Command & Conquer - an icon of real-time strategy. As a DOS veteran, terms like "Gravis Ultrasound" and "IRQ" don't exactly bring up good memories.
What does it have to do with the game?
For the first game start, the developers have redesigned the pixelated DOS installation screen, which then sharpens to the high-resolution options menu and jokingly asks you for "Sound Blaster" or "SVGA graphics".

Veterans of gaming history will surely remember these terms.
But now to the actual remaster!


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 18_59_06.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23tbRGADsBnZtH1k9iWjnhGAih1SRvZAtkCWVV2pmpssfeBs5MCea9ZYZgt9cyBUnhq9r.png)

Of course, such reissues play with the feeling of returning, with memories of childhood or young adult life when the world was easier - at least for some.
I loved Command & Conquer, I love the memory of the first C&C and the whole series.
But what about the remaster?

So much in advance: Command & Conquer unfolds many old strengths in the remastered version, which make it still worth playing today. At the same time, it retains many old weaknesses.


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 18_59_16.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23uQrRsD3v7qDsxT3ZYutKGYM8V9AgZktNubVEdmbNni6YSDiLJGd17yPtTFTAtZo79FA.png)
*The "good old" short movies that introduce you to the next mission and tell the story are sill present. Somehow, it seems to be of lesser quality then from many years ago. Even it is not to be taken too serious, it is still a bit cringe though.
Remember Einstein traveling through time to kill Hitler? No? Nevermind!*
<hr>

Now, it's the nature of a remaster to be "old" - after all, Command & Conquer wasn't remade as a full remake like Final Fantasy 7, for example. But it is more than a pure HD patch.


All graphics have been redrawn, the detailed display now looks okay on 4K monitors and can be zoomed.
However, units still only move in eight directions, and the new explosions are simply placed over buildings and units.

Basically, the new coat of paint is still based on the same technology, C&C Remastered stacks bitmap graphics on top of each other like the original.


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_02_06.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23viCUmh733mRnMMm9CiNq5ZnG45TS6aK6miwLKCuJkrH6jKdTS4Sd3rUfc7ds1DyK68V.png)
*Maps are still quite small and simple. Not compareable to modern RTS games like StarCraft2, but they still have a good look and feel*


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_03_25.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23wCFsZrTfSPQoE5RtC7kM1FMDKcNEVj8858FZXy4iD5UwBzJhva5skdX9aNjQJGWjskZ.png)
*The first mission is a simple "Kill everyone and everything" task. This does not change much during the campaign.*

The remaster looks okay, but there's little special about it.

On the other hand, *Frank Klepacki*'s soundtrack for the game, which not only has a few bonus tracks added to the remaster, but was also mixed even more powerfully, has a lot that's special.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised how well the guitar riffs suit the game.


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_06_38.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23t7BGJEgDZUXS9DXtMSiYLwoN3c4ZFQHCQKoFQ4m8EaihptZYpqsqTjo9zh24DSdqHK2.png)
*The Red Army is marching on. Facing recent events this somehow has a stale aftertaste... Well, you still can play the allied faction instead.*

![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_07_08.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23wzv5sGfSN4UZdWbQhfgrkUt7iy88hmQsQ6gtuDw1H5cQao4vxcnZ2VdCEaPLR7v793d.png)

<hr>

Some quality of life features also have been added. 
All units of the same type can now be selected by double-clicking.
The C&C Remastered build bar is now also adapted to higher resolutions, I can see many more units and buildings at a glance.
Some additional minor changes make the game a bit mor accessible.

I am still missing a typical "attack-move" which has not been implemented by decission.
As an old StarCraft player, I miss my A-Move tactics!

Barracks and factories are still not allowed to set gathering points, although that's actually part of the genre standard.


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_15_30.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23tbPKwr8HcniqkQM8sZHE1Sc9cHatrJG7Hn5RTHpVbYYnWKoH4FtnrH5qu86eDcPHtX1.png)
*Time to prepare the next attack...*


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_16_27.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23tkjm2jq5TeS8rbkHWcA2N37sacmHY5Qfa9VLnWzXHmoCgJFDcUy3Edcx9rfHbXvT2Cd.png)
*... TO VICTORY COMMRADES!*

The AI and the pathfinding are traditionally among the major weaknesses of the C&C series - and unfortunately that remains the case in the remaster, the developers have not sent the tanks and soldiers to school again.

Tanks still get stuck because they do not want to go around the fence.
Soldiers block each other when crossing a bridge.
It's the small things that drive you crazy...

As a result, I have to babysit units a lot more than I used to do it in games like StarCraft or Age of Empires.
Move your tanks best in small groups and - because there is no waypoint function - over the shortest possible distances so that they don't get lost or the group splits up.


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_21_50.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23wXJPxo35kEreJcGCo3EmPK9cwWYu4cpTT4AEFr5AcKowFyqd3N1Fd9xwWXteatHvaDZ.png)
*I remember beeing stressed in this "doggo-mission" many years ago. Today, with my elitist skills, I was able to manage it in the first try ;)*


![C&C Red Alert Remastered 29.06.2022 19_25_26.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23ywujAwWr4ywAZNSyBT1KvLmqJtiLXSr5fy4kiggySNcGoFH6LQLDXMDQULt6egH7e9b.png)
*Some old movie clips look far worse than I remember it. Which is not (only) caused by nostalgia. Video often have been more streched than actually remasterd. The results look quite awful from time to time.*

<hr>

<h3>Conclusion</h3>

In short: Yes, it's the "real" Command & Conquer again and after all the waiting tine of the past few years, it's good news for fans like me. 
But you will also notice that C&C is 25 years old. (I feel really old now)
This does not leave any game concept untouched.
A remake would have been necessary for a real modernization, but EA avoided it.

Nevertheless, the remaster will be the C&C version from now on, to which you can return to enjoy the unique C&C flair again and revel in beautiful memories.


![cc1.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wirago/23w2HG6wtQtquxXMRpT1EVWG8623uoD1B4p6n8Kvf5acBghZpsErJANV348889LS2sTx4.png)

*"C&C Red Alert Remastered" is part of the "Command & Conquer Remastered Collection".*

<hr>

The "Command & Conquer Remastered Collection" is included in the Xbox Game Pass (through the included EA Play plattform) or currently on SALE <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1213210/Command__Conquer_Remastered_Collection/">on Steam</a> for about 7€