Review of Tempest Rising: Multiplayer Mode

So, here’s the thing about Tempest Rising’s multiplayer — it’s kind of like trying to relive your favorite old-school game night, but you only find a couple of the game pieces and most of the rulebook is missing. I mean, yeah, you get that nostalgic ping because it’s got a little bit of that Command & Conquer vibe, but really, it’s just a smidgen of what you’d hope for. You’re looking at two factions, nine maps, and, well, basic match setups. Just screams “bare minimum,” doesn’t it? Who knows, maybe they’ll add more later, but right now, it’s like waiting for a pizza and getting just the crust.

And about the game balance? Ugh, it’s like trying to figure out why cats hate cucumbers. Everyone seems to love the GDF, probably because of those nifty drone swarms, but seriously, a week from now, who knows? Maybe they’ll tweak it, or some genius will come up with a way to trample that strategy into the ground.

Honestly, I leave the number-crunching and strategic wizardry to those super committed folks who know what they’re doing. They’re probably out there right now, figuring out every little thing. If you ask me, the Dynasty’s Scrap Trucks are pretty wicked; they let you put up a turret anywhere you want. Pre-building structures? Yes, please. It’s kinda like setting up a surprise party, except, you know, with potentially explosive results.

Sliding back into this game felt like wearing an old pair of jeans—comfortable and kinda familiar. Pulling off an engineer rush and snatching the enemy’s construction yard while they’re busy elsewhere? Classic move, a real throwback thrill. But, yeah, can’t ride that wave forever.

Now, there’s stuff in there for the hardcore players who love to deep dive into tech trees and strategies. Like, you can sink a bunch of credits into boosting troops and whatnot. But for a casual like me—most matches don’t even stretch past 15 minutes. Doesn’t make sense to pour resources into things that won’t see daylight in quick matches. It’s there if you wanna explore, though—definitely some depth if you’re game for the grind.

But hey, if you’re a competitive junkie, fair warning: content is a bit thin on the ground. Only 1v1 ranked battles? Really? They promise 2v2s are coming, but with what? Three maps supporting four-player matches? It’s like arriving at a music festival and finding just two bands playing. And speaking of bands, we’re still waiting for the “Veti” expansion to drop.

Maps are solid, I guess. Symmetrical, lots of tactical spots, and some neutral buildings you can use if you’re crafty. But, nothing to write home about. It’s all pretty standard, like ordering a burger and fries that taste exactly like every other burger and fries you’ve ever had. Not bad, just not mind-blowingly awesome, either.

So yeah, that’s where things stand. It’s a decent nod to the past but there’s room to grow. A part of me wants to root for it, but you know, we’ll see where the chips fall.