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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Strategy Developer: EA Games Publisher: Electronic Arts |
The expansion pack has become such an integral part of the computer gaming world that publisher’s area able to release a multitude
of smaller and cheaper additions to the full retail games without a second thought. These expansion packs are especially common in
the genre of real-time strategy where large number of gamers increase popularity of certain games quickly and content can be added to
those games quickly and easily. However, the idea of an expansion pack for a console game is a bit trickier because of the fact that
players aren’t able to buy an add-on pack that simply adds new material to a pre-existing game. While Electronic Arts released
“Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath” for the PC as an expansion for “Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars which was released
on PC and console, EA decided to bring the expansion to the console as well.
“Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath” is a cheaper standalone retail expansion pack for the Xbox 360, meaning players don’t need
to have a copy of the original game to play it. It doesn’t have as much content as that previous game, but for a discounted price, “Kane’
s Wrath” offers a lot of strategy action.
The Xbox 360 version of “Kane’s Wrath” isn’t quiet an expansion pack, but instead a light version of the PC game. It offers three single-
player modes including Campaign, Kane’s Challenge and Skirmish. In Campaign mode players play under the rule of Kane, the bald
bad guy of the Global Defense Initiative. The story unfolds through a series of live-action cut scenes which have been an integral part of
the “Command & Conquer” series.
For those that have been following the “Command & Conquer” saga up to this point, Kane is a self-proclaimed prophet who has built
up a large cult following, willing to do his every beck and call. The story takes place over two decades of the Tiberium timeline, focusing
on the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War and through the third. For those who have no idea what is going
on, the cut scenes in the game will prove to be quite confusing and boring because of the need for the previous back story.
Luckily, the storyline is not the element of the game that keeps bringing fans back; it is the overall game play. “Kane’s Wrath has 13
missions in the Campaign mode, which is broken into three parts. Each mission offers something a little different than the last, from
escort missions to tactical attack missions. With three different levels of difficulty, players will find plenty of challenge in the Campaign
mode. The only problem some may have with this mode is the fact that the Brotherhood of Nod is the only playable group. At times
players may wish that they could play as a different faction.
Kane’s Challenge offers players the chance to mix things up a little bit. In this mode there are 10 different single-player missions that
put players against different groups. This time around players have nine different factions to play as, giving a total of 90 different
combination of play, each of which will play a little bit differently. Kane’s Challenge is a mix between the Campaign and Skirmish
modes. This mode is a simple death match against A.I.
Of course, even though the single-player modes are quite satisfying, most gamers will immediately go online with this expansion,
especially those who have become accustomed to the “Command & Conquer” game play on the Xbox 360. There are a total of five
different game types to play in Multiplayer mode: Versus, King of the Hill, Capture and Hold, Capture the Flag and Siege. Each of which
will suit the needs of different gaming styles.
Though the camera angles in the game are one of the control elements that pose a problem, the overall controls of “Kane’s Wrath” are
probably the best to be found in a real-time strategy game. Rather than relying on the trigger and D-pad system of “Tiberium Wars,”
this time around players use a wheel system similar to the one found in “Universe at War: Earth Assault.” This control scheme allows
quicker access to build queues, powers and units. Of course, quick controls are an important part of at real-time strategy and “Kane’s
Wrath” is the best to be found to date.
One thing that many players may get frustrated with, other than the sometimes awkward camera, is the time that it takes to save and
load game files. For a player that is failing to the point that the campaign needs to be restarted, they will have to exit and game and load
a saved game. It may seem like something small, but it may slowly wear on a gamer.
