Tempest Rising review: A safe war

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Tempest Rising often opts for a more conventional approach in gameplay. While this can be acceptable at times, it doesn’t mean every game needs to push boundaries or be groundbreaking to keep players engaged. Unfortunately, Tempest Rising’s cautiousness leaves little room for novelty and underutilizes the real-time strategy formula, making it seem like a squandered chance to leverage solid mission design and an intriguing setting for something more daring and memorable.

What if

In an alternate reality, Tempest Rising is set in a timeline where the Cuban Missile Crisis, a Cold War incident involving Russia deploying nuclear missiles to Cuba, did not result in a peaceful resolution. Instead, several days of nuclear warfare ensue, only for the fighting to cease. However, a new menace arises decades later: tentacles or unusual growths that have sprouted across the European continent, originating from a mysterious power source. This enigmatic force is not just terrifying but also an incredibly potent alternative to fossil fuels, and tensions are escalating once again over who will gain control of it.

In a series of modern games, such as Sumerian Six, Grit and Valor – 1949, history serves as a foundation for storytelling. I see where you’re coming from; the appeal of alternate realities branching off significant events is captivating, but if the initial premise is merely a stepping stone to introduce an unrelated narrative, it might be more effective to bypass that setup altogether. Tempest Rising, with its conflict revolving around supernatural energy sources and the aggressive alien race behind their origin, could easily thrive as a self-contained science fiction work without relying on historical elements.

Despite the prologue having minimal connection to the subsequent events, Tempest Rising provides a substantial amount of background for each mission. The main characters have personal motivations, although they might not be deeply complex or particularly engaging due to the heavy emphasis on combat. Additionally, there are some intriguing observations about the GDF’s disproportionate power in the pseudo-European setting.

In the aftermath of World War II, the United States held significant influence over Europe, similar to the power dynamic in your game where you can pick between the Global Defense Force (GDF) and the Tempest Dynasty. The GDF represents the US, while the Tempest Dynasty is a coalition of disenchanted European alliances frustrated with the GDF’s perceived exploitation of their homeland. The game effectively portrays the strife between these two factions, offering perspectives that go beyond simple right versus wrong. This contrast is refreshing because most games of this genre often skip over deeper narratives and focus on repetitive battles without providing a sense of justification or purpose.

War never changes

It’s unfortunate that the battles in Tempest Rising, while serviceable, lack novelty due to their familiarity. Both armies can field a variety of units, including regular soldiers, flamethrower units, tanks, recon vehicles with a knack for crushing foot soldiers, and unique units specific to each nation. Each unit has its own strengths. For instance, incendiary units are excellent at eliminating infantry shelters like bunkers, but they’re not as effective against vehicles. Conversely, rocket soldiers can easily destroy vehicles, but they move slowly and can be quickly overpowered by even average infantry units.

This game doesn’t have any issues. It’s quite similar in style to games like Command and Conquer and Company of Heroes 3, right down to the pattern of enemy attacks and reinforcements that can be anticipated.

It’s frustrating that Tempest Rising doesn’t include several key features found in games like Company of Heroes 3, making the gameplay less intuitive and natural. For instance, cover seems to be absent in Tempest Rising. If you position your soldiers near a wall or thick vegetation for protection, they don’t receive any defensive bonus. The only interaction possible is destroying it.

Additionally, distinguishing unit types from their icons in the campaign list can be challenging because they are small and mostly look alike. Tooltips are similarly tiny, making it hard to read skill descriptions, even when sitting close to a large monitor like a 27-inch one. This problem arises not only due to the small font but also the difficult-to-read style.

Safe and sound

Over time, as more missions are completed, the tooltip issue becomes less problematic since everything gradually becomes more familiar. Slipgate Ironworks crafted intricate maps with tough objectives that compensate for the feeling of familiarity elsewhere. The tutorial map even includes a split path – you can charge straight at the enemy base or divert to free a small settlement, gaining support from militia units stationed there. These additional challenges demand more strategy and risk but also provide greater rewards – not just a handful of weak militia soldiers. In later missions, you can seize control of your adversary’s military blueprints and utilize their forces against them.

Describing Tempest Rising as “familiarly entertaining” might seem a bit critical, but it captures its essence accurately. The game performs most of its functions quite competently. It doesn’t offer anything exceptionally new or groundbreaking, and many elements feel reminiscent of other games in the genre.

For the purpose of this critique, I received a digital version of Tempest Rising from the publisher. You can currently purchase Tempest Rising for PC on platforms such as Steam and GeForce Now.

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2025-05-05 04:29