Well so, I know how good the original Total Annihilation was, and I agree that it was (and is) pretty amazing. And so I will save you the blurb on how you should play the original and just get down to this. This is a great game. Especially if you do not have Total Annihilation bias. The game has similar mechanics, but does not perhaps implement them as carefully. That being said, I really like this one. Maybe even more. Why? Its not the story (love me some knock off history channel narrative). Or even the graphics (which are good, but only a step above the original. For me its the character that this game possesses. Its spellbinding. The music is wonderful, and sets the mood perfectly. Each race is unique, and looks like it. It has the setting and mood that the original Total Annihilation seemed to lack. Though its not as stellar of a game as the original, Kingdoms is still fun to boot. You will still create massive armies of orcs, or mer-creatures and send them off to their doom. Which really is what the Total Annihilation series is all about to begin with.
This game has a magical draw. I first heard about a year before it came out. I use to subscribe to a magazine, and they did a special on it. A disk was included that had a preview of the game. Even then I was fascinated with this game. It was the most unique game I had ever seen (I had not played BG back then). Flash forward a couple of years and I finally get a copy. Back then I could not appreciate the game's mechanics, but I fell in love with the atmosphere, graphics, and sound, that I didn't care how you were "suppose" to play. Sadly, the game went missing (I suspect foul play). Flash forward some years later, I am in collage and I find the game for real cheap used. I think to myself "hey I need to finish that." So I buy it. But then I lost the disk during a move. Much cursing was involved. Alas, a year later GoG puts it up. I see it and I tell myself, "better not, you never know when that disk will show up." "Oh it has the expansion pack....nice." "I really shouldn't though." "But its so cheap." Ahhh ehhh BUY BUY BUY. And it was bought. And I am happy that I get to finally play this game in an format that cannot be lost. Bless you GOG. You and all your children.
