Left Behind 3: Rise of the Antichrist marks the third installment in a strategic gaming series based on the best-selling book series by Dr. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, "The Novel of the End Times"; The game delves into a vision of the end of the world, grounded in biblical prophecies and the Book of Revelation. Set against the backdrop of events from the fifth book in the series, players find themselves entangled in a narrative that follows the demise of the leader of the Oppression Opposition and a subsequent confrontation with the Antichrist, masquerading as Nicolae Carpathia, the leader of the Global Community.
The protagonists of the game are Rayford Steele, a Pan-Continental airline pilot, his daughter Chloe, a student, and her husband, the journalist Cameron "Buck" Williams. Left Behind 3 presents players with 46 new levels divided into two chapters. In solo mode, players can choose align with the Oppression Opposition or the American militia. Each mission has primary and secondary objectives, characteristic of real-time strategy (RTS) games. As in any RTS game, players must establish a base, ensure a steady flow of resources, and attend to the needs of their forces.
A distinctive feature of the Left Behind series is the concept of "spirit points," determining whether a character is friendly, hostile, or neutral. Given the game's promotion of Christian values, the recommended approach to defeating enemies involves conversion with spiritual growth through singing and prayer. However, when controlling militia units, the use of force becomes unavoidable.
The game's graphical design remains unchanged, with only a few improvements, such as enhanced unit animations that evolve with damage status, wider streets, and better-lit maps. The interface of Left Behind 3 combines the best features of its predecessors.
The musical score, composed by Chance Thomas, maintains the high standards set by the previous installments. In addition to the single-player campaign, the game offers LAN multiplayer for two players and online multiplayer for 3 to 8 players. In multiplayer mode, participants can choose to align with either the forces of good or evil, engaging in one of three available game modes.
Left Behind 3: Rise of the Antichrist continues to captivate players with its immersive storytelling, strategic depth, and unique blend of biblical themes and gaming elements. Whether facing the challenges alone or with friends, players are in for a gripping experience that explores the profound implications of the end times in a digital landscape.