Total Annihilation came with my family's first PC, and I haven't stopped playing it since. Other RTS games have tried to do what this game did, but they've never got it quite right. Total Annihilation is the spiritual successor to Supreme Commander, so you may see some similarities. The game has aged surprisingly well and has a very loyal fanbase which continue to develop content for the game today. The soundtrack is incredible and is composed by the same guy that bought you the soundtrack of Skyrim. The AI maybe a little crappy, but there are mods to fix their behaviour. The game is simple, enjoyable and can last for ages.
I know this might sound strange, but I just have to point out that this game has one of the best soundtracks of any game I have ever played. I still have my original retail disc of the game, which plays in a CD player like a standard audio disc. I used to listen to it for hours on end in the backseat of the car on long trips, it has so many great orchestral compositions.
As an game, it is top-notch. Unfortunately, being an old RTS, you can't count on matchmaking multiplayer. The AI alone is pretty darn good, however, and the custom scenarios can be a blast.
The game also features a great physics engine which garnered much praise at the time, with many projectiles having arching trajectories that allowed them to go over hills (the landscapes are all 3d with varying features) and hit things on the other side.
I remember using this game to show off my brand new computer back when it came out, because the sheer amount of units you can get on screen at once is astounding.
Also, there's a great selection of end-tier units. There are HUGE turrets you can build that act like mega-death-cannons. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was play a custom scenario in which I turtled up and built a ridiculous amount of defenses just to watch my foes blow up a mile from my city gate!
I love it not just because it is fun but because the soundtrack comes in handy for so many other games! It really does sound fantastic.
... noticed it on sale for two bucks. I bought my copy (used) for 20$, two (?) or four CD's, big box, a manual.. back in 2000 or 2001.. TA was the third game that got me into modding (.. then - eventually - made me a sysadmin...) - after C&C: Red Alert and Civilization II. SC is primitive by comparison ;)
I write this review simply out of respect. Everything good that can be said, has been said about this game. To today, no other RTS game comes close.
Back in the days the game hit the shelves I actually went down to the shop (really!) to buy Starcraft. I had downloaded the demo and had fallen in love. I had never heard of Total Annihilation, but Starcraft had sold out and by that time I simply had to still the thirst, so I checked out every other game in the shop.
And there it was: Total Annihilation. Even of the people in that shop no one was certain about what kind of game it was. RTS, sure. But no one had heard of it. The package of three CD's (!) had some screenshots on the backside. I wasn't sure I liked them.
Returned home. I remember having reservations about the view (Top Down; literally) after firing up the game the first time...
Boy. Was I wrong. Was I surprised. And taken in. At once.
I still play today. I did buy Starcraft later on, liked it as well. Bought and played almost every available RTS since.
But Total Annihilation rules. It is as simple as that.
