Yikes. We’ve got a 3.8 rating on GOG as of this writing, and that doesn’t even compute for me. The value of nostalgia is not lost on me. I missed Earth 2140 back in the day, but I played the hell out of things like KKnD. KKnD is not very nuanced at all when you compare it to the big RTS's. However, KKnD is “playable” in the sense that you learn its ruleset, and if you’re in the right mindset you can still have fun within the idiosyncratic ruleset that it presents. It’s like the idea that you can enjoy a gourmet burger, and a Big Mac at different times. You'll usually prefer the gourmet burger, but the Big Mac can do the job when you’re in the right mindset. I’ve played probably close to a hundred different RTS games. Earth 2140 is the worst, hands down, no question. I’ve played free Flash RTS games on Newgrounds that are better than this. This is a game that makes so many completely nonsensical design decisions. Why are the buildings so gigantic compared to everything, even the terrain? Why is the only way to find resources to look at your minimap and reposition your mine-deploying vehicle until you get it just right? Why do I have to handhold my harvester units to literally set up the entire supply chain by myself? Why is the music so dissonant, and doesn’t fit whatsoever with the world or what I’m supposed to be doing? Why am I able to kill every enemy unit in seemingly one shot, regardless of the units I’m using? Why does the interface for the buildings feel like it was designed to piss you off and go “What??” And why is the introduction 7 minutes or so of completely pointless, epilepsy-inducing bullshit? I vociferously, vehemently recommend AGAINST getting this game. It was clearly made by a team that had a fleeting thought to make a C&C clone at one point, and they lost interest as soon as any work started. Everything in it feels so meaningless and empty. Almost nothing is original, and anything that is feels like an idiotic, contrarian step backwards.
I'm an avid RTS fan, so yes, I've played Starcraft and Total Annihilation and all those very popular titles. One of my favorites is still KKND, to this day, though. Here's why: - KKND doesn't take itself too seriously. Where other RTS story telling can be incredibly trite, KKND embraces it and turns the triteness into a strength. - For the day, the graphics are quite good. But the artwork is great. You can tell they actually spent a lot of time detailing the artwork, and that they had fun fleshing out the post-apocalyptic atmosphere. - KKND introduced the concept of veterancy for units and production queues to the RTS genre. So it had some innovation. The research system and the interface are also unique, and something I have never seen since. - The game is about having fun. Just buy it and play it. I guarantee you it is easier to pick up and play than any other RTS I can think of, and the hardest to put down. It's as addictive and action-packed as Doom (to me) but in RTS form. Have you ever bought a game off of GOG only to find it mediocre--or worse, just as bad as they say? Well this is the biggest gem you could find on this site. You will not be disappointed.
