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Revision as of 06:25, 29 August 2005 by 219.78.51.150 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 2003 video game| Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour | |
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| Developer(s) | EA Los Angeles, Aspyr Media (Mac OS) |
| Publisher(s) | EA Games (PC), MacSoft (Mac OS) |
| Engine | SAGE (Strategy Action Game Engine) |
| Platform(s) | PC, Mac OS X |
| Release | February 14, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Real-time strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single player multiplayer |
Command and Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour is currently the only expansion pack to have been released for the computer game Command & Conquer: Generals. It was released one year after the main game.
Zero Hour added several new abilities to each side, and a new mode of play called Generals' Challenge. In Generals' Challenge, the player takes on the identity of one of nine generals (three representing each faction) and takes on some of the other generals in what effectively amounts to wargames. Each general has his/her own unique units/modifications to their country's arsenal. The Generals are:
- General Alexis Alexander - a 4-Star American general that specializes in superweapons. She can build superweapons more quickly, and has a better Cold Fusion Reactor that give much more power if upgraded; however all of her vehicles cost more to produce. Also, the EMP Patriot Missile System defense mechanism makes most tanks, aircraft or other vehicles useless, disabling most aircraft in a single hit and stopping tanks in their tracks for up to 30 seconds. It should be noted that in online play, many players will refuse to play anyone using this General. This is largely due to the Aurora Alpha bomber, which can take out a group of tanks or many buildings in one or two hits (the plane is also invulnerable during its attack run.) Her greatest weakness is that she takes longer than any other general to come to full power, meaning that she will almost always be defeated by rush tactics.
- General Malcom "Ace" Granger - a 4-Star American general who specializes in aircraft. He creates King Raptors, more advanced and powerful versions of Raptors. The King Raptors have more missiles to fire and have a laser defense system. If the defense of the enemies is firing a missile, the laser will destroy it before its approcing the unit. He also build a Combat Chinook, able to carry units and can fire in the sky. His planes are the most powerful in the game, costing roughly 25% less than any other general, however he is not able to build any tanks, so he must rely on planes and light units, as well as his cunning. Unusually for a USA general, his early game is his strongest suit as his aeroplanes can be used to cripple or destroy an enemy base before the opponent can set up anti-air units sufficient to stop him.
- General "Pinpoint" Townes - a 4-Star American general who specializes in laser weaponry. His power plants provide significantly more power than other power plants, meaning that he can produce an awful lot of power using relatively few plants. However, this does mean that the loss of a plant is more crippling to him than it would be to other generals, and if he runs out of power altogether all of his defences and laser tanks stop functioning until he creates enough power to bring them all online again. This general as often seen as the best general at defending.
- General Ta Hun Kwai - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in tanks. He is unable to build artillery units, and his aircraft cost more to produce. His tactics are very straightforward mostly involving brute force, but he is one of the most devastating generals if not countered properly. He is often considered a weak general due to his low ability to adapt his tactics. An interesting but unrelated point is that his name - Ta Hun Kwai - could mean 'he is very fast' in chinese if pronounced with the correct tones.
- General Qing Shi Tao - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in nuclear weaponry. He gains various nuclear upgrades to his forces (e.g. he starts with nuclear-tipped shells for tanks and can buy nuclear missiles for his aircraft ), and does not lose any of China's stock units. His infantry are more expensive than usual, meaning that he has a weak early game and is poor against tank rushes early on, however he has a strong late game with slightly cheaper nuclear weapons, superior power plants and a potentially devastating air force. Similar to General Ta Hun Kwai, General Qing's name, when pronounced in Chinese with proper tones, means "Clear Stone"
- General "Anvil" Shin Fai - a Class AAA Chinese general specializing in infantry. He is unable to build most tanks, short of the Assault Troop Crawler. Surprisingly, he is an excellent defensive player due to his exceptional infantry and very good tank bunkers. However, his offensive options are quite limited as infantry and artillery are not noted for their staying power or speed. The best way to win with this general is to use stealth, cunning, and tactical thinking, and taking advantage of his superior Black Lotus commando.
- Dr. Thrax - a GLA general specializing in toxins. He does not have access to any of the camoflage except the GLA's 'hero unit'. His toxins are very powerful against enemy tanks and infantry.
- Prince Kassad - a GLA general specializing in stealth. All of his buildings can be covered in 'camo netting'- making them invisible to most enemy forces except special stealth-detecting units.
- General Rodall "Demo" Juhziz - a GLA general specializing in explosives. Most of his toxin weapons are replaced with bigger bombs. His other vehicles are slightly more expensive, but his strongest suit is his ambush tactics. He can produce terrorists on motorcycles very cheaply, which are very powerful and fast, and can destroy a nuke cannon before it can deploy. The best way to use General Juhziz, as with any GLA general, is to attack effectively, intelligently, and as early as possible.
- Boss General Tigress Leang - a Chinese Dragon class AAAA General that uses the best technologies of the generals to defeat her enemies. She uses the Particle Cannon, Scud Storm and Nuclear Missile. On the end of some general campains you can fight with her. There are mods on sites that will give you the ability to play her in skirmish.
Template:Spoiler In the story proper, the GLA has been defeated, while the Americans and Chinese attempt to search for and destroy the remnants of the GLA. The Americans hunt down, and successfully capture Dr. Thrax, apparently fragmenting the GLA. Subsequently, the GLA regroup, and manage to successfully infiltrate the United States and steal some of their weapons of mass destruction, as well as steal Chinese resources to force the Americans to defend their own borders. As the USA retreats back to isolationism the Chinese recover and eliminate the GLA for good, rooting out GLA influence in Europe, making themselves the world's only remaining superpower.