C&C Generals: Zero Hour Profiles
A look at the U.S. Generals available in challenge mode.
By GameSpy Staff | Aug. 21, 2003
The new Command & Conquer: Generals expansion Zero Hour offers an all new Generals Challenge mode where players can test their skills against generals with specific warfare strategies. In the first of a three-part series, we unveil three U.S. generals. These generals have unique backgrounds, as well as special units that they can call upon in battle. Be sure to grab the movies and sound files for each general, available on FilePlanet, and check out the screenshots of each general in action.
Senior producer Harvard Bonin gave us the lowdown on each general and the philosophy behind them: "We really wanted to ensure variety in tactics for the players. By giving them more options, I think we've created a General that should fit into most players' tactics. Hopefully, they'll find a General they can really feel at home with."
Bonin added that the game is coming along nicely. "One thing that has really begun to stand out is the revamped Skirmish," he said. "We were pleased with Generals Skirmish at the time, but now that we've wrapped up the AI behavior for Zero Hour, we think players will be much more pleased. The AI is much more crafty and intelligent than before. We've even got a new battle honor that is awarded if the player beats all the 45 or so maps on Hard with maximum AI opponents. Let me just say that it's no easy task! This is one area players, especially hard core Generals players, will really appreciate. A lot of TLC has been gone into it."
In coming weeks, we will look at the Chinese and GLA generals.
General Alexis Alexander
General Alexis Alexander A logistics staffer in Okinawa, Alexander attracted the notice of her superiors with her ability to acquire just about anything. Alexander parlayed that ability into a scholarship and a long and distinguished career in the Marines. To protect supply lines during the first GLA conflict, Alexander developed a tiered scheme of defenses that did not allow a single strike on any of her supply columns. While hardly efficient in her use of resources, General Alexander makes defense and resource acquisition priorities in the early phases of conflict. The general's army takes to the offensive only when she has superior offensive firepower that cannot be touched by counterattack.
Background
Side: USA
Rank: 4-Star General
Branch: Marines Corps
Class Number: 07121969-HB
Stationed: Camp Franklin, Belfast, Maine, USA
Tactical Overview: Superweapons
Availability: Skirmish, Generals Challenge, Online
Army Structures
EMP Patriot: The EMP Patriot battery can dispense a barrage of missiles that can deliver an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) shockwave on structures, units, and personnel.
Army Units
Aurora Alpha: The newest model of Aurora bomber is equipped with fuel air bombs. The Aurora Alpha's fuel explosives detonate in the air over a target, spreading fire across a considerable area. Capable of supersonic speeds, the FAB Aurora can outdistance enemy AA fire.
Army Upgrades
Advanced Control Rods: Improvements in the design of control rods have resulted in greater efficiency and power output than conventional resources.
Army Modifications
Particle cannons cost much less to produce.
All vehicles cost more to produce.
Paladin tank is unavailable.
Crusader tank is unavailable.
GameSpy: General Alexander strikes me as an opponent who likes to "turtle," i.e. build up supply and defenses before starting the offensive. If that is an accurate assessment, what are some good strategies that would work against her?
Harvard Bonin: Yes, that is exactly her tactic. We mostly designed the Generals on specific play styles we were seeing players use. Some players are really sneaky so the Camouflage General really plays to this. Some love tanks and only tanks so we created a Tank General. As for General Alexander, we modeled her after the turtling tactics employed by many players. These players tend to like the “comfort” of their base and like to challenge opponents to crack their defenses. Alexander has an EMP Patriot that really helps snuff out onslaughts. She’s also got economic boosts and power boost that allow her to turtle in and crank out superweapons. That said, she’s not got much of a traditional attack force so it’s hard for her to own the battlefield. Regardless, we think that by offering armies modeled around player tendencies really adds some personality to the Generals universe and we hope players like it.
Laatst bewerkt: 24 aug 2003
