GameSpot's Kane's Wrath GDI Unit Preview

[Sonic 296]

GameSpot has posted their detailed look that previews all the new units for the GDI and it's sub factions, the Steel Talons and the ZOCOM in Kane's Wrath. Not only do you get the descriptions but you can also check out some cool gameplay movies as well. Two samples below.

 

GDI Steel Talons Combat Engineer

The combat engineer is the result of a changed GDI policy that formerly trained its engineers to focus entirely on the unit's traditional (and powerful) sabotage skills. Now, a new breed of engineer joins the GDI's Steel Talons faction--a combat engineer armed with a pistol that may not be a tremendously powerful firearm, but will be useful against enemy Engineers, Saboteurs, and Assimilators.

 

GDI Steel Talons Heavy Harvester

The Steel Talons subfaction believes strongly that all units should be flexible, hence the heavy harvester: a tiberium collector whose turret gun has been replaced with an infantry pod. This lets players garrison their heavy harvesters with specialized infantry squads, much like the hammerhead and behemoth units, which may help especially aggressive players branch out into new tiberium patches and defend them fiercely. It may even encourage some enterprising players to try an early-game "rush" attack with harvesters and infantry... But really, how many people are crazy enough to try something like that?

Click here to read more.

[JahSpoR 0]

watched the Titan video inside, and holy s*** that Titan is fast!!

And we are getting arctic battlefields!!

 

C&C seems to be cooler than ever

[Luk3us 63]

Yep all very well and nice, but gamespot really sucks, after the third video, and seeing the same advert for the third time. I mean the adverts go longer than the videos!

 

Anyway, I think its kinda lame bulking up the harvesters, as GDI harvesters were already difficult to kill off early, now they're be near impossible. So much for the Nod bike rush... Eh, I hate that anyway. And I notice the Titan will be SLOWER than the predator? hahah, poor GDI, so slow, so funny.

[JahSpoR 0]

So strong so fierce my friend.. :wink:

[Luk3us 63]

Counts for not, if you can't catch anything.

[JahSpoR 0]

Heard of Hammerhead gunships in that case? :wink:

 

Never heard of running bases :?

[Overcow 0]

Damn they are awsome! Can't wait!

[Gben 20]

watched the Titan video inside, and holy s*** that Titan is fast!!

And we are getting arctic battlefields!!

 

C&C seems to be cooler than ever

 

Yeah I'm wondering if somehow the titan and wolverine speeds are reversed or should be...

 

(But how hard would it have been to include this information in BCPT. Obviously a marketing ploy for the 'magazine' sites like gamespot...)

 

I think arming harvesters as they are is the wrong direction for C&C. They should be encouraging economy harrassment not discouraging it.

 

I'm not quite sure I understand the methodology of a combat engineer!?! Apparently there's a huge renegade lobby that wanted the game to reflect their beloved unit!

 

I think it was a mistake the way they handled the discontinued gdi mechs in TW. But I think they way they have brought them back is a greater mistake. Purely from the fiction point of view. They really keep shooting themselves in the foot with this haphazzard attitude to the C&C cannon.

 

You've got to know when to hold them and when to fold them! And this is largely a case where I wish EALA had stuck to their guns.

 

[The fiction error could have been more smoothly updated by discovering/reactivating a remote GDI base, and through lack of funds, or time the GDI commander decides to retro-fit the archaic Titans and Wolverines. So that the Steel Talons are not the latest experimental technology, but the tried and true classic hot rods their daddy's used to drive.]

 

If I wasn't a GDI fan I could laugh at the 'hover' vehicle in TW. Wasn't the whole appeal of the GDI hover MRLS was that it could go over water??? Instead I smack my head on the table a few times in despair.

 

This comes across as negative I know, but I'm not. I'm just anally-retentive about the fiction - and wishing that EALA were too!

 

So Sonic & Saracen - are you happy with the return of the Titan & Wolverine?

[hagren 0]

I dont see whats wrong with how they handled the mechs. They never stated they disappeared right after FS, and didnt say theyre wont be any ever either.

 

Also, imho, they provided good info on how it happened: GDIs main faction decided that mechs are not cost-efficient and thought the threat of Nod is over, alongside to the threat of Tiberium becoming more dangerous, while this one General Mitchell saw the matter otherwise, and was granted the funds to keep them in his army, the Steel Talons. Since later on the money was even more vigorously needed for Tiberium control, even in this "sub-faction" they chose to leave it.

 

So wheres the problem?

 

Arming harvesters is a logical step, imho, if you think about it, its one of the most important vehicles, i for my part always wondered why they didnt.

 

Yeah, the combat engineer is a nudge to the technician

 

See, here they thought aboput balance and decided not to let the hover vehicles pass water. It is kind of stupid, but they still have their advantages.

[Luk3us 63]

I dislike arming harvesters, it just makes it more difficult to kill them early game.