Overall, for those who are fans of real-time strategy games, but don’t feel that they need to go out and buy the full priced “Command &
Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars” for the Xbox 360, “Kane’s Wrath” may be the game to buy. The controls are improved dramatically from the
full version of the game and as a standalone it has a lot of content to work with. If it is only a good storyline that plays the main
determiner in buying a game, this may be one to steer clear of. The live-action cut scenes, though great when the game was first
released, have kind of become a joke for anyone who isn’t a hardcore fan. In the end, “Kane’s Wrath” is a good value and a decent
game.
of smaller and cheaper additions to the full retail games without a second thought. These expansion packs are especially common in
the genre of real-time strategy where large number of gamers increase popularity of certain games quickly and content can be added to
those games quickly and easily. However, the idea of an expansion pack for a console game is a bit trickier because of the fact that
players aren’t able to buy an add-on pack that simply adds new material to a pre-existing game. While Electronic Arts released
“Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath” for the PC as an expansion for “Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars which was released
on PC and console, EA decided to bring the expansion to the console as well.
“Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath” is a cheaper standalone retail expansion pack for the Xbox 360, meaning players don’t need
to have a copy of the original game to play it. It doesn’t have as much content as that previous game, but for a discounted price, “Kane’
s Wrath” offers a lot of strategy action.
The Xbox 360 version of “Kane’s Wrath” isn’t quiet an expansion pack, but instead a light version of the PC game. It offers three single-
player modes including Campaign, Kane’s Challenge and Skirmish. In Campaign mode players play under the rule of Kane, the bald
bad guy of the Global Defense Initiative. The story unfolds through a series of live-action cut scenes which have been an integral part of
the “Command & Conquer” series.
For those that have been following the “Command & Conquer” saga up to this point, Kane is a self-proclaimed prophet who has built
up a large cult following, willing to do his every beck and call. The story takes place over two decades of the Tiberium timeline, focusing
on the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War and through the third. For those who have no idea what is going
on, the cut scenes in the game will prove to be quite confusing and boring because of the need for the previous back story.
Luckily, the storyline is not the element of the game that keeps bringing fans back; it is the overall game play. “Kane’s Wrath has 13
missions in the Campaign mode, which is broken into three parts. Each mission offers something a little different than the last, from
escort missions to tactical attack missions. With three different levels of difficulty, players will find plenty of challenge in the Campaign
mode. The only problem some may have with this mode is the fact that the Brotherhood of Nod is the only playable group. At times
players may wish that they could play as a different faction.
Kane’s Challenge offers players the chance to mix things up a little bit. In this mode there are 10 different single-player missions that
put players against different groups. This time around players have nine different factions to play as, giving a total of 90 different
combination of play, each of which will play a little bit differently. Kane’s Challenge is a mix between the Campaign and Skirmish
modes. This mode is a simple death match against A.I.
Of course, even though the single-player modes are quite satisfying, most gamers will immediately go online with this expansion,
especially those who have become accustomed to the “Command & Conquer” game play on the Xbox 360. There are a total of five
different game types to play in Multiplayer mode: Versus, King of the Hill, Capture and Hold, Capture the Flag and Siege. Each of which
will suit the needs of different gaming styles.
Though the camera angles in the game are one of the control elements that pose a problem, the overall controls of “Kane’s Wrath” are
probably the best to be found in a real-time strategy game. Rather than relying on the trigger and D-pad system of “Tiberium Wars,”
this time around players use a wheel system similar to the one found in “Universe at War: Earth Assault.” This control scheme allows
quicker access to build queues, powers and units. Of course, quick controls are an important part of at real-time strategy and “Kane’s
Wrath” is the best to be found to date.
One thing that many players may get frustrated with, other than the sometimes awkward camera, is the time that it takes to save and
load game files. For a player that is failing to the point that the campaign needs to be restarted, they will have to exit and game and load
a saved game. It may seem like something small, but it may slowly wear on a gamer.
Overall, for those who are fans of real-time strategy games, but don’t feel that they need to go out and buy the full priced “Command &
Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars” for the Xbox 360, “Kane’s Wrath” may be the game to buy. The controls are improved dramatically from the
full version of the game and as a standalone it has a lot of content to work with. If it is only a good storyline that plays the main
determiner in buying a game, this may be one to steer clear of. The live-action cut scenes, though great when the game was first
released, have kind of become a joke for anyone who isn’t a hardcore fan. In the end, “Kane’s Wrath” is a good value and a decent
game.
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