its own right, or will the game go the way of Duke Nukem and leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouth forever?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.