After far too long away (seven years, to be precise) the Red Alert series has made its triumphant return with Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3. It proves, if nothing else, why time travel shouldn't be allowed... With the Soviet Union on the brink of defeat, three Russians (played by Peter Stormare, Andrew Divoff, and Tim Curry in the live action cutscenes) have gone back in time to sort it out. Namely, they've taken out old Albert Einstein – a nod to the first Red Alert game in which Einstein went back to see off Hitler. If you're new to the series and hadn't guessed already, the series keeps its tongue firmly in cheek. Case in point, the Russians in question have returned to their time to discover a world of armoured bears, floating island fortresses, Tesla Coils, teleportation and transforming tanks. Basically – every kooky fringe science project of the 20th century has borne fruit. All this new science has resulted in a new political situation with the Soviets, Allies and the Empire of the Rising Sun (Japan, if that wasn't apparent) duking it out in World War III. So it is that you step into this real-time-combat situation to take control of your units. The biggest gameplay addition is the inclusion of co-operative campaigning to go alongside competitive multi-player. Players can make their way through the single-player game with a buddy if they choose – or with an AI-controlled companion if they want a more compliant ally. The game also includes an increased naval presence, widening the variety of combat on offer. The future's bright, the future's... really weird.