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 essence of my high school days spent playing Command & Conquer with friends – fueled by Mountain Dew, Pringles, and sleep deprivation. This modern-day recreation of that classic feeling is a blast, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks has planned for the full release. Whether battling bots in Skirmish or facing off in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt as natural as slipping on a well-worn glove.
This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers aimed to create an RTS game reminiscent of 90s and 2000s classics, enhanced with 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 transformed by strange, energy-rich vines that emerged after widespread nuclear devastation.
Tempest Rising Screenshots
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My preview focused solely on multiplayer, so I'll need to wait for the story mode reveal. However, I know it will feature two replayable 11-mission campaigns, one for each main faction: the Tempest Dynasty (TD) and the Global Defense Forces (GDF). A third faction remains shrouded in mystery, awaiting its campaign debut.
The Tempest Dynasty immediately captivated me, not only for its absurdly fun "Tempest Sphere" – a death ball that crushes infantry – but also for its "Plans" system. These Plans activate faction-wide bonuses, one at a time, from your Construction Yard, requiring only sufficient power generation and a 30-second cooldown.
The Logistics Plan accelerates building and resource harvesting; the Martial Plan boosts unit attack speed and provides explosive resistance; and the Security Plan reduces unit and building costs, improves repairs, and expands radar range. I found a satisfying rhythm cycling through these Plans for economic boosts, rapid construction, and powerful offensives.
This adaptability extends to other aspects. Unlike the GDF's reliance on Refineries, the TD utilizes Tempest Rigs – mobile harvesters that relocate after depleting resource fields. This streamlined approach made rapid expansion incredibly efficient, as the Rigs' distance from the base is irrelevant. Deploying them to remote locations ensured uninterrupted resource gathering.
The Dynasty's Salvage Van is another highlight. It repairs vehicles but can also switch to Salvage Mode, destroying nearby vehicles (regardless of ownership) and reclaiming resources. Ambushing unsuspecting opponents and stripping their units was incredibly satisfying.
Power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby building construction and attack speeds at the cost of taking damage. The self-preservation mechanism prevents accidental base destruction.
While I favored the TD, the GDF offers its own strategic depth, focusing on allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, where units mark targets for debuffs and Intel gain (used for advanced units), is particularly effective with certain Doctrine upgrades.
Tempest Rising3D Realms Wishlist
Each faction boasts three tech trees, offering diverse strategic options. Beyond the tech trees, constructing advanced buildings unlocks powerful, cooldown-based abilities that significantly impact battles. While both factions have area-of-effect damage and troop-spawning abilities, the GDF also utilizes spy drones, remote building beacons, and temporary vehicle attack suppression.
The TD's fewer buildings, each upgradeable to an advanced version, makes structure loss critical. The Lockdown ability prevents enemy takeovers but temporarily disables the building. The Field Infirmary, a deployable healing zone, proved invaluable.
Tempest Rising offers a wealth of strategic depth. I eagerly anticipate the full release, particularly the Custom Lobbies for cooperative play against the challenging AI. Until then, I'll continue my solo campaign, happily crushing bots with my army of death balls.
