Tempest Rising: A Nostalgic RTS Masterpiece

From the moment I launched the Tempest Rising demo, I was hooked. The opening cinematic, complete with cheesy dialogue from heavily armored soldiers and a nervous scientist, instantly brought a smile to my face. The music, UI, and unit designs perfectly captured the spirit of my high school days spent playing Command & Conquer with friends fueled by energy drinks and late nights. This modern take on a classic RTS is a blast from the past, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers in the full release. Whether battling bots in Skirmish or facing off in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and comfortable.

This nostalgic experience is intentional. The developers aimed to create an RTS reminiscent of 90s and 2000s classics, enhanced with modern quality-of-life improvements. Set in an alternate 1997, Tempest Rising unfolds in a world where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into World War 3. The aftermath reveals strange, energy-rich vines, ushering in a new power dynamic.

Tempest Rising Screenshots

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As the demo focused solely on multiplayer, I'll need to wait for the full release to experience the story mode, which promises two 11-mission campaigns, one for each main faction. The Tempest Dynasty (TD), an alliance of Eastern European and Asian nations devastated by WW3, and the Global Defense Forces (GDF), a coalition of the US, Canada, and Western Europe, are both playable. A third faction remains shrouded in mystery.

The Tempest Dynasty immediately captivated me, particularly their amusing "Tempest Sphere," a rolling death machine that crushes infantry. The Dynasty also utilizes "Plans," faction-wide bonuses activated through the Construction Yard. These Plans, cycling through a 30-second cooldown, offer strategic flexibility.

The Logistics Plan boosts building speed and resource gathering; the Martial Plan enhances unit attack speed and provides explosive resistance; and the Security Plan reduces unit and building costs, improves repair, and expands radar range. I found a satisfying rhythm switching between these Plans for economic growth, rapid construction, and decisive offensives.

This adaptability extends to base building. Unlike the GDF's stationary refineries, the Dynasty employs mobile Tempest Rigs, harvesting resources until depletion, then relocating. This facilitates rapid expansion, allowing for secure resource gathering even at distant locations.

The Dynasty's Salvage Van, a dual-purpose unit, can repair or, in Salvage Mode, destroy enemy vehicles for resource gain. Ambushing opponents and reclaiming their resources proved highly effective. Power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, accelerating construction and attack speed of nearby buildings (yes, some upgraded buildings have cannons!), albeit at the cost of taking damage.

While I favored the Tempest Dynasty, the GDF offers a compelling alternative, focusing on allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, where units mark targets for debuffs and intel gain, is particularly potent with certain Doctrine upgrades.

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Each faction boasts three tech trees, offering strategic depth. Beyond the tech trees, constructing advanced buildings unlocks powerful cooldown abilities, adding another layer of strategic decision-making.

The Dynasty's fewer, upgradeable buildings make structure loss impactful. Lockdown, an ability preventing enemy takeovers, provides a crucial counter. The Field Infirmary, a mobile healing zone, proved invaluable.

The full game's custom lobbies promise even more exciting possibilities, especially teaming up against the challenging AI. Until then, I'll continue my solo campaign, crushing bots with my army of death spheres.