History VideoGame / CommandAndConquerGenerals

** The Chinese also have an APC unit with 8 passenger seat (and if you count it, it only costs 200 credits if you count the soldiers it comes with). General Shin Fai's version comes with minigunners and allows the passengers to fire from it, as well as the Assault Helix helicopters.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: The GLA, for all their talk, are horrible people and arguably the most evil faction the series. But on the other hand, the "good guys" aren't ''entirely'' altruistic on their part. The Americans can come off as obnoxious, self-righteous, if not self-absorbed patriots while the Chinese don't seem to have second thoughts about torching or nuking their way to victory if they have to.

* TheEnemyOfMyEnemyIsMyFriend: The USA fighting a rogue PRC general who allied with the GLA. GLA defectors working with the USA. GLA disguised as the USA...

** Alexander, Townes, Kassad, and Leang are the closest that come off to normal people, though they're still egoistical, and Kassad is something of a narcissist.

*** Gen. Tao plays exactly like the normal Chinese faction, except with the bonus of nuclear technology pretty much boosting everything from nuclear tanks/jets to power plants. All this with no drawbacks that are typical of other generals.

* UniversalPoison: Anthrax. But from the way it's handled, it might be mixed with other liquid toxins. However, this takes silly proportions when vehicles and buildings can be poisoned to death from ScratchDamage.

* BlackAndGreyMorality: The GLA, for all their talk, aren't good people. But on the other hand, the "good guys" aren't ''entirely'' altruistic on their part. The Americans can come off as obnoxious, self-righteous, if not self-absorbed patriots while the Chinese don't seem to have second thoughts about torching or nuking their way to victory if they have to.

* BeamSpam: The American AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Humvee is nothing but lasers. Let's have a look, shall we? Two [[AntiAir anti-aircraft lasers]], four [[DestrucibleMissiles point-defense]] lasers, and one [[LaserSight ground-only targeting laser]], which are [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience colored red, yellow and blue, respectively, for your viewing convenience]], of course. Now, take note: the Avenger can use ''all'' of them at once at multiple targets.

* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: An engineer raid in any of the games can easily see half your enemy's base fall to you in one fell swoop.

The reboot/sequel, is being developed by ElectronicArts and a [[http://www.gamespot.com/news/command-and-conquer-generals-2-coming-from-bioware-victory-6347422 new division]] of BioWare, "BioWare Victory" (headed by [[MightAndMagic Jon Van Canegham]]), in a world where all of the politicians and diplomats got BoardToDeath at a PeaceConference.

* AwesomeButImpractical: A lot of units can go under this, due to CripplingOverspecialization. Case in point: the PRC Overlord tank and its [[TheSameButMore elite counterpart]], the Emperor tank. Armed to the teeth, they are literally [[MilitaryMashupMachine landcruisers]], but hey, these babies don't come easy: they cost a lot, are hard to maintain and are typically the first on any opponent's target list, which doesn't make suffering the fact that they're easy to counter any lighter for the one in possession of these crazy machines.

* DepletedPhlebotinumShells: Depleted uranium shells are an upgrade to PRC tank gun ammunition, [[DidNotDoTheResearch but they're advertised to be more radioactive and poisonous than they really are]].

* BannedInChina

** It's even mentioned in the ''Zero Hour'' campaign that the Europeans eventually forced the Chinese to back down from ''nuking towns and cities infested with GLA cells.''
* {{Bowdlerise}}: The worst hit game in th series, which was subject to some changes to avoid an M rating in Germany. Most commonly was the tactic of calling all infantry units ''cyborgs'' and changing/removing sounds and effects that would suggest otherwise. With Generals this was done for ''everyone'', even the generals and the reporters (but not all their clips were altered). And the terrorist was replaced by ... a bomb on wheels. That can drive cars.

* CoolBike: The GLA gets scout motorcycles in ''Zero Hour'' which can be loaded with any infantry to make them more mobile, and let them climb up and down cliffs with ease. Oddly, they self-destruct if the infantry leaves the vehicle without a replacement.
* TheCracker: PRC's Hacker, Black Lotus and Super Lotus. [[SubvertedTrope Surprisingly]], they work for the good guys.

* DepletedPhlebotinumShells: Depleted uranium shells make an appearance here as an upgrade to PRC tank gun ammunition, [[DidNotDoTheResearch but they're advertised to be more radioactive and poisonous than they really are]].

* EjectionSeat: Implied, at least with USA Pilots who eject from USA aircraft in mid-air. With Pilots who eject from USA ground vehicles (like a [[TankGoodness Crusader Tank]]), not so much.

* * EvenEvilHasStandards: Most of the GLA considers Dr. Thrax to beyond the pale.

* PinkGirlBlueBoy: A... somewhat extreme version, in that it affects the Particle Cannon superweapon of the USA faction; Play as the only female general of the USA faction, and your Particle Cannon turns a lovely shade of pink as opposed to the blue color that the rest of the faction employs.
* PointDefenseless: Averted. Ground vehicles with a mountable anti-aircraft weapon can put some serious hurt on aircraft that get too close, and in ''Zero Hour'' the King Raptor can neutralize enemy missiles with a point defense laser.

* SnipingTheCockpit: One hero unit that can snipe pilots out of vehicles, leaving behind the unoccupied vehicle that can then be captured by a friendly infantry grunt. The Chinese Nuke Cannon superweapon does the same thing, only on a larger scale.

** The PRC's [[GatlingGood Gatling guns]] have a "Chain Gun" upgrade, which is a misnomer; ''Gatling gun'' and ''chain gun'' refer to two unidentical weapons.

