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 heavily armored soldiers and a nervous scientist, instantly brought a smile to my face. The music, UI, and unit designs perfectly captured the essence of my high school days, spent late nights playing Command & Conquer with friends. Recreating that feeling in a modern game is a triumph, and I'm eager to see what Slipgate Ironworks delivers at launch. Whether battling AI in Skirmish or facing off against players 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, where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated into World War 3, Tempest Rising presents a world ravaged by nuclear war and overrun by strange, energy-rich vines.

Tempest Rising Screenshots

8 Images

The preview build focused solely on multiplayer, leaving the story mode a mystery for now. However, it will feature two 11-mission campaigns, one for each main faction: the Tempest Dynasty (TD) and the Global Defense Forces (GDF). A third faction remains undisclosed.

The Tempest Dynasty immediately captivated me, not only for the hilariously destructive Tempest Sphere, but also for its unique "Plans" system. These faction-wide bonuses, activated at the Construction Yard, offer strategic flexibility. The Logistics Plan boosts resource gathering and construction speed, the Martial Plan enhances unit attack and defense, and the Security Plan reduces costs and improves repair and vision. Switching between these plans created a dynamic and engaging gameplay loop.

Unlike the GDF's stationary refineries, the TD utilizes mobile Tempest Rigs for resource harvesting, allowing for aggressive expansion strategies. The Salvage Van, a versatile unit, can repair allies or, in Salvage Mode, destroy enemy vehicles for resource gain. Finally, power plants can switch to Distribution Mode, accelerating construction and attack speed at the cost of taking damage—a thrilling risk-reward mechanic.

The GDF, while different, is equally compelling, focusing on allied buffs, enemy debuffs, and battlefield control. The Marking mechanic, combined with Doctrine upgrades, allows for devastating debuffs on marked enemies.

Tempest Rising3D RealmsApr 24, 2025 Wishlist

Both factions boast three tech trees and powerful cooldown abilities, adding depth and strategic variety. The Dynasty's Lockdown ability prevents enemy takeovers, and the Field Infirmary provides crucial battlefield healing.

The upcoming launch will include Custom Lobbies, allowing for cooperative gameplay against challenging AI opponents. Until then, I'll continue my solo campaign, happily crushing bots with my army of death balls.