Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Retaliation

Command & Conquer: Red Alert – Retaliation is a 1998 real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios specifically for the PlayStation. Rather than releasing the two PC expansion packs (Counterstrike and The Aftermath) separately for console players, Westwood combined almost all of their content into this massive, all-in-one double-disc release.

However, Retaliation is deeply beloved by hardcore Command & Conquer fans because it wasn’t just a lazy console port. Westwood actually went back into the studio and shot entirely brand-new, exclusive content for this PlayStation release that would fundamentally alter the lore of the franchise going forward.

Exclusive FMV Cutscenes

The biggest criticism of the PC expansions was that they completely lacked the franchise’s signature live-action Full-Motion Video (FMV) cutscenes. The missions were just isolated scenarios presented with text briefings.

To make Retaliation feel like a true, cohesive sequel for console players, Westwood filmed brand-new FMVs specifically to tie the disjointed expansion missions together into two actual storylines:

• The Allied Campaign: This campaign introduced the world to General Ben Carville, perfectly cast and played by veteran actor Barry Corbin. Carville’s charismatic, no-nonsense Texan attitude was such a massive hit with fans that Westwood promoted him to be the primary Allied commander in the legendary PC sequel, Red Alert 2.
• The Soviet Campaign: The Soviet side was commanded by the ruthless General Topalov, who guided players through the experimental weapons testing and brutal crackdowns that made up the Soviet expansion missions.

Gameplay and Console Adaptations

Translating the high-speed, high-APM gameplay of a PC strategy game to the limited buttons of a 1998 PlayStation controller was a massive hurdle, but Westwood adapted the engine beautifully.

Key gameplay mechanics and console-specific features include:

• Controller UI: The iconic PC sidebar was heavily modified. Players could quickly cycle through building and unit production queues using the shoulder buttons, and create unit control groups using button combinations.
• PlayStation Mouse Support: For players who absolutely refused to play an RTS with a D-pad, Retaliation fully supported the official PlayStation Mouse peripheral, effectively turning the console into a 90s PC.
• The Aftermath Arsenal: All the wildly experimental, game-changing units from The Aftermath PC expansion were fully integrated here. PlayStation players could deploy teleporting Chrono Tanks, nuclear Demolition Trucks, seismic M.A.D. Tanks, and portable Shock Troopers.
• Link Cable Multiplayer: The game included a robust Skirmish mode against the AI, but it also supported the PlayStation Link Cable. If you had two consoles, two TVs, and two copies of the game, you could play head-to-head multiplayer without the agonizing screen-peeking of split-screen.

The Secret “Ant” Campaign Returns

Just like the Counterstrike PC expansion, Retaliation retained the legendary, highly secretive B-movie horror campaign: “It Came from Red Alert!” By entering a specific button cheat code on the main menu, players could unlock a hidden mini-campaign where the Allies and Soviets had to put their war on hold to fight off a massive invasion of radioactive, fire-breathing Giant Ants.

Development and Legacy

Released in August 1998, Retaliation was highly praised as one of the finest strategy experiences available on home consoles at the time. It successfully crammed the sheer volume of content from two massive PC expansions onto the PlayStation without sacrificing the mechanical depth of the game.

Today, while the PC expansions are beautifully preserved in the 2020 Remastered Collection, Retaliation remains a fascinating historical oddity. The exclusive FMV cutscenes featuring General Carville were actually upscaled and included as unlockable bonus content in the 2020 PC remaster, ensuring that the legacy of this 1998 console compilation lives on for modern fans.

Key Features:

• The Ultimate Compilation — Experience the brutal missions and experimental units of both the Counterstrike and The Aftermath PC expansions in one massive console release.
• Exclusive Live-Action FMVs — Watch brand-new, PlayStation-exclusive cutscenes that introduce the legendary Allied General Carville to the franchise.
• Experimental Warfare — Dominate the battlefield with wild sci-fi weaponry, including Tesla Tanks, Missile Subs, and Chrono Tanks.
• Console-Optimized RTS — Play with a heavily customized gamepad UI, or plug in a PlayStation Mouse for the authentic PC experience.
• Link Cable Head-to-Head — Connect two PlayStation consoles together for pure, uncompromised 1v1 multiplayer skirmishes.

Release Platforms:

• PlayStation 1 — August 28, 1998
• PlayStation Network (PS3 / PSP / PS Vita) — 2008 (Released as a PSOne Classic digital download, though legacy storefronts have since been largely sunset).