Command & Conquer: Generals (Deluxe Edition) for Windows

Command and Conquer Generals, Deluxe Edition is based on the familiar and wildly popular Real Time Strategy concept that is found in almost every C&C game (C&C Renegade is the only exception as it is a First Person Shooter). Generals departs from the two classic story lines of the C&C games in that it is not based upon the Tiberium series or an alternative history following World War II. To briefly describe the game, there are three factions that can be played as campaigns, single player skirmish, or multiplayer skirmish. The three factions are very different, but all have strengths and weaknesses to balance them. The USA uses high technology and surgical precision to accomplish the mission. China is based on the ability to quickly deliver a mass of units and brute force to the enemy. The Global Liberation Army (Terrorists) uses stealth, guerilla warfare, and toxic weapons to win the day.
The expansion, Zero Hour, is included with Generals and does more to improve the game than most expansion. Where a typical expansion to a Real Time Strategy will add a few new campaign and units, Zero Hour offers a dynamically different game. The new missions and units are added to each of the three factions, but the addition of the General's Challenge game mode and the ability to choose a specific General in both single and multiplayer skirmishes reinvigorates an already great game with even more playability. Each faction has three Generals that specialize in an aspect of warfare. Learning the strengths and weaknesses of each General is key staying on top. The Generals are as follows;

USA:
Air Force General. Obviously he excels at airborne operations and combat. His weakness is a very underpowered ground attack element.

Laser General. He uses laser technology in everything from base defenses to his tanks. The downside is a huge draw of power necessitating massive amounts of power stations to stay in business.

Superweapon General. She uses the "Turtle" approach. Using highly powerful base defenses to keep enemies at bay while she builds very powerful weapons to destroy her opponents over time. Her weakness is that it takes a considerable amount of time to defend and build the appropriate building and units and is susceptible to early rushes, especially by massed infantry.

China:
Infantry General. He excels at delivering a LOT of high powered soldiers to the battlefield very quickly. His weakness is that there are many units and base defense structures that chew through infantry very quickly.

Tank General. Similar to the Infantry General with the obvious exception that he uses massed high powered vehicles to destroy his enemies. His weakness is the large cost associated with the vehicles that can quickly deplete available resources.

Nuke General. This General uses both tactical and strategic nuclear weapons to annihilate his opponents. His weakness is that the vehicles he uses to deliver the nukes are very expensive and lightly armored, making them easy to destroy.

Global Liberation Army:
Stealth General. This General utilizes the ability to hide his base and forces making them difficult to assault and allowing him to capitalize on weak points in an enemies defense. His weakness is a lack of heavy weaponry forcing him to use units that deliver a relatively small amount of damage.

Demolition General. This General is almost the polar opposite of the Stealth General in that he specializes in units that deliver large amounts of damage. The downside is that he has almost no stealth ability allowing others to more easily target him.

Toxin General. The Toxin General primarily uses Anthrax based weapons. These weapons are devastating to infantry and lightly armored vehicles. His weakness is that he lacks the ability to defend against heavily armored enemies and is susceptible to tank rushes.

Over all, Command and Conquer Generals, Deluxe Edition is an excellent buy that will provide a great gaming experience and large replayability for a very reasonable price. I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys the Real Time Strategy genre.