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 years spent playing Command & Conquer with friends fueled by Mountain Dew, Pringles, and sheer determination. This modern take on a classic RTS is a blast from the past, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers at launch. Whether battling AI in Skirmish or facing off against human players in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and intuitive.
This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers explicitly aimed to create an RTS 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 ravaged by nuclear war and overrun by strange, energy-rich vines.
Tempest Rising Screenshots
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The preview build focused on multiplayer, so I'll have to wait for the full release to experience the story mode, which will include 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, partly due to their amusing Tempest Sphere – a death ball 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 repairs, and expanded radar), offer strategic flexibility. I found a satisfying rhythm cycling through these Plans to optimize resource gathering, construction, and combat.
Unlike the GDF's static refineries, the Dynasty employs Tempest Rigs – mobile harvesters that move to resource fields, gather until depleted, and relocate. This allows for aggressive expansion strategies, as the rigs' distance from the base is inconsequential.
The Dynasty's Salvage Van is another standout unit, capable of repairing or (in Salvage Mode) destroying enemy vehicles for resource gain. This allows for sneaky attacks, weakening opponents while bolstering your own resources.
Dynasty power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby building construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage – a risk worth taking for a significant advantage.
The GDF, while less personally appealing, offers a different strategic approach, focusing on buffing allies, debuffing enemies, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, where units tag enemies for increased intel gain and various debuffs (depending on Doctrine upgrades), is particularly effective.
Tempest Rising3D Realms Wishlist
Both factions boast three tech trees and unique cooldown abilities accessed through advanced buildings, adding depth and strategic variety. The Dynasty's Lockdown ability, preventing enemy takeovers but temporarily disabling the building, is a crucial defensive tool. The Field Infirmary, a mobile healing zone, complements the Dynasty's existing repair capabilities.
The launch version's Custom Lobbies will allow for cooperative play against challenging AI opponents. Until then, I'll continue refining my death ball strategies against the AI, eagerly anticipating the full game's release.
