Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight

Plot

In 2062, fifteen years after the Third Tiberium War and ten years after Kane's Wrath, Tiberium spreads so rapidly that Earth is expected to become uninhabitable by 2068. Kane negotiates with GDI to build a worldwide Tiberium Control Network using the Tacitus and GDI resources, aiming to control Tiberium and turn it into a power source. Despite hostility sparking the brief Incursion War, the factions unite. Fifteen years later, as the network nears completion, extremists from both sides cause unrest, igniting the Fourth Tiberium War.

The missions follow Kane's plan to activate Threshold 19, a Scrin tower functioning as an interstellar portal, using the Tiberium Control Network. The player controls Commander Parker, who can side with James or Kane. In both campaigns, Parker enters Threshold 19 after a final battle, activates the tower at Kane's request, and is shot by James. Kane kills James and enters the portal.

News channels report that Tiberium growth receded after full network activation, and all Nod followers disappeared into the Scrin tower.

Development

Tiberian Twilight was developed at EA Los Angeles for Windows, Linux, Mac OS, and PlayStation 3. It was rumored after EA sent surveys to fans about desired features. Blindlight handled story, scriptwriting, and some casting. EA UK's PR team first announced the game via Twitter on July 8, 2009, with an official announcement and GameSpot Q&A the next day. EA held a contest for fans to propose a subtitle, with the winner revealed at CommandCom on August 21. Originally intended as an online game for the Asian pro-gaming market, it was later forced to become the Tiberian series conclusion to boost sales. It was the first series game to implement DRM requiring constant Internet access. Tiberian Twilight and Renegade are the only Command & Conquer games without an expansion pack. A prequel mission, Night Moves, was available for pre-order and later as a free bonus.

Reception

Tiberian Twilight received mixed reviews, with lower scores than any predecessor or the wider franchise. Negative reviews targeted the single-player campaign, live action video sequences, aggressive DRM, progression system, and multiplayer mechanisms. Prolonged multiplayer connectivity issues led to lost rewards and progression. Tom Chick of 1UP.com criticized the requirement to complete hours of single-player gameplay to unlock advanced units for multiplayer.

Adam Biessener of Game Informer called the single-player experience fundamentally flawed, suggesting it be played only with a friend. GameSpot and Eurogamer shared similar concerns. Mike Anderiesz of the Guardian described the single-player aspect as feeling like a rushed, poorly play-tested version of Warhammer's Dawn of War series. IGN gave a 7.4/10 rating, noting that EA rewrote the entire gameplay formula instead of improving it.

GamePro awarded four stars out of five, praising the mobile bases concept and stable online multiplayer, but criticizing the constant Internet requirement and leveling mechanic causing unbalanced matches. GamesRadar gave seven out of ten, calling the single-player experience a bust and noting a graphical step back.