Tempest Rising Preview: An RTS That Takes Me Back to the ‘90s

Tempest Rising: A Nostalgic RTS Triumph

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 late into the night. This modern take on a classic RTS is a blast from the past, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers at launch and beyond. Whether battling AI in Skirmish or engaging in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and comfortable.

This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers aimed to create an RTS that evoked the classics of the 90s and 2000s, while incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. Set in an alternate 1997, where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into World War 3, Tempest Rising unfolds in a world reshaped by nuclear fallout and strange, energy-rich vines.

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My preview focused solely on multiplayer, so I'll need to wait for the full release to experience the story mode, which will include two 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) unites the US, Canada, and Western Europe. A third faction remains shrouded in mystery, unavailable in the preview or Steam RTS Fest demo.

The Tempest Dynasty immediately captivated me, not only for its ludicrous "Tempest Sphere" – a death-ball vehicle that crushes infantry – but also for its unique "Plans" system. These faction-wide bonuses, activated one at a time from the Construction Yard, offer strategic flexibility. With sufficient power generation and a 30-second cooldown, players can switch between plans to boost resource gathering, construction speed, or combat effectiveness.

The Logistics Plan accelerates building and resource harvesting, the Martial Plan enhances unit attack speed and provides explosive resistance, and the Security Plan reduces unit and building costs, improves repair, and expands radar range. I found a satisfying rhythm cycling through these plans, optimizing my economy, construction, and offensive capabilities.

This adaptability extends to base building. Unlike the GDF's reliance on Refineries, the TD utilizes Tempest Rigs – mobile harvesters that relocate after depleting a resource field. This facilitates rapid expansion, as the rigs can harvest remotely without compromising base security.

The Salvage Van, a versatile unit, can repair allies or, in Salvage Mode, destroy enemy vehicles for resource gain. This sneaky tactic allows for resource acquisition and enemy weakening.

I also enjoyed the power plants' ability to switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby building construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage. The self-limiting damage prevention ensures this powerful tactic doesn't backfire.

While I favored the Tempest Dynasty, the GDF offers a compelling alternative, focusing on allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, where units mark targets for debuffs and intel gain, is particularly effective.

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Both factions boast three tech trees, offering diverse strategic options. Beyond the tech trees, constructing specific advanced buildings unlocks powerful cooldown abilities, adding another layer of strategic depth.

The Dynasty's fewer, upgradable buildings make structure loss more impactful. The Lockdown ability, preventing enemy takeovers, provides a crucial countermeasure. The Field Infirmary, a stationary healing zone, complements the Dynasty's strong repair capabilities.

Tempest Rising offers a wealth of strategic depth, and I eagerly anticipate the full release, especially the custom lobbies for cooperative play against the challenging AI. Until then, I'll be content crushing bots with my army of death balls.