Introduction

Developed by: Westwood
Renegade official page: http://westwood.ea.com/games/ccuniverse/renegade/index.html
Estimated Release: Fall 2001

C&C FPS? Wha-huh?

Westwood Studios and first person shooter. Yes, they go together like peas and carrots. Well, no actually they don't. Equating Westwood with FPS games is a lot like associating strategy games with id software. Or maybe pineapples and anchovies. You just don't think of Westwood when you think of first person shooter games. So why would they make a game like Command & Conquer: Renegade?

A face only a mother could love

Well, for one thing, spinning off an FPS game from the franchise makes a lot of sense. Anyone who has played Command & Conquer has wondered at least in the back of their mind what it might be like to actually control one of the units within the map and play out the mission that way. And that's exactly what Renegade attempts to do: put the player in the role of a GDI commando caught within a larger conflict. You aren't Gordon Freeman or Duke Nukem here, one man out to save the world. Command & Conquer is about war on a massive scale - although Renegade is a first person shooter, it will feature a ton of scripting and background action during missions to remind you that you are one cog of a larger war machine.

Where does he get those wonderful toys?

Make no mistake though, you're quite a badass cog. As GDI's top commando, Havoc, you have an array of weapons at your disposal, ranging from silenced pistols to machine guns to flame throwers to sniper rifles, and more - there will be about 20 weapons in all, each with a secondary fire or use mode. They'll even include items not seen in C&C before, like portable obelisk lasers and tiberium flechette guns. Not enough for you? You'll be able to drive just about any land vehicle you find in the game. Mammoth Tanks, Hum-Vees, Hovercraft, etc are all driveable. The GDI arsenal not enough? Just hijack a Nod vehicle like a Flame Tank or Buggy if you're looking for some variety. And you're a commando, remember? If taking out a building or other target with your weapon or vehicle doesn't strike your fancy, just run in, plant some C4 and level it. Renegade may be a first person shooter, but Westwood has bent over backwards to maintain a genuine C&C feel.