Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars has already created a stir on the PC market, including positive marks from GameDaily). However, Xbox 360 owners needn't worry about being left in the dark. Electronic Arts, working in conjunction with its EA LA development studio (the same team behind the successful Xbox 360 version of The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth II), will release the game for Microsoft's system on May 8. Judging from some hands-on time with a recent demo, it should please most gamers.

This game's storyline sets it apart from other real time strategy (RTS) games due to its intricacy. The Global Defensive Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod (NOD) have been at each other's throats throughout the series. However, a mysterious alien race known as the Scrin inserts itself into the conflict. Players learn about each party's motives and execute their actions throughout the game, deciding the fate of the planet -- and possibly the universe -- with each new move.

Being an RTS game, Tiberium Wars requires players to use thinking in order to keep their army afloat. For those new to the series (or a little rusty on their commanding and conquering), a Boot Camp option can be chosen. Here, players learn the basics of combat through five stages, as well as how to use the instinctive control system. PC owners might scoff at the idea of cramming an involved game play system into an Xbox 360 controller, but EA LA has done it -- just as it did with The Lord of the Rings. Pulling up command and sub-menus works extremely well in the demo. Players can manage their base's needs and strength while keeping an eye on the current stage. The odds can be a little overwhelming at times (especially during an all-out siege), but practice makes perfect in a game such as this. For those who lack in-game combat experience, no worries. Combat against the computer can be adjusted, with various artificial intelligence styles to learn the deeper strategies of game play.

Like previous Command & Conquer games, Tiberium Wars tells its story with old-fashioned full-motion video clips of live actors, instead of taking the computer generated route. However, this ends up being quite a pay-off, as many recognizable actors fill the on-screen roles, such as Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Jennifer Morrison (House), and Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars). The acting appears a little wooden at times, but it never feels cheesy.