* WouldNotShootACivilian: With regards to story, the USA and PRC wouldn't. [[CombatPragmatist The GLA would]]. See KnightTemplar above.

* {{Ruritania}}/{{Qurac}}: There is a Central Asian country called Aldastan in Generals where numerous PRC and GLA missions take place. Judging from the names of the cities, it incorporates bits of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and must have been formed sometime before 2020s when the game takes place. Considering the instability of some Central Asian Republics (Tajikistan being near the top), we may see this trope become {{Harsher In Hindsight}}.

* SlapOnTheWristNuke: A jam-packed battalion of units will succumb to a nuclear explosion, but many buildings can withstand it, even at ground zero. However, with the exception of the Nuclear Missile silo, there's no limit to the number of other tactical nuclear weapons you can build at once, particularly in the case of the Nuclear Cannon.

* BeamSpam: The American AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Humvee is nothing but lasers. Let's have a look, shall we? Two [[AntiAir anti-aircraft lasers]], four [[DestrucibleProjectiles point-defense lasers]], and one [[LaserSight ground-only targeting laser]], which are [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience colored red, yellow and blue, respectively, for your viewing convenience]], of course. Now, take note: the Avenger can use ''all'' of them at once at multiple targets.

* BadassArmy: Everyone.

** AttackDrone: The [[CombatMedic Battle Drones]] and the [[AirLaunchedWeapons Hellfire Missile]] Drones. The Sentry Drone, too, when you give them machine guns.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: Besides the usual "[[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman everyone's a cyborg]], please don't give us an M rating" changes made for the German release, the terrorist was replaced by a bomb on wheels. That can drive cars.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Many of the units are extremely effective against a particular type or two, but get absolutely demolished by everything else.

* {{Hypocrite}}: The GLA are this in droves. At first, they scream incessantly about oppression, imperialism, and how just they are. Other comments, however, underscore that they're basically ill-tempered, sadistic, sociopathic low-lifes to a man. Except for the lowly Workers, who are some of the single most hilariously down-trodden, abused schmucks in gaming history.
** This is prevalent in the 2nd mission where they steal relief aid from some peasants.

* BadassBoast: Guys like Col. Burton and Pathfinders have the knack of constantly telling you how well-experienced they are in their fields. Sometimes even in campaign setpiece triggers.

* BeamSpam: The American AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Humvee is nothing but lasers. Let's have a look, shall we? Two [[AntiAir antiaircraft lasers]], four [[DestrucibleProjectiles point-defense lasers]], and one [[LaserSight ground-only targeting laser]], which are [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience colored red, yellow and blue, respectively, for your viewing convenience]], of course. Now, take note: the Avenger can use ''all'' of them at once at multiple targets.
* BlackAndGreyMorality: The GLA, for all their talk, aren't good people. But on the other hand, the "good guys" aren't ''entirely'' altrustic on their part. The Americans can come off as obnoxious, self-righteous, if not self-absorbed patriots while the Chinese don't seem to have second thoughts about torching or nuking their way to victory if they have to.

* TheChessmaster: "Pinpoint" General Townes likes to pride himself on this nearly as frequently as he boasts the superiority of his laser technology. Of course, given that he only has this personality when facing you as a computer...

* FrickinLaserBeams: American laser technology. It's used for a ''lot'' of things. Took off on a humble start with the Paladin Tank's dual-purpose [[DestructibleProjectiles point-defense laser]] and the Missile Defender's LaserSight in ''Generals''. In ''Generals: Zero Hour'', laser technology matured to give all American factions the [[{{antiair}} anti-aircraft]] Avenger Humvee. Specialist Laser Army faction commanded by Gen. Townes uses Laser Turrets, Laser Crusaders and procured Avengers, while USAF Gen. Granger dumped Paladins for aircraft with multiple point-defense lasers.

* {{Hypocrite}}: The GLA are this in droves. At first, they scream incessantly about oppression, imperialism, and how just they are. Other comments, however, underscore that they're basically ill-tempered, sadistic, sociopathic low-lifes to a man. Except for the lowly Worker, who is perhaps the single most hilariously down-trodden, abused schmuck in gaming history.

** The GLA news anchor from ''Zero Hour'', Omar bin-Gazali, ramps this up by praising the GLA and demonizing the USA and the PRC.

* MoreDakka: More or less what Chinese gatling operators want the longer they're putting their weapon in action. The Gatling Tank crewmen invoke More Dakka. Hell, it's even in their selection quote: "Need a {{bullet barrage}}?"

** You've, more or less, done this, too, [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers when you arm the (pistol-wielding) Angry Mobs with AK-47s]].

* NoodleIncident: The Zero Hour manual is chock full of these. General Tsin Shi Tao (the nuke general) was the head officer in Mudanjiang when an unspecified disaster occured that almost cost him his career. General Shin Fai (the infantry general) participated in the "Taiwan Conflict" and General Alexis Alexander (the superweapon general) was a logistical staffer in the "Second Korean War".

* PointDefenseless: Averted. Ground vehicles with a mountable antiaircraft weapon can put some serious hurt on aircraft that get too close, and in ''Zero Hour'' the King Raptor can neutralize enemy missiles with a point defense laser.

** [[TanksButNoTanks Tanks, But No Tanks]]: But technically, armored vehicles like the PRC Gatling Tank, the GLA Marauder Tank and the USA Microwave Tank are simply an up-armored [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-propelled_anti-aircraft_weapon self-propelled antiaircraft gatling gun]], a turretless [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_gun assault gun]] and a mobile [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Denial_System active denial system]], respectively.