Released in 1995 by Westwood Studios, Command & Conquer is a real-time strategy video game. The first in the franchise, this title helped popularize the strategy game genre. It features live-action cutscenes that have been a staple of the series, as well as top-down perspective gameplay. The objective of the main campaign is to complete the missions given by the faction the player selects at the beginning of the game. The player uses resources from collected Tiberium supplies to build their base. Structures usually have unique purposes, such as the Barracks being able to train Soldiers to fight against hostiles and Engineers who can take over enemy structures. The game missions usually involve specific goals such as destroying all enemy forces or taking over the enemy base. There is also a multiplayer option that allows you to fight against another human player.
GDI forces (gold) defend their base from a Nod (gray) ambush. Players can use Tiberium resources gathered by Harvesters to train soldiers and build new structures.
Story
In an alternate timeline, war has broken out between two opposing factions: The Global Defence Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod. The GDI faction was originally created by the United Nations to keep the peace between nations but changed its mission to the complete destruction of all Nod forces after Nod sought to gain control of the globe. The Brotherhood of Nod's goal is to harness the power of Tiberium, a resource that began spreading after a meteor containing the material crashed into the Tiber river. Under the command of their leader Kane, Nod seeks to expand their forces.
Command & Conquer live-action cutscene featuring Nod leader Kane directing the player to capture GDI bases.
Trivia
An expansion titled Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations was released in 1996 and added new maps, music, and missions. A remastered version of this game was released alongside Command & Conquer Red Alert in 2020. The game took influence from Westwood Studio's previous game Dune II. The resource called Spice Melange from the Dune series served as the basis for the Tiberium resource in Command & Conquer.