 

But it looks funky, and I assume, THEY WILL COST MORE, since they are so heavily armed..

[Overcow 0]

But it looks funky, and I assume, THEY WILL COST MORE, since they are so heavily armed..

 

So? U get one 4 free when u build a ref... .-.

[JahSpoR 0]

Titan is back! wtf don't be angry!! :strain:

[Luk3us 63]

But it looks funky, and I assume, THEY WILL COST MORE, since they are so heavily armed..

 

So? U get one 4 free when u build a ref... .-.

 

As such, I will assume the ref will cost more also, to compensate.

[Overcow 0]

NOOOOOOOOO! I WANT MY REF SPAM BACK! :x

[Gben 20]

-------------------------------------------

Discontinuation of the Mammoth Mk II Walker

-------------------------------------------

 

Mission: Alexandria

 

Added: When the rail guns upgrade is finished

 

Transcript:

 

Excerpt from INN Holobrief, March 12th, 2039

 

It was a sad day for many today as the last Mammoth Mark II walker to enter

active combat duty clanked its way out of GDI's San Pedro war factory and into

history. With its twin rail guns, battlefield dominance, and unusual boxy

profile, the Mk. II became an iconic symbol of freedom during the second

Tiberium War. Its discontinuation has been greeted by many with anger, notably

Captain Nick "Havoc" Parker, retired war hero, popular conservative pundit, and

noted proponent of the "Kane lives" theory.

 

"The Mark II was and continues to be one of our most powerful tools in the war

against Nod fanaticism. This discontinuation is nothing but another disgusting

example of GDI bureaucratic penny pinching and namby pamby 'can't we all just

get along' liberalism...once again, GDI is playing right into Kane's hands"

 

With protests held at containment areas several miles away, the mood at the

factory was more resigned than angry. Production of the controversial new

four-tread all-terrain Mark III is scheduled to take place in far off

Reykjavik, with many in San Pedro fearing for their jobs and the future of

their community...

 

I was looking for the intel entry for the end of the gdi mechs. but could only find the mmk2 entry. The dissapearence of Mechs was an artistic one, and was explained away in the background fiction and pre-game interviews (I think) as an unreliable technology and expensive technology. The reappearance of Mechs is a fan-driven one pure and simple. I just wish they had a better 'cover story' to reintroduce them.

 

I don't like the mechs, but seriously I don't mind that they are coming back.

 

--------

Fanatics

--------

 

Mission: Goddard Space Center

 

Added: Shortly after the mission starts

 

Transcript:

 

Excerpt from writings of Confessor Marcion

 

"Behold the noblest of our brothers! They shall sugger not the dread of this

meager existence, nor shall they tolerate the tyranny of GDI. Through their

sacrifice they bring liberation to each and every one of us who struggles on

in their glorious wake. They will cleanse the land of oppression with the

flames of their very souls, as they deliver Kane's word in fire."

 

- Nod Confessor Marcion

 

I also found this entry - isn't this name of the character in KW?

 

Re: arming harvestors

I like the gdi machine gun, but anti-vehicle rokets or bunkers is too far. Instead they should have just buffed up the armour. Same effect but in a different fashion.

[Sonic 296]

If you recall Mike Verdu publicly apologised for the lack of closure and over sights in the Tiberium Wars story line, its lack of continuation from the events in TS/FS. It's clear the return of the Titan and Wolverine was simply from the fans asking for them. So credit to EA to listening in the first place. An expansion was probably already planned but it I'd say the story/content changed after what Mike Verdu said.

 

The return of the Titan and Wolverine is one the attempts to correct this errors.

 

As for your other point, yes Marcion is one of the characters in Kane's Wrath. Brother Marcion is his name, played by Carl Lumbly.

 

 

If he's referenced in the intel entries for TW then he was probably always part of EA's plans for Kane's Wrath.

[Gben 20]

If you recall Mike Verdu publicly apologised for the lack of closure and over sights in the Tiberium Wars story line, its lack of continuation from the events in TS/FS.

 

Well I wanted closure, not a continuation in this case.

(I think my issues are on the flip-flop-policy of mechs. Their re-introduction could have been done smarter... or even weirder...

 

ha! even the scrin opening a dimension portal for their own reinforcements that somehow goes screwy and lets mechs from an alternative universe in to KW (where mechs were never discontinued) would have been preferred.

 

I don't mind the mechs been a playable unit in skirmish/mp but I resent the SP implications.

 

As for your other point, yes Marcion is one of the characters in Kane's Wrath...

If he's referenced in the intel entries for TW then he was probably always part of EA's plans for Kane's Wrath.

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say he has always been part of the plans, but I think the purpose of the mention was in light of his role as a possible betrayer of Kane.

 

I had the feeling he would be involved in the first act (past) and is therefore unlikely to betray him because he gets a glowing mention in the database. I've been wrong before... but I just thought it was an interesting find.