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 hardened soldiers and a nervous scientist, instantly brought a smile to my face. The music, UI, and unit designs perfectly channeled the spirit of my high school days spent playing Command & Conquer with friends – fueled by energy drinks, snacks, and a healthy dose of sleep deprivation. This game expertly recreates that feeling, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers at launch and beyond. Whether battling AI in Skirmish or facing off against human opponents in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and intuitive.
This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers aimed to create an RTS game that captured the essence of 90s and 2000s classics, while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. Set in an alternate 1997, where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into World War 3, Tempest Rising unfolds in a world ravaged by nuclear war and overrun by strange, energy-rich vines.
Tempest Rising Screenshots
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The demo focused on multiplayer, so I'll have to wait for the full release to experience the story mode, which will feature 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. A third, currently unannounced faction, will be revealed later.
I gravitated towards the Tempest Dynasty, largely due to their amusing Tempest Sphere – a death-dealing vehicle that crushes enemy infantry. The Dynasty also utilizes "Plans," faction-wide bonuses activated through the Construction Yard. These Plans, such as Logistics (faster building and resource harvesting), Martial (increased unit attack speed and explosive resistance), and Security (reduced unit and building costs, improved repair), offer strategic flexibility. I found a satisfying rhythm cycling through these Plans for optimal resource management, construction, and offensive capabilities.
The Dynasty's mobile Tempest Rigs, which harvest resources independently, facilitated my preferred "fast expand" strategy. Deploying these Rigs to distant locations allowed for uninterrupted resource gathering. The Salvage Van, a versatile unit capable of repairing or destroying enemy vehicles for resource gain, added a fun element of tactical deception. Finally, Dynasty power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby building construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage – a risk I happily accepted for the combat advantage.
While I favored the Dynasty, the GDF offers a compelling alternative, emphasizing allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The GDF's Marking mechanic, which applies debuffs to marked enemies, proved particularly effective.
Tempest Rising3D Realms Wishlist
Each faction boasts three tech trees, allowing for diverse strategic approaches. In addition to the tech trees, constructing specific advanced buildings unlocks powerful cooldown abilities, significantly impacting the flow of battle. The Dynasty's Lockdown ability, preventing enemy building takeovers, and the Field Infirmary, providing mobile healing, are particularly noteworthy.
The launch version's Custom Lobbies will allow for cooperative play against challenging AI. Until then, I'll continue my solo campaign, happily crushing my AI opponents with overwhelming force.
