Total Annihilation

The Good
The game has an incredible diverstiy of units, enabling a wide array of different strategies. You can fight full ground, air and sea battles in the course of one game. There is no "running out of resources" here, though the dynamics of your resource gathering will change as you progress up the tech tree or use up scrap metal/organic material.

Strategic elements include real-time physics, line of sight, elevation, as well as many units which have unique capabilities that contribute to the overall strategy mix.

The soundtrack is one of the best ever, a world-class symphonic score worth listening to without the game. The ability to customize the music adds even more playability - put in anything and you can assign tracks to 'battle' or 'build' music. The game also has a vast support community on the web - download more units, more maps, and other features. The latest patch will add some hotkey controls, improve the AI and increase overall playability.

At three years old, TA is still one of the best games around.

The Bad
It could use some menus to see what units you have, where they are and their status. This information is attainable, it's just hard to get it all when you need it. The AI could still be better, but there are plenty of 3rd party AIs that will prove more than a challenge. The AI doesn't matter in multiplayer. Finally, the setting is great, and a '4000 year war that has destroyed a million worlds' is quite dramatic - however the story isn't as dynamic or as involving as Starcraft. Still...that matters little when you're fighting a massive battle with dozens of units, explosions and cannon fire eminating over the blistering score. It just doesn't get much better.

The Bottom Line
Quite possibly the single best real time strategy game ever developed.

The Good
This was the most fun I've ever had with any strategy game. It has a ridiculously large number of preset units for you to explore at your leisure not to mention the host of online 3rd party sites that churn out incredibly detailed creations on a daily basis.

This game brings longevity to a previously unknown level with its online and skirmish capabilities and with so many units, telling the difference between good and poor strategies is made very transparent.

Don't get me wrong, this game is still incredibly easy to just pick up and play, the campaign mode gently eases you into this incredible world and makes you itch for more with every breath you take.

Graphically its probably was the best RTS of its time, the closest competitor was Dark Reign but the almost 3D renderings of TA (if a little blocky) blew away all competition.

The soundtrack is just as appealing, with themes to fit every situation.

What I loved most about this game was the degree of customization available, you didn't have to stick to any set rules, if you wanted to try some new strategy like bunching 20 Adv. Construction Aircraft to repair a Krogoth on a rampage, just do it, nothing to stop you!! The diversity this game offered is unheard of in previous games of this genre and set trends that all later game would well to follow.

The Bad
It would have been faster to leave this entry blank but I didn't want readers to think I missed it. Suffice to say, this game was as close to perfect as technology allowed at the time.

The Bottom Line
A MUST BUY, and once you get it, make sure to never let it go!!!

The Good
Well, first the feel. From the spacious outdoor landscapes with towering heights and vast bodies of water to the stirring orchestral score, Total Annihilation feels great to play. As well, the great number and variety of units (and cool units at that) is a definite plus. And the graphics and effects are simply beautiful. But it all comes together when the mayhem starts and that is when Total Annihilation truly shines. I have never had an RTS experience like seeing my TA forces roll over the hills and crevices of the beautifully sculpted terrain and meet the enemy on the field of battle. It's inspiring.

The Bad
There are a few niggles. The biggest is that, despite the epic feel, there isn't really an epic plot to go with it. Certainly, there is a plot and the devistation of humanity (or whatever race this is, it's never clear) is a dramatic setting. But there is nothing that allows you to relate to either side or wish them to win. It is simply a matter of personal glory, which really isn't all that inspiring. Other niggles are negligable indeed. The only other one I feel I should mention is that it's hard to control when you get a lot of units.

The Bottom Line
Despite flaws, one of the greatest RTS experiences available.