Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour

Command and Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour is an expansion pack of the existing Command and Conquer: Generals series released by EA Games in 2003. This C&C Generals series is a real time strategy (RTS) game where you build your own army and base to defeat the opponents and win the war. The game has campaign mode, multiplayer, and skirmish mode. In campaign mode, player has to defeat the opponent/reach the designated goal with only some facilities available. The multiplayer mode can be played through LAN or online. Skirmish mode is where the player can play against AI (Single player mode). A player is considered defeated when he/she does not have any buildings left.

The player can choose their faction they want to play as. In C&C Generals, there are 3 factions the player can choose to play as: US, China, or Global Liberation Army (GLA). USA is equipped with stronger and more variety of air force. China is equipped with stronger and more advanced tanks. These 2 factions require electricity for some infrastructure to works. Buildings of GLA are electricity free, their troops, buildings, and constructor are cheaper but weaker compared to US and China. GLA will gain money by destroying enemy troops. In C&C Generals: Zero Hours, each faction is further specialized. 

• ·         US Laser General equips lasers to his troops and defence infrastructures, making it more effective against any kind of troops. Aircrafts equipped with lasers are able to burn incoming air defence missiles. US Laser General is electricity intensive (troops with lasers consume electricity too).
• ·         US Superpower General equips EMP to her defence structures, disabling enemy tanks. It is even more vulnerable to infantry attacks than USA General. Cost of building weapon of mass destruction is reduced. She has the ability to build more advanced Cold Fusion Reactor, producing more electricity per reactor. Tanks and infantry types are very limited.
• ·         US Aircraft General has more variety of stronger aircrafts in exchange of limited land units.
• ·         China Nuke General is able to build advanced nuclear reactor, increasing electricity produced per reactor. Weapon of mass destruction costs less. Tanks are equipped with depleted uranium shells, causing nuclear radiation in each shot. More expensive aircraft.
• ·         China Infantry General has stronger infantry units. Land infantries has the ability to shoot at aircrafts. More expensive aircraft.
• ·         China Tank General has strong and tougher tanks in exchange of weak infantry units and expensive air force.
• ·         GLA Stealth General specialize in ambush and hit and run tactics. All structure and troops are invisible to enemy’s radar but are visible by defence structures or while attacking.
• ·         GLA Demolition General specialize in bombs and explosions. Troops and infrastructure will explode when they died/destroyed (suicide bombing), causing more casualties.
• ·         GLA Toxin General specialize in deadly toxins to decimate infantries in a matter of seconds. Toxins are not very effective against tanks and light vehicles. 

In skirmish mode and multiplayer mode, the player is given a command center and a constructor at the start of the game. The constructor is the only unit which can build and repair infrastructure for the base. It comes in different forms depending on which faction the player chose to play as. It can only be produced in command center, except GLA which can produce constructor in Supply Stash. These 2 are vital in the game. The constructor is then used to build required infrastructure to produce troops. Tanks and war vehicles are produced in war factory (GLA calls this Arms Dealer Building). Infantries are produced in Barracks. Aircrafts and military helicopters are made in Air Field (GLA does not have aircrafts).  Money is required to produce troops. The money can be gained by building Supply Center/Supply Stash. This building is essential at the beginning of the game. Over the time, supplies will deplete and the player has to build the infrastructure to gain money. The constructor can build defence infrastructure to give the player an edge in defending the base. There are 2 types of defence infrastructure: one is effective against tanks and the other effective against infantry. Good combinations of these 2 infrastructures are essential to fend off enemy attackers. Some buildings the player built will consume electricity (except GLA). Electricity limit can be raised by building generators (Cold Fusion Reactor in USA or Nuclear Reactor in China). If the electricity consumed exceeds the electricity limit, buildings which require electricity will not function. 

Image taken from http://img.gamespot.com/gamespot/images/2003/pc/generalsx/0707/g_screen001.jpg

After establishing basic infrastructures, player can build advanced infrastructures by building Propaganda Center in China or Strategy Center in US or Palace in GLA. These buildings will unlock more upgrades for the troops and advanced, stronger troops. After building this building, the player unlocks the weapon of mass destruction of their faction. US will unlock Particle Cannon which can be fired and controlled from long range. China will unlock Nuclear Missile Silo to launch nuclear missile at designated area and contaminate the area with nuclear radiation for some time. GLA will unlock SCUD Launcher which launches multiple missiles containing poison to the designated area. The poison will contaminate the area with poisonous cloud. The poison can be upgraded to Anthrax which is stronger. The poison/Anthrax and nuclear radiation will kill infantries quickly and gives slight damage to tanks. Another advanced infrastructure is buildings which provide another way to gain money aside from supply centers. 

Image taken from http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/401534-command-conquer-generals-zero-hour-windows-screenshot-there.jpg

 The player receives EXP for each enemy unit and buildings destroyed. When EXP has reached a certain level, the player will be promoted and are given upgrade points. The points can be used to add new abilities depending on the faction the player play as. The player may be able to steal money from enemy’s stash, or send reinforcements via paradrops, or send air assaults, or drop carpet bombs on enemy territory, etc. it can also unlock exclusive units such as Stealth Fighters. 

Sources:

CNC wikia - Command & Conquer: Generals Zero Hour 

Wikipedia Command & Conquer: Generals

monx007 Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour 

Personal Experience