Command and Conquer - it does exactly what it says on the tin. You Command, then you Conquer. A simple formula that once revolutionised the world. The last release in the series, Generals, finally took what was a stagnating series into the modern world and was one of the most enjoyable examples of the genre in recent times. Well soon that game is going to get its first expansion pack, and boy do the boys at developers LA have something special lined up for us in Zero Hour.

For your money you will get what could very easily have been a sequel. In fact there's more new stuff in here then there was in many a sequel I've had the pleasure of being disappointed with. For a start there are the obligatory extra maps, and a new single player campaign to get your teeth into. 25 and 15 levels respectively to steam your way through. There's also some updating to the Skirmish AI (of course) and a whole slew of new and enhanced graphical effects to marvel at. The original is probably one of the finest looking games out there still to this day, so how do you think it will look with weather effects, some snow or a little rain perhaps, not to mention a number of other visual enhancements? But it is the massive number of new units and upgrades available that will really blow the shoes off of even the most well booted of imperialist exploiters. 30 new units and structures will combine with 20 new upgrades and General's abilities to effectively turn the original into a whole new kettle of combat.

The GLA's arsenal will be improved by vehicles like the Battlebus, an armoured troop transporter that becomes a stationary bunker when the wheels have been shot off. The Combat Cycle can leap over cliffs and into an undefended rear area, carrying any one of the infantry types, making it effectively four new units in one. However, even though you will have the pleasure of swooping on the enemy with a squad of suicide bikers, there aren't plans to allow the mob to join in the fun, (a shame, you could stack them up like those pyramids of RAF guys that used to pop on Blue Peter every once in a while). Almost all of their units will now be able to salvage parts from the battlefield - tooled up Scud Launchers anyone? There's going be a super tunnel network which can burst up anywhere on the map that you have under your line of site, and those toiling workers will get little red shoes to slip on, improving their efficiency but robbing us of the pleasure of one of the funniest and most non-PC unit sounds ever.

The Chinese armoury will be boosted with an upgrade turning the Overlord into an Emperor Tank, a sturdier troop transporter that heals nearby foot soldiers and an ECM Tank that disables enemy units. How about an air-strike that rains down multiple nuclear warheads? I know I'm looking forward to protecting my hackers in the new Internet Centre, a place where they can make more money and have a cup of Mocha at the same time. Give it some upgrades and the Chinese finally have some spying abilities. Then there's the Helix 2, a chopper that can honestly lay claim to being a mammoth in the sky. Not only will enclosed infantry be able to shoot out of it, this aerial fortress can be upgraded just like the Overlord. Heck it can even carry one of these favourites in its belly. There's an improved bunker that can hold 10 men and withstand a hefty amount of damage and a GPS Scrambler that will disrupt incoming missiles. Their structures can now be fortified with the new EMP mines, too.