When comparing The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II vs Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2, the Slant community recommends The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II for most people. In the question“What are the best RTS games for PC?” The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II is ranked 5th while Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth II is:
Everything about the game has been improved over the original including the gameplay. With improved base building it now easier to keep the flow of the game going. There has also been 3 factions added to the game making for more choice for the player in how their game will play due to each having different skills and weaknesses.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Refined gameplay
Everything about the game has been improved over the original including the gameplay. With improved base building it now easier to keep the flow of the game going. There has also been 3 factions added to the game making for more choice for the player in how their game will play due to each having different skills and weaknesses.
Pro Six different factions to pick from
There are six different factions you can play as: Goblins, Dwarves, Elvis, Men of the West (Rohan and Gondor), Mordor, and Isengard. Each faction has their own unique units and specializations allowing for different play styles across each chosen race.
Pro Great soundtrack
With a great soundtrack as well as realistic battle sounds the game has a high polished sound that fits right in with the movies.
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 Hub building lacks the logistics of other titles
Battle for Middle Earth II features a main construction building with different hubs branching outward from it. These hubs are the sole areas where you can add on to your base and, with a limited number on your first construction building, expanding to another base is essential if you want to build all of the units available to you and keep up your economy.
Con Actually a 4X game with a touch of RTS
This game is in the 4X genre and should not appear in the top RTS games list, it incorporates good parts from RTS like base building but is not an actual RTS.
Con Micromanagement a necessary skill for success
Like many other high-skill intensive Real-Time Strategy titles, this game is far from simple. Players will suffer a unit capacity limit, meaning you will have to do more with a few units rather than rely on a horde. Unfortunately, micromanagement is not for everyone, and some may see the skill requirement as an unfortunate addition to and otherwise great RTS game.
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.