Tempest Rising: A Nostalgic RTS Masterpiece

From the moment I launched the Tempest Rising demo, I was hooked. The opening cinematic, complete with cheesy dialogue from hardened soldiers and a nervous scientist, instantly brought a smile to my face. The music, UI, and unit designs perfectly captured the spirit of my high school days spent playing Command & Conquer with friends – fueled by caffeine, snacks, and sleep deprivation. This modern take on a classic RTS is a blast from the past, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers at launch. Whether battling AI in Skirmish or facing off against human opponents in Ranked Multiplayer, Tempest Rising felt incredibly familiar and comfortable.

This nostalgic experience is no accident. The developers aimed to create an RTS game reminiscent of 90s and 2000s classics, enhanced with modern quality-of-life improvements. Set in an alternate 1997, following a devastating World War 3 sparked by the Cuban Missile Crisis, Tempest Rising introduces strange, energy-rich vines that reshape the power dynamics of the world.

Tempest Rising Screenshots

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My preview focused solely on multiplayer, leaving the story mode a mystery for now. However, I know it will include two replayable 11-mission campaigns, one for each main faction: the Tempest Dynasty (TD) and the Global Defense Forces (GDF). A third faction remains shrouded in secrecy, unavailable in the preview build or at launch.

The Tempest Dynasty immediately captivated me, particularly their ludicrous Tempest Sphere – a rolling death machine that crushes infantry. The Dynasty also utilizes "Plans," faction-wide bonuses activated through the Construction Yard. With sufficient power, switching between plans (30-second cooldown) is seamless.

The Logistics Plan accelerates building and resource harvesting, the Martial Plan enhances unit attack speed and explosive resistance, and the Security Plan reduces unit and building costs, improves repair, and expands radar range. I found a satisfying rhythm cycling through these plans for economic growth, rapid construction, and decisive offensives.

This adaptability extends to other aspects. Unlike the GDF's reliance on Refineries, the TD employs Tempest Rigs – mobile harvesters that relocate after depleting a resource field. This facilitates rapid expansion, as the rigs' distance from the base is inconsequential. Deploying them to remote locations ensures uninterrupted resource gathering.

The Salvage Van is another standout unit. It repairs vehicles or, in Salvage Mode, destroys them (regardless of ownership), reclaiming resources. Ambushing unsuspecting opponents and destroying their vehicles proved incredibly effective.

Power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, boosting nearby building construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage. However, the mode automatically deactivates at critical health, preventing accidental self-destruction.

While I favored the Tempest Dynasty, the GDF offers its own strengths, focusing on allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, where units mark targets for debuffs and Intel acquisition (used for advanced units/structures), is particularly effective with Doctrine upgrades.

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Both factions boast three tech trees, allowing for strategic specialization. Beyond the tech trees, constructing advanced buildings unlocks powerful cooldown abilities that significantly impact battles. The GDF's abilities include spy drones, remote building beacons, and temporary vehicle immobilization.

The Dynasty's Lockdown ability prevents enemy takeovers but temporarily disables the building. The Field Infirmary, a mobile healing zone, complemented the Dynasty's existing repair capabilities.

The launch version's custom lobbies will allow for cooperative gameplay against challenging AI, but until then, I'll continue my solo campaign, crushing bots with my unstoppable Tempest Spheres.