Red Alert 2
From Westwood Studios/EA Games

View the ad: Page 1 and Page 2

Although it’s only a few months from release, Westwood Studios has just now started to roll out the advertising campaign for its big holiday release – a far cry from the nearly two-year long PR campaign for Tiberian Sun.  The good news is that Red Alert 2 is expected to meet its fall release and from the looks of the ad's screenshots, there’s a lot of action to be had on the battlefields of Red Alert 2.

That being said, while the ad’s image of the Soviets attacking New York and the Statue of Liberty is memorable, the rest of what’s displayed here doesn’t quite piece together much about the game's storyline.  For players of the original Red Alert, the question quickly becomes, 'Just how does this relate to the original?’   While it's clear from the ad that the Soviets are back, players are left wondering about the other sides and overarching story.

Overall, while the ad does a competent job at introducing the sequel, it lacks the panache of some of Westwood’s work for the original Red Alert (remember “Well Done…Soldier?”).  Let’s hope future promotion for the game gives us more of an insight into the story, while at the same time maintaining that kinetic feel of action and adventure that always pervades Westwood’s C&C publicity campaigns.

Grade: B