A Global Crisis

Features

• Two new unique factions: Israel and Syria, each with their own characteristics, equipment, and specializations;

• Realistic skins and models for a large number of units and buildings;

• Additional boss — United Nations Boss General — with a unique set of units and the ability to deploy equipment from different original factions;

• Preservation of original campaigns, Generals Challenge missions, and multiplayer/skirmish mode with the ability to play as new factions.

Factions

Israel

Israel focuses on high-quality but expensive equipment — relying on smaller but more powerful forces. Subfactions: Armored Division, Air-Force Commander, Sayeret Special-Forces.

Syria

Syria relies on mass — lots of outdated, cheap Russian equipment and fortifications. Subfactions: Republican Guard, Hezbollah Component, Iranian Reinforcements.

Boss General Leang

The mod makes General Leang available — the former Chinese boss from the final Generals Challenge mission. She now serves as the UN Boss General.

This general uses troops from all original Zero Hour factions and also has her own exclusive combat units. The UN Boss General can be controlled in skirmish and multiplayer, however, there is no full AI for her — the only exception is her participation in the last Generals Challenge mission.

Gameplay and Balance

The mod strives to maintain the balance of the original game while adding new tactical options and matchups through new units and capabilities. The added units make subfaction playstyles more diverse, and the choice of upgrades and additional capabilities significantly affects army development in the late game and the final outcome of battles.

Some original imbalances from the base game have been partially fixed, but at the same time the mod introduces its own problematic areas: some new units on the Israeli and Syrian sides sometimes feel like they were added simply for quantity — they don't play a notable role on the battlefield, and their armor and survivability sometimes fall short compared to similar units from other factions.

Defensive structures have received improved survivability stats compared to the original, but the range of defense options remains limited — this is especially noticeable for Syria, where effective anti-aircraft defense is not always sufficient.

Visuals

The mod noticeably improves the visual component — it uses more realistic models and textures, making equipment and infantry look more modern and detailed.

Visual detail is generally high, but not always: some units, such as Chinese infantry and some American soldiers, look less detailed compared to others, creating a sense of inconsistency.

Conclusion

A Global Crisis — a mod that transforms the familiar Zero Hour formula into a more realistic, expanded, and diverse version of the game, though somewhat far from ideal. Recommended for Zero Hour fans who love new factions and tactical experimentation but are willing to accept rough edges.