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 spirit of my high school days spent playing Command & Conquer with friends – fueled by Mountain Dew, Pringles, and a healthy dose of sleep deprivation. Slipgate Ironworks has masterfully recreated that feeling in a modern context, and I'm eager to see what they have in store for the full release. Whether battling bots in Skirmish or facing off against human opponents in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and comfortable.

This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers explicitly aimed to create an RTS game that evoked the classics of the 90s and 2000s, while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. Set in an alternate 1997, Tempest Rising depicts a world ravaged by World War 3, ignited by a disastrous escalation of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The aftermath has spawned strange, energy-rich vines, ushering in a new era of power for those brave enough to harvest them.

Tempest Rising Screenshots

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The demo focused solely on multiplayer, so I'll need to wait for the full release to experience the story mode, which promises two replayable 11-mission campaigns, one for each main faction. The Tempest Dynasty (TD) is an alliance of Eastern European and Asian nations devastated by WW3, while the Global Defense Forces (GDF) represents a coalition of the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. A third, currently unannounced faction remains a mystery.

I gravitated towards the Tempest Dynasty, partly due to their amusing "Tempest Sphere," a rolling death machine that pulverizes enemy infantry. The Dynasty also utilizes "Plans," faction-wide bonuses activated through their Construction Yard. Switching between these Plans (Logistics for resource gathering and construction, Martial for combat enhancements, and Security for unit and building cost reduction) provided a dynamic and engaging gameplay loop.

The Dynasty's mobile Tempest Rigs, which harvest resources independently, facilitated a highly effective "fast expand" strategy. Deploying these rigs to distant locations allowed for uninterrupted resource gathering, providing a constant stream of income without risking detection.

The Salvage Van, capable of both repairing and destroying vehicles, added another layer of strategic depth. Ambushing opponents and using the Salvage Van to destroy their units proved incredibly effective.

Dynasty power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage – a risk worth taking for a significant advantage.

While I favored the Tempest Dynasty, the GDF offers its own compelling strengths, focusing on buffing allies, weakening enemies, and controlling the battlefield through the Marking mechanic. Marked enemies provide Intel upon defeat, and Doctrine upgrades amplify this, inflicting various debuffs.

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Both factions feature three tech trees and powerful cooldown abilities, adding strategic depth and unique playstyles. The Dynasty's Lockdown ability prevents enemy takeovers, and the Field Infirmary provides crucial battlefield healing.

The prospect of custom lobbies with friends and the challenging AI opponents makes me even more excited for the full release. Until then, I'll be content crushing bots with my army of Tempest Spheres.