Red Alert 2 really shines when it comes to multiplayer support. In addition to support for 8 player competition over a LAN, it provides excellent internet play.

The internet games are hosted by Westwood's own network. Access to the network is integrated seamlessly into the game, and registration and gameplay with Westwood is free.

Once logged into the network, you have your choice of several game options. The first is Quick Match which automatically finds an opponent of roughly equal rank (Westwood automatically ranks players as they compete online) and launches you into a game with all map, side, etc. parameters randomly preset for you. Custom Match allows you to create a game with the parameters you define and gives you the option of inviting specific players to join.

Finally, there is a World Domination Tour option (WDT). This is an ongoing battle where Soviet and Allied players battle for control of a large area comprised of game map 'territories'. At the end of each day, results of battles in each territory are added up and the contested territories are awarded to the winning faction. Play continues until a faction takes control of an area map, at which point play moves on to a new one and the battle begins anew.

In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 92%. OK, so it's not a quantum leap forward in gaming, but so what?  It's a heck of a lot of fun from the company that defined RTS.

System Requirements:  266 MHz Pentium II CPU, 64 MB RAM, 2 MB Video RAM, 4x CD-ROM, 350 MB Hard Drive Space, Mouse.

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