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| “ | You thought the war was over... You thought wrong. - Introduction |
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Command and Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour is the expansion pack for the computer game Command & Conquer: Generals, released in 2003. Zero Hour added several new abilities to each side, and a new mode of play called the Generals Challenge, where the player takes on the identity of one of nine generals (three representing each faction) and does battle against most of the other generals, eventually confronting a powerful "boss" general, General Leang. Regular factions seen in the base game are also available and are updated.
The generals system was originally supposed to appear in the base game. Development of the new units was inspired by the development team's experiments with INI editing and combining existing units and weapons to create new ones.[1]
Campaigns[]
Zero Hour also contains three new campaigns of five missions each instead of seven in the last game, one for each side, with their chronological order being USA first, GLA second, and China last. Unlike the previous campaigns, which were noted by Command and Conquer fans for not having full motion video cinematic sequences during mission briefing, the Zero Hour campaigns return to that Command and Conquer tradition, each showing a live-action video of a news reporter of the respective side giving details about the situation behind the current mission. The plot behind the Zero Hour campaigns picks up where it left off at the end of the previous campaigns.
USA[]
At the beginning of the USA campaign, the Global Liberation Army (GLA) launches a biological weapon using a refitted Soyuz launch station from the captured Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at a USA military base located in Northern Europe. The United States Army retaliates quickly, destroying the launch platform, before the GLA can fire another missile. As the campaign continues throughout Somalia at the harbour, Russia where a GLA research facility is held for both Black Lotus and Colonel Burton to destroy it and the famous airbone operation at the Amisbad oil fields in Iran, the United States learns that a GLA general codenamed "Dr. Thrax" (who was the man behind the research factory in Russia and oil funding in Iran) has been developing a more lethal variety of anthrax known as "Anthrax Gamma". When the USA locates his base of operations, they discover that he is planning to launch several missiles loaded with this toxin at major population centers within the USA itself. A swift strike by the USA, with the help of rogue GLA forces, succeeds in preventing this atrocity, and brings an end to "Dr. Thrax".
GLA[]
In the GLA campaign, the GLA, though disappointed by the death of Dr. Thrax and the American victory, receives a boost in morale with the successful appointment of their new supreme commander, General Mohmar "Deathstrike", who escapes American pursuit. The GLA first attempts to reunite its splintered factions under Deathstrike's command, which it succeeds in doing after eliminating Prince Kassad's forces in Egypt, who betrayed the GLA and would not assist Deathstrike's forces, and then begins a fervent mission to drive the Americans out of Europe. Despite their inferior weapons and equipment, the GLA succeeds in inflicting tremendous harm against the USA. They successfully capture an American Particle Uplink Cannon before using it to destroy the USS Ronald Reagan (cutting it in half from starboard to port, as shown in the game's cover) and infiltrating the US West Coast to steal toxins from a chemical storage facility. The GLA campaign reaches its climax when the GLA overruns the US Army's European central command base in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, partially with the use of captured Chinese weaponry and later US technology from a UN outpost. Finally, the GLA manages to drive American forces out of Europe completely.
China[]
In the Chinese campaign, the Chinese People's Liberation Army enters Europe after the United States withdrew its forces, intending to destroy the GLA once and for all. In order to prevent the GLA from making use of advanced United States weapons, China launches a nuclear missile at the military base, destroying it. The GLA retaliates by mounting a massive assault against a nuclear reactor in mainland China, but the attack is repelled. The PLA forces then advance into Germany, where the GLA invaders are concentrated. After a series of Chinese victories, the nearly defeated GLA takes control of an evacuated USA military base and uses its weaponry against the Chinese. China succeeds in recapturing this base, and finally completely drives the GLA out of Europe. Following the war, the Eurasian Unity League is established between China and the newly liberated Europe, the world looks forward to a new era of Chinese leadership while America adopts a policy of isolationism.
Characters[]
The general selection screen in the Generals' Challenge. Each general has unique units and modifications to the standard arsenal. The United States of America Generals are:
USA[]
General Townes[]
General Townes: Townes' strategy is focused on using laser weaponry. His power plants cost less and generate more energy, alongside his access to cheaper Avengers and deadly Laser defense turrets effective against a variety of targets. His Laser tanks are more powerful than Crusaders, but each unit takes power. He does not have the Paladin tank or the Tomahawk.
General Malcolm Granger[]
General Malcolm "Ace" Granger: Granger's strategy is focused on more powerful aircraft, specifically with his access to Combat Chinooks and King Raptors. The vast majority of his remaining air units are more durable, cost less and feature point-defense lasers, but he doesn't have armored units for confrontations on the ground.
General Alexis Alexander[]
General Alexis Alexander: Alexander's strategy is focused on USA's superweapon, the Particle Cannon, which costs significantly less than usual. Her deadly EMP Patriot Systems are devastating defensive emplacements and can completely deny the effectiveness of most vehicles or aircraft, though she does not have access to any armor.
