It seems crazy that a game series that’s been around since before I discovered girls and bourbon is only up to instalment four in its life cycle. Even more crazy that despite a graphical boost the game remains basically unchanged. Then again Street Fighter IV pulled this exact same trick.

Command and Conquer 4 promises more than just another instalment of point and click future warfare, this will actually be the final instalment in the games Tiberium story line focusing on the war between the heroic GDI and the dastardly Brotherhood of Nod.

So what new treats and tricks can we expect from Command and Conquer part the fourth? How about coop campaigns, persistent experience and a class based system, mobile bases and five versus five online multiplayer? All this awaits and more for the eager RTS fan.

I’ve given the C&C games a bit of a pass in recent years as my interests are predominantly taken up by console games and the console versions of C&C and Red Alert games have been a touch lacking with all the support and expansions going to the PC version. But C&C 4 sounds as if it could be a new high mark for the series. The RPG elements and the persistent player profiles which earn experience both on and offline ala Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 certainly sounds like something an unlock junkie like me can get behind.

Don’t start getting too excited yet though, Command and Conquer 4 is still a vague 2010 release.