Total Annihilation (PC, 1997)

Total Annihilation , released in 1997, was the RTS that transcended all others on the market. While other ones had small scale tactical battles with 2-d graphics, TA was the opposite. This game featured completely 3-dimensional units on highly detailed 2D maps with real terrain elevations. The ballistics (bullets, shells, missiles, etc) behaved like real-world counterparts; each round is an actualy entity simulated in the game, affected by gravity and such. This means rounds aren't affected by arbitrary and nonsensical rules like in other RTS's. Because of this level of realism, TA's battles are more dynamic and exciting.
This game is more substance than style, though, as there isn't much of a story (the developers admit that they added it in at the last moment) and the units are mostly generic-looking. I don't mind this at all; I don't need my weapons of war to be excessively flashy. There are alot of cool and over-the-top death machines for those, like me, who are into that. Things like massive cannons that fire miles across the map (the maps range from small to ludicrously huge, by the way) and a giant robot with enough weaponry to take down an entire army.
The absolute best thing about this game that I can think of, is its very high moddability. This is what has kept the game fresh throughout the years. One can add his own maps, units, even races. There are several communities dedicated to this game. Anyone who grows bored with the original TA can just download new things and play it all over again. It's the game that keeps giving (well, someone has to create that new stuff...)!

I had a copy (probably a demo version) of T.A. back in 2000. But I played it so much that eventually the disc stopped working because of use! I was really disappointed when that happened. Just the other day I was playing some of the other RTSs that I have (C&C series, AOE series) & was feeling a little bored with them. I then remembered T.A. & how I use to play it for hours on end. So out of curiosity more than anything I looked it up on eBay & sure enough there were some for sale.

I decided to buy T.A. because I remembered the AI being difficult but fun to play against. Also the graphics were ahead of their time when it was first released (the units are rendered in 3D on a 2D playing field) & the game ran smoothly on my PC. The story line was relatively weak but the ability to now play the campaign & add the 2 expansion packs (which I never played before) is what sold me on it. The price didn’t hurt either because I purchased it for under $5!

If you can get T.A. for a bargain price & you love RTSs; I would strongly recommend it to you! I’m giving it 2 out of 5 only because in comparison to other RTSs that are available it is definitely dated & the story line is extremely weak! In its hay-day (1998) I would have given it 4 out of 5 just because of the graphics!

its a good game to pass a little time. i get to blow stuff up and feel good about it. its relaxing to me. i'm able to try to save the world. at the same time kill the enemy, build a comand center, and control what i do.

I personally purchased this game because I've played it once or twice on a friend's computer, and I really liked it. What I liked best about this game is that it is just a new variation of all the different kinds of battle games out there, so there's a whole other story line, a whole new adventure, and a whole different set of warriors to train and fight with. The game is pretty easy to learn and fun to play.

Truly the best RTS I've ever played on PC. Loads of units maps and strategies to successfully kick some robot butt! Total Annihilation is the Chess of RTS, Starcraft is Checkers