China[]
General Ta Hun Kwai[]
General Ta Hun Kwai: Kwai's general strategy is focused on the use of heavily armored, technologically superior tanks and vehicles to easily overwhelm adversaries with sheer weight of fire, as the tanks all start as veterans. He lacks artillery units, with his infantry, aircraft and other vehicles all costing more.
General Tsing Shi Tao[]
General Tsing Shi Tao: Tao's army is boosted by nuclear technology. His reactors generate much more power, with much faster Overlords and Battlemasters that have some of their downsides remedied through their radioactive shells. Likewise, his Helixes drop Nuclear Bombs, and his MiGs can be upgraded to fire devastating tactical nukes, not to mention his cheaper nuclear missiles, although many of his units do cost slightly more.
General "Anvil" Shin Fai[]
General "Anvil" Shin Fai: Fai specializes in infantry units and has a significant early tactical advantage against other generals, since said units start as veterans. All infantry under his command start as veterans, with his fortified Bunker granting a significant edge through superior capacity, and Mini-Gunners capable of targeting aircraft to devastating effect. However, he is unable to build Battlemasters, Gattling Tanks and Overlord Tanks, and while his Helixes are more capacious, they cannot hold vehicles and can only be installed with a Bunker. This reliance on infantry leaves his force very vulnerable to the effects of radiation and toxins; and under less common circumstances, mass vehicle rushes, where infantry are vulnerable to being run over, yet, if his abilities and advantages are used properly and efficiently, will bring swift defeat to opposing forces. He is not faced in the General's Challenge.
GLA[]
Dr. Thrax[]
"Dr. Thrax": The GLA Toxin General's units and some structures are boosted with toxins, and he sacrifices very little for his tactical advantages when fully upgraded. Most notable of advantages, is the fact that his units are granted the more potent toxin, Anthrax Beta (a late-game upgrade) from the beginning of a match, and can be further upgraded with Anthrax Gamma. His Toxin Rebels are not so effective against infantry, but can clear garrisons and melt vehicles. His Tanks, RPG infantry and Stinger Sites are likewise stronger with Toxin-enhanced attacks. His army, however, loses out in terms of stealth and direct action at times.
Prince Kassad[]
Prince Kassad: A GLA General specializing in stealth tactics. All of his buildings can be covered in camo netting to gain stealth, and he can access the GPS Scrambler ability much earlier. His Rebels are always stealthed, as are Hijackers, which are available much earlier. His lack of tanks and SCUD Launchers do impede him, as he is often forced to rely on ambushes and diversion tactics, but is rather effective at that regard.
Rodall "Demo" Juhziz[]
General Rodall "Demo" Juhziz: A GLA general specializing in Demolition and High explosives. Most of his field units and defenses can be upgraded to self-destruct for extra carnage. His Terrorists are more powerful, as are his Advanced Demo Traps. His Combat Cycles come with a Terrorist instead of a Rebel. His SCUD Storm deals increased explosive damage. More suitable to direct action, he makes little emphasis on stealth and toxins. He does not face the player in the Generals' Challenge.
Boss General[]
"Tigress" Leiong Leang[]
General "Tigress" Leiong Leang: The final general in the Generals' Challenge. She has a massive army consisting of units & structures from all three regular factions, in addition to a Particle Cannon, Nuclear Missile, and SCUD Storm. She is not a playable general. However, she can be unlocked as a playable general in different incarnations by several modifications.
Cut[]
General Ironside[]
General Ironside is the boss general of the USA forces alongside the American Commander.
He utilizes all powers available to USA faction, such as the combination of the effective King Raptor, deadly Aurora Alpha and cheap Particle Cannon. both EMP Patriot Missile Defense and Laser Turret is available, make his base is nearly impenetrable. Besides that, he also uses a group of CIA agents which can plant demolitions, assisted by few Pathfinders which always cloaked led by Colonel Burton which can plant bombs even faster.
General Mohmar "Deathstrike"[]
General Mohmar "Deathstrike" the boss general of the GLA forces, he is never fought, but he is the focus in first mission of the GLA campaign. In that mission, Deathstrike must be escorted to a stolen C-130.
Online play[]
Same as with the base game, Zero Hour included online play through GameSpy on Windows, as well as LAN play on both Windows and Mac. Once the GameSpy servers were shut down, the remaining core player base moved to the community-run server C&C:Online. The Mac release is incompatible with this service.
Trivia[]
Names in different markets[]
- France: Command & Conquer: Generals – Heure H
- Germany: Command & Conquer: Generäle – Die Stunde Null
Videos[]
Gallery[]
Early logo
In-game logo
Install screen
Loading screen
Loading screen
References[]
- ↑ Electronic Arts Los Angeles, Command & Conquer: The First Decade. Feature: "10 Years of Command & Conquer".
External links[]
Community websites[]
- Zero Hour section on CNCNZ.com
- Zero Hour section on GameReplays.org
- C&C:Online, community multiplayer server
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