Tempest Rising: Let the RTS Renaissance Begin | GamePulse

Tempest Rising: Command, Conquer, and Kick Nostalgia into High Gear

Ah, real-time strategy — where base-building, resource-harvesting, and tactical warfare collide in glorious, pixel-sprayed perfection. Enter Tempest Rising, Slipgate Ironworks’ triumphant love letter to the halcyon days of Command & Conquer, powered by Unreal Engine 5 and drenched in nostalgic charm. Released unexpectedly on April 17, 2025, it arrived a full week ahead of schedule — thanks to a Steam snafu that somehow worked in everyone’s favor.

Campaigns That Feel Like C&C With a Modern Facelift

You get two campaigns, each spanning 11 missions — one from the militaristic, high-tech Global Defense Force (GDF) and the other from the rugged, gritty Tempest Dynasty. They’re not just palette swaps either; they offer distinct playstyles. GDF thrives on precision and technological edge, while the Dynasty favors aggressive brute-force strategies, including “Plans” that amplify combat power.

These campaigns aren’t just throwback theatre — they’re slick, cinematic, and packed with mission variety: from escort ops to sabotage and infiltration. MeriStation praises the storytelling and mission design as “highly entertaining, varied campaigns," and critics on Metacritic call the campaigns a triumphant nod to '90s RTS glory.

Gameplay That Doesn’t Reinvent the Wheel—but Spins It Well

Mechanically, Tempest Rising sticks faithfully to the RTS blueprint: MCVs, grid-based base placement, unit queues, and tech trees. Units range from infantry to vehicles and aircraft — all with unique abilities, cooldowns, and tactical quirks that reward quick hands and smarter maneuvers.

PC Gamer hits the nail on the head: “It may not revolutionize the genre, but apart from that, Tempest Rising is exactly what the RTS needs right now." Another reviewer sums it up: “a spiritual successor to early Command & Conquer games”—nostalgic but polished. And GameLuster showers it with praise — “like a modern RTS should look like,” it looks, sounds, and flows beautifully.

Visuals and Audio That Rock the RTS World

Unreal Engine 5 doesn’t just power the game; it elevates it. From cinematic intros to zoomed-in zoomery during missions, the world looks crisp. Buildings collapse in satisfying debris-chucks, dust kicks up under rolling tanks — it's eye candy with teeth.

But visuals don’t stand alone. The soundtrack? Louder than a marching band at Red Alert, and then some. Tongue-in-cheek homages to Hell March, synth-heavy anthems, and even nods to Frank Klepacki (yes, that Frank Klepacki) keep the atmosphere pumping. PC Gamer calls it “absolutely tremendous."

Multiplayer and Skirmish: Already Pulled in 2v2 Ranked Mode

Multiplayer is no afterthought: Tempest Rising ships with skirmish and multiplayer, supporting up to 500-unit armies and the Glicko‑2 ranking system. Recently, the "Rally and Recon" update supercharged the competitive side: six new maps, a ranked 2v2 mode, spectator mode (v1), lobby chat, and a sweeping balance overhaul.

While the third faction (Veti) makes an appearance in the campaign, it's not yet available in multiplayer — a notable omission that reviewers lament. Still, with better lobby features and unit caps ranging from 100 to 500, it’s clear the game is primed for competitive expansion.

Critic & Community Reception: A Nostalgic Encore

The broader reception has been warm to glowing. PC Gamer awarded it 85/100, Metacritic registers an 80 from critics, with user scores around 7.4/10.

Redditors on r/RealTimeStrategy call it “a classic RTS with a campaign” and a “spiritual successor to C&C." One user writes:

“Tempest Rising is definitely the heir to the vacant RTS throne left by Command & Conquer.” (Reddit)

Another sums it up with retro-romance and modern polish.

Where It Stumbles — But Still Stands Tall

If we were grading on a curve, this is the curve. Criticisms aren’t nonexistent: no multiplayer access for Veti right now; mission arcs feel familiar, potentially reducing replay suspense; in-game briefings are CGI, not FMV — lacking that deliciously cheesy C&C flair.

Some users pointed out limited AI depth in skirmish mode, and a lack of QoL features like replay saving. After the honeymoon, players joke, “be ready for rush-games and cheese strategies in multiplayer” — classic RTS problems that come back to haunt even great games.

The Final Word: A Modern Renaissance, With Promise

Tempest Rising isn’t trying to invent the RTS wheel — it’s trying to turbocharge it with nostalgia, polish, and a dash of modern flair. And by that measure, it succeeds with flying colors.

• For veterans: It feels like slipping on a well-worn glove — reassuringly familiar, yet fluid and precise.
• For newbies: It’s accessible, engaging, and visually breathtaking — a perfect entry-point into one of gaming’s storied genres.
• For competitive fans: Ranked 2v2, balanced updates, spectator mode — the foundations are all there, with more on the way.

If you'd asked “does RTS still have life?” Tempest Rising answers with booming artillery fire, cinematic explosions, and a soundtrack that slams like a sci-fi metal opera. It doesn’t break the genre, but it reminds the world why RTS still matters — and does it with brains, bravado, and a whole lot of bangs.

Final Score Card

Grade: “Mission Accomplished” — Tempest Rising may not reinvent the wheel, but boy, does it roll it gloriously down memory lane.