When comparing Warcraft III vs Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, the Slant community recommends Warcraft III for most people. In the question“What are the best RTS games for PC?” Warcraft III is ranked 6th while Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Warcraft III is:
In multiplayer and skirmish matches, you get to choose which race you would like to control: Humans, Orcs, Elves, and the Undead. Each faction have their own advantages and down-sides, as well as wholly unique play styles. For example, the Orcs have units that are tougher and can deal more damage, while Night Elves units are completely invisible while standing still during the game's night cycle. This makes for gameplay that can change dramatically depending on which race is chosen.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Four varied races give more play styles
In multiplayer and skirmish matches, you get to choose which race you would like to control: Humans, Orcs, Elves, and the Undead. Each faction have their own advantages and down-sides, as well as wholly unique play styles. For example, the Orcs have units that are tougher and can deal more damage, while Night Elves units are completely invisible while standing still during the game's night cycle. This makes for gameplay that can change dramatically depending on which race is chosen.
Pro Story-filled campaign gives players knowledge of the game world
Warcraft III has an excellent story that's told through the eyes of four separate races. As you progress through each race's story, you are presented with background knowledge of previous events in the world of Azeroth, while taking on new and challenging missions. Due to this, you are given a breadth of information about the races of the world, as well as key characters that make appearances in later missions and other Warcraft titles.
Pro Heroes that rank up and carry inventory adds a well done RPG icing
Pro Single Player campaign serves as a learning tool
The campaign acts as a tutorial for each of the game's four races. New units become available every mission, which feature their own unique abilities and skills. By giving you access to different units over time, the game allows you to acclimate yourself with each individual unit type as the campaign progresses. This gives you an understanding of how each race plays, thus helping you develop a desirable playstyle.
Pro Multiple build orders make each Multi-Player match feel different
Warcraft III gives players the freedom to build their bases in any order they choose, to fit any strategic purpose they need. This allows players to start each match with a certain strategy in mind, build toward it, then alter it if it's no longer viable. For instance, players can build toward a rush of low-cost units at the start of the match and abruptly switch their strategy, constructing buildings that will enable them to train flying units instead. This keeps matches interesting, requiring players to adapt their build order at a moment's notice if their strategies change.
Pro Wonderful design
Pro Whimsical unit design gives the game a light-hearted and campy tone
Red Alert 2 features fun and interesting units that make this entry in the Command & Conquer series far from serious. For example, the Soviet Giant Squid can slowly destroy naval units by ensnaring them in its tentacles, and the Allied Mirage Tank can camouflage itself as trees and enemy vehicles. These units are fantastical and over-the-top, conveying a light tone to the player, which separates this experience from the dourness of other Real-Time Strategy titles.
Pro High-quality and humorous FMV gives Red Alert 2 life
The FMV in Red Alert 2 adds a breath of immersive life to the title, helping add to the ambiance and tone the game wishes to set. For example, a mission cold-opens with U.S. General Carville sitting at a desk talking about Canada, where the remnants of the U.S. Government have taken refuge, stating that there are more cattle in Canada than people, which humorously shows the exact kind of game Red Alert 2 strives to be. With other FMV like this, the title gives itself its own identity, separating itself from the previous Red Alert titles
Pro Two playable campaigns give you hours of content
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 gives you the choice to play as either the Soviet Union or the Allies for its single player campaign. In the Soviet campaign, you vie for complete and total control of Earth, while the Allies desperately rally to stave off the Russian offensive on multiple continents. With a combined total of 24 missions, the campaign manages to tell two complete stories while giving you hours of playtime.
Pro LAN-based Multi-Player lets you play with friends without needing internet
As well as having online Multi-Player, Red Alert 2 allows players to connect via LAN. This enables you to hook up multiple computers in your home to play Multi-Player skirmishes, without the need for internet. This gives you the freedom to play with your friends, in the same house, if ever the servers go down or internet access is not readily available.
Cons
Con Heavy focus on micromanagement makes Warcraft III too strenuous for casual play
The combat in Warcraft III relies heavily on the micromanagement of units in each encounter. The crux of each engagement is unit placement: Each individual unit has to be positioned properly, with their abilities activated the moment they are off cooldown. Due to this, every battle requires constant focus and the maneuvering of individual units, which can be quite difficult for casual players to maintain.
Con Macromanagement supplies casual players with a difficult learning curve
Warcraft III provides players with a difficult balancing act of maintaining armies, upgrades, and economy. Each unit takes a large amount of resources to complete, so it is imperative to keep as many of your units alive as possible with each fight. In order to do so, you must research technologies that increase their effectiveness and resilience in combat, making it imperative that you queue these upgrades once you have the money to do so. However, as your army grows in size, you will gain less resources due to an Upkeep Tax that is levied against you once you reach a certain population. This will make it harder to replace fallen units and purchase additional unit upgrades. Because of this intensive macromanagement of army, upgrades, and resources, casual players will find it difficult to master the balancing act required in order to win each match.
Con Can't run on Windows 10 without fiddling
Red Alert 2 is an older title that was released in 2000 and due to various issues it does not run natively on windows 10 without fiddling with various programs.
Con You can't fortify repair houses that the units take protection in, like you could in Command & Conquer Generals/Zero Hour
Not being able to repair outlying houses means no outposts for units, which is bad.
Con Outdated graphics may not keep your attention
Red Alert 2 is an older title that was released in 2000. As a result, its graphics are quite old and dated, which may cause people to lose interest in playing.
Con Over-the-top story and units cause lack of seriousness in campaign
Those looking for a Real-Time Strategy title that is serious in nature will have to look elsewhere. Red Alert 2 has a slightly humorous storyline and characters, serving as a satirical take on previous entries in the Command & Conquer series.