Creating bases,bolstering military forces, directing armies, unleashing powerful super-weapons - all of these things are synonymous with the iconicCommand & Conquerseries. Ever since its release in 1995, a slew of amazing games (and some that the fans pretend does not exist) have been released.
Following this, fans of the series have created their fair share of quality mods that either enhance or transform the base games into something bigger and more ambitious than ever before. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of gameplay modifiers out there, packing in new maps, upgrades to AI, additional factions and campaigns. Ergo, these are but a few of the most popular and beloved ones.
Easily the most user-friendly mod out there has to beOpenRA, compatible with the firstCommand & Conquer,and the alternate-universe follow-upCommand & Conquer: Red Alert. This open source mod updates the base game with modern quality-of-life treatments, like production queues for building/training multiple units, better unit controls, ‘fog of war’ that doesn’t hide the entire map within its shroud, and more.
Thanks to its active multiplayer, finding games online is a piece of cake, and there are so many additional maps that will even cater to purists. Improved screen resolutions, additional particle effects and other neat touches are included alongside. It’s still being updated and played to this very day, too.
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Suntook the Tiberium timeline of the series in a much darker, morefuturistic direction, and near enough everyone loved it for that. Mods likeTiberium Resurrection(originally created by Lucas-SK, and currently worked on by an eager team that has since taken the helm) take the fun factor to new heights with a brand new campaign taking place after the plot of the game’s official expansion pack,Firestorm. This even comes with new cinematics, too.
It contains new maps for single player and multiplayer, additional units, graphical enhancements, more music, and various gameplay re-balances for a fairer experience across the board. Even better, the rag-tag band of mutants known as the Forgotten have their own playable faction as well. There’s content galore packed inside this one to keep fans busy.
Westwood Studios probably didn’t think dedicated fans would be modding their ho-hum first/third-person shooter hybridCommand & Conquer: Renegadeso many years after its release. Developed by Unstoppable,RenHDgives the dated graphics some serious polish, with sharper visuals and much more eye-catching textures for every level and model.
The mod doesn’t seek to change the base gameplay. Rather, it cleverly uses community assets created privately and released publicly, while mixing in some custom-made additions and HD cutscenes into the final product as well. Even the music is remastered as well. So, for anyone who is keen on trying out the first ever officialC&CFPS, or want to revisit the title after so many years, definitely consider downloading this alongside.
It may not be the most popular entry in the series, butCommand & Conquer: Generalsstill has aprominent fanbase of modders. One of the most popular ones isRise of the Reds, which requires theZero HourDLC along with the base game. For starters, it offers visual upgrades, a new multiplayer executable, and even two more factions: the defense-centric European Continental Alliance, and the mad-about-tanks Russian Federation.
Some of the most prominent changes include the remixed roster of units, buildings, and superweapons for each of the original factions. Certain units that specialize in scouting and stealth are more useful than before, while combat between aircraft and anti-air units are overhauled here, too. Thankfully, progress is still ongoing with this one, with more great ideas in the pipeline.
Despite releasing months afterCommand & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, solo developer Carnius worked hard to recreate units fromCommand & Conquer: Tiberian Sunfor this mod. Some of them were officially brought back in the aforementioned expansion, yet this modder went above and beyond here.
Not only arevarious familiar units back, like the Hover MLRS and Devil’s Tongue, but the AI antagonist hell-bent on mankind’s destruction, CABAL, is a playable faction here. Even better are the visual upgrades, balances, additional music tracks, upgrades for units, support powers, and various other inclusions.Tiberium Essenceshould prove to be a perfect pick for both single and multiplayer
The simply-namedRemixmod forCommand & Conquer: Red Alert 3by KnightVVV overhauls the Top Secret Protocols of the base game - all 45 of them to be exact - and replaces them with brand-new ones. In other words, more powerful abilities and deadly units can be played with here. Ever wanted atriple-cannon spider-tankfor the Soviets, or even more frightening aircraft for the Allies? They’re all available here, and they have new voice lines, too.
On top of that, to sweeten the deal, this mod bundles alongside a collection of fresh maps to wage war on. By the way, be sure to check out its cinematic six-minute trailer, as it’s an amazing watch, on top of showing much of the cool stuff available.
Command & Conquer: Remastered Collectionis an excellent way to relive the first two entries in the seriesand their respective add-ons and console-exclusive content faithfully, though it’s not flawless. The AI seems to trip over itself at times; it’s understandable why the developers didn’t want to tinker with it too much in case any re-coding would damage anything important.
Thankfully, the AI Boost mod by Bast75 and xXMini FrankiXx helps with this, and more. Not only does it improve pathfinding, but it also introduces various improvements for a more challenging experience, making it perfect for Skirmish mode. The AI enemy will now construct buildings and units it normally wouldn’t use, like boats, spies, commandos, and so on. It also adds other quality-of-life changes, like being able to transport troops in APCs via Chronosphere without killing everyone inside in the process.
