Overview
Einstein kills Hitler. Everything changes. Red Alert’s premise—time travel erasing Nazi Germany but creating Soviet aggression—let Westwood embrace absurdity that the Tiberium timeline couldn’t. Tesla tanks, attack dogs, Tanya’s one-liners, and Frank Klepacki’s Hell March defined a more playful approach to real-time strategy. The spin-off became as beloved as the original.
Fast facts
- Developer: Westwood Studios.
- Year: 1996.
- Setting: Alternate WWII.
- Soundtrack: Frank Klepacki.
Alternate history
| Event | Consequence |
|---|
| Einstein’s chrono-shift | Hitler erased |
| Power vacuum | Soviet expansion |
| Allied response | European war |
| Technology | Anachronistic weapons |
Faction design
| Side | Characteristics |
|---|
| Allies | Speed, naval power, air superiority |
| Soviets | Heavy armour, Tesla technology |
Iconic units
| Unit | Faction | Notable for |
|---|
| Tanya | Allied | Commando hero |
| Tesla Coil | Soviet | Base defence |
| Mammoth Tank | Soviet | Heavy armour |
| Cruiser | Allied | Naval bombardment |
Hell March legacy
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|
| Composition | Industrial metal |
| Recognition | Instant identification |
| Series identity | Recurring theme |
| Cultural status | Gaming soundtrack icon |
Series continuation
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Red Alert 2 | 2000 |
| Yuri’s Revenge | 2001 |
| Red Alert 3 | 2008 |
See also