Maps are fully three-dimensional allowing for bridges and tunnels where units can pass over others. Attacks can come from land, water, air and even subterranean units. In addition, the environment is interactive. Heavy artillery can destroy bridges, which your engineers must rebuild. Bombs and rockets cause craters to be formed in dirt, which are gradually eroded away.
Explosions cause brushfires that mask troop movement.
Ice cracks and breaks beneath the footsteps of giant mechanized walkers and tanks and refreezes given time. Lightning and even meteor showers pummel indiscriminately at territory, base structures and units caught in a storm. In all these effects are very well done. Also new to Tiberian Sun are more complex unit and grouping commands. There are now various new ways to set way-points and patrol points.