C&C: Rivals Test Run First Impressions (Update 6/10) blog - SteamsDev

Okay... My fans will probably hate me for doing this.

So, I've probably logged a few hours now into the Pre-Alpha version of C&C: Rivals. I got my copy last night, at around this time, and I began to move through the tutorial. Now, I'm at 219 EXP, have reached Lvl. 2, and have a win-loss ratio of 2-8. At this point I'm ready to give my first impressions of what the game is and what I see for the future. So, what do I think of this game?

To be honest, it's not that bad.

I kind of wished I had taken the initial thoughts of most of the C&C fans I knew a little more lightly. Sure, this game is a gimmicky, Clash Royale-style game that seems like it's pointing to the South Pole in terms of overall outlook, but the way I see it, it's not all bad. It is a strategy game with strategy aspects and requires prior user skill and knowledge of past games. It involves building a base, building units, and either going to attack the other base or capturing the warhead in the center of the map. It involves getting tiberium to gain more units in battle, utilizing tactics to get a leg up on the enemy, and more. It has RTS elements, even if it isn't fully RTS.

So why take it so negatively? Isn't it an over-exaggeration? Well, maybe, but here's why this shouldn't have been the next C&C title: 1) It's exclusively for mobile devices. You can't find it anywhere else other than the Apple and Android markets. This makes for a C&C title that seems more like a spin-off rather than an actual game. 2) It requires an always-on Internet connection. This is a common trend for modern PvP games like Fortnite and Overwatch. C&C: Rivals requires Internet connection throughout the time you use it, otherwise you are unabel to play. This was a big mistake with C&C 4: Tiberian Twilight, and a mistake clearly seen here. 3) It dips into unnecessary experimentation. Just like I said in the previous blog, I believe EA is trying new things with the C&C franchise, seeing as they have the rights to it. This game is RTS and Battle Royale combined to make a PvP tournament-style RTS that doesn't have much in the way of strategy (or at least none that is apparent at first glance).

Now, my question is, why did EA decide to dip into the mobile market with C&C? Was it something they thought they wanted to do because everybody else is doing it? Was it a particular thing with mobile games that EA got a knack for? Many people know that Battle Royale games are all the rage these days, so maybe they wanted to tap into that, and make it an RTS game in the process? Why was this made? What is its purpose?

Anyway, despite the fact that it isn't a completely bad game in my opinion, C&C: Rivals is still #NotMyCnC. Do you agree? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks and GG.