The recently released Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars demo continues the ongoing conflict between GDI and Nod forces. Comprised of a short tutorial to get reacquainted with the C&C universe and a small skirmish map, the demo may be short, but it reveals a great deal about what will come from the final game.

Players get updates about the grim condition of the planet. Tiberium, a extraterrestrial crystalline resource, has taken over much of the world, rendering some parts completely uninhabitable. The large majority of the population lives in yellow zones, areas contaminated by the substance, yet still livable. Meanwhile, a privileged minority take up residence in GDI protected blue sectors, areas untouched by Tiberium. The terrorist organization, Nod, takes advantage of civil unrest and recruits soldiers. As a show of force, Nod launches a first-strike attack against GDI's orbital space station, the Philadelphia, sowing panic and marking the start of the third Tiberium War.

Getting into Command & Conquer feels like riding a bicycle after a long hiatus. While gamers will know intuitively what to do, it will take some time to get back into the flow of things. This third installment brings back much of what makes the original C&C great, including the sidebar interface and full motion video. In fact, the video may be one of biggest stand-out features, with its exceptional quality and high profile actors.

Much effort went into preserving the classic C&C feel, but the game features plenty of upgrades. Familiar units like the Orca attack aircraft come equipped with a few new tricks. The interface includes aspects taken from both the classic C&C games and Generals. A side bar shows all building options, so players hold a completed building in queue and drop it onto the map at any time. Therefore, some structures like defense towers or barracks may be strategically withheld until the right time. The sidebar holds three different categories (buildings, infantry, vehicles and aircraft), which get further broken down into separate tabs, each representing a factory. The main construction yard builds a crane, which acts as a mini con yard, so players quickly set up multiple production queues and get their bases built with minimal down time. They must place buildings within close proximity to other buildings, but unlike previous games, players don't employ strange tactics or build mobile construction yards for this purpose. Unarmed vehicles may be sent out to set up outposts, increasing a player's build area. Buttons line the left side of the screen, showing what special weapons players have at their disposal, ranging from troop drop pods to superweapons like the ion cannon. The ion cannon and nuclear missiles have been strengthened from previous games, so although they have long 7-minute charge times, having one fire will almost completely decimate a base.

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