Tempest Rising Single-Player Campaign Review – Is It Worth Playing?

If you’ve been waiting forever for a new Command & Conquer game, you’re not alone. And finally, someone stepped up—Danish developer Slipgate Ironworks. With Tempest Rising, they’ve delivered a real-time strategy game that feels just like C&C, and in many ways, it fills that long-empty gap quite well.

The game is fast and familiar, with two well-designed campaigns featuring classic gameplay like resource gathering, base building, and quick battles. It also includes music from C&C legend Frank Klepacki, giving fans a nice dose of nostalgia.

It sticks so closely to the C&C formula that you might not notice the difference at first. The Global Defense Force (GDF) feels like GDI, Tempest stands in for Tiberium, and the Dynasty faction looks and plays like Nod. Even the Mobile Construction Vehicle (MCV) is here, unchanged in name or function.

The story tries to reimagine the classic good vs. evil dynamic with a post-World War 3 setting, but it doesn’t do much to build a unique world or atmosphere. Most maps look generic, and the missions lack memorable locations. What’s really missing, though, is a strong villain—a key ingredient that made C&C campaigns stand out.

Tempest Rising is a solid throwback for old-school RTS fans. It may not change the genre, but for those who miss the classic C&C style, it hits the right notes

Tempest Rising Lacks a Strong Villain and Memorable Characters

One of the best parts of classic Command & Conquer was the villain Kane with his dark charm. Sadly, Tempest Rising doesn’t have that. The Dynasty leaders have some personality, but they’re not as memorable as Kane. Aleks, the Dynasty leader, lacks his charisma, and the Dynasty faction doesn’t have strong goals. There are no big, iconic moments like in C&C, such as attacking the Pentagon or Eiffel Tower.

Another problem is the voice acting, which often sounds odd and poorly done. The story dialogue isn’t very interesting, and I didn’t feel like listening to it. The lack of live-action scenes also makes the game less exciting, and the animated characters don’t feel as real—especially when their mouths don’t match the words.

Gameplay and Strategy in Tempest Rising Shine

Thankfully, Tempest Rising does a good job with real-time strategy. It uses a classic style but looks modern, runs well and adds some new ideas. The controls are easy to use and each faction has special units that make the game more interesting. For example: GDF’s drone units can scout, carry troops and even come back after being destroyed.

Smart acts, such as marking adversaries to collect points for special powers, are also rewarded in the game. These minor details add enjoyment to the gameplay and keep you engaged during each encounter.

Trebuchet in Tempest Rising Feels Like a Mammoth-Siege Tank Hybrid

One of the most exciting moments in Tempest Rising comes when the GDF introduces the Trebuchet – a unit that feels like a perfect blend of GDI’s Mammoth Tank from Command & Conquer and the Siege Tank from StarCraft 2. It’s a great nod to fans of classic RTS games. The Trebuchet can switch between mobile and stationary modes in just a second, making it ideal for players who enjoy micromanagement. While you don’t have to keep switching modes, doing so gives you more range and firepower – a big advantage in key battles.

The Dynasty faction has a powerful unit called the Scrap Truck. When it stops, it can repair nearby vehicles and buildings, and it can also turn into a turret with a bigger repair range. Dynasty can build turrets in advance and place them instantly, while GDF has to build on the spot. This helps Dynasty quickly set up repair zones with flame and missile turrets near enemy bases.

Add to that their long-range Porcupine missile trucks and powerful SAM launchers, and Dynasty becomes a strong pick for players who enjoy offensive turtling. They can build slow but deadly defenses and even roll out a massive metal ball that crushes enemy units in its path – unless they’re fast enough to destroy it first.

Tempest Rising may pay homage to classic RTS titles, but units like the Trebuchet and Scrap Truck show it also brings smart new twists to the genre.

Tempest Rising Missions: Fun but Conventional

The missions in Tempest Rising are enjoyable, but few stand out as truly unique. After the introductory tutorials, the game introduces a variety of mission types, including base attacks, defense holdouts, last stands, and commando missions. These missions also feature optional objectives that can encourage replay, especially since some of them only appear if you explore the entire map. However, these optional objectives can feel a bit frustrating if you’re trying to complete everything in one go.

While the missions are fun, they don’t break the mold. They follow the familiar RTS formula of base-building and combat without introducing anything radically new, like StarCraft 2’s clever unit abilities or mini-game modes. Overall, they provide a solid RTS experience, but they don’t push the boundaries of the genre.

Upgrades and Customization Add Depth to the Campaign

As you progress through the campaign, Tempest Rising offers you new units and airstrike abilities, just like most RTS games. One interesting twist is the global upgrades, where you pick one of three upgrade paths every mission. These upgrades allow you to unlock new abilities, such as improving unit stats or adding effects like burn damage to Dynasty’s flamethrowers. Some upgrades feel more impactful, like those that let you build enemy vehicles without capturing their buildings. This option can make a huge difference, especially when using powerful units like the Trebuchet tank or Porcupine missile launcher.

The ability to customize your force with these upgrades adds an extra layer of strategy, even though it can sometimes blur the lines between the factions’ unique strengths. A particularly useful upgrade is the ability to re-pack the Dynasty Scrap Truck, saving you from building an entire fleet.

A New Faction Adds Variety but Follows Familiar Patterns

Later in the campaign, a third faction, the Veti, is introduced. They are tied to the glowing resource central to the story and add some variety to the game. While they don’t have a full campaign or multiplayer support yet, they provide a new challenge with their advanced units. Fighting against the Veti feels similar to fighting GDF or Dynasty, but their powerful late-game units force you to change your approach. It’s a familiar twist, though, reminding me of Command & Conquer 3’s alien faction.

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Pros and Cons of Tempest Rising Single-Player Campaign

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
🎮 Feels like classic Command & Conquer	😐 No cool villain like Kane
⚡ Fun and fast gameplay	🗣️ Voice acting sounds weird at times
🎵 Great music from the original C&C composer	😴 Story and characters are not very exciting
🎯 Two strong single-player campaigns	🎬 Cutscenes are not that good
🖱️ Easy to play and runs well	🔁 Missions feel the same after a while
🔥 Cool new units like the Trebuchet and Scrap Truck	🎯 Optional goals can be frustrating
🛡️ Each faction plays differently	⚖️ Some upgrades make factions feel too similar
🧠 Upgrades add extra strategy	🚧 New faction (Veti) doesn’t have much to do yet
🕹️ Perfect for fans of old-school RTS games	😐 Serious tone – no fun or silly moments like in C&C

Conclusion

Tempest Rising offers two great single-player campaigns that feel like a nostalgic nod to classic RTS games like Command & Conquer. It brings back the old-school RTS style without the outdated technology.

While it doesn’t do anything too new or bold, it has fun faction designs that keep the game interesting and make you experiment with different abilities. However, fans of C&C might miss the quirky, over-the-top characters and B-movie moments, as Tempest Rising takes a more serious approach to its mission briefings.