Arguably, there are better real-time strategy games out there, and there always will be. However, I don’t just want to talk about Total Annihilation from that point of view, one that it is somehow soon to be 25-years-old and has been bettered many times over. I’m not going to say StarCraft is better, because you either have to be alien or Korean to enjoy that series, but I will admit that Supreme Commander from ten years following its release stands head and shoulders above Total Annihilation. Even indie games released on Steam are more complex, graphically enhanced, and generally, better.

Yes, all of us from the year 1997 are a bit saggy and tired after 25-years. Have you seen what has happened since then? It is not the type of game you play for the pixel count and perfectly rounded bottom of a soldier’s bum, it is the game you play to get that tense feeling of resource-gathering so you wipe out the scum of team 2. At its core, the real-time strategy game of the modern-day has changed very little since 1997, and this is why I wanted to talk about Total Annihilation.

You play as the sky god Barry, cousin of Imhotep, and your job is to basically do what England did for hundreds of years: Gun beats spear. However, in this case, the gun is a legion of mechs and the spear is a collection of boats and helicopters. I won’t say I am the greatest of all time at real-time strategy games because that would be the biggest lie in the universe, however, I do like them from time to time. Of course, I’ll stick with a few favorites when it comes to those times, and while Rusted Warfare is one of those favorites, it is simply because it is mimicking Total Annihilation.

At its core, there is the basic tribalism of Red vs Blue vs White vs Green. You must fight to the death, taking over each other’s points of gaining resources. Resources allow you to build bigger and stronger weapon systems and units, all in the aid of wiping the enemies off the small map. Some would possibly argue a modern game needs a bigger map, more control points, a larger scope, several different resources to collect, and a loot box system so you can make Darth Vader pink. No to all of that, and not just because it is stupid but because it complicates exactly what you are doing.

That simplicity, focus, and that design create a better gameplay experience, one that is refined and can be worked on. I’m not saying you can’t add bits, make things complicated, and paint your helmets pink if you want, but let the core stay untainted by evil. I.E, whoever decided that Total Annihilation needed to be a fantasy with a sequel sub-titled Kingdoms. Through the years, it actually got a couple of expansions, and something rare for 90s games, it had downloadable content. That is DLC for dial-up internet, so it wasn’t anything flashy by modern-day standards, but for late 90s standards, it was otherworldly to download maps and units at a (sarcasm engaged) whopping tens of kilobytes.

Of course, now you can download the full 1 GB game and its expansions through GOG in about 5-minutes. If you told people in the 90s that was possible, they’d phone the FBI. Though I think that would be to get in contact with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. My point is, aside from mods and fan-made maps through the map editor, there is a lot of game and it is a quality game. While it doesn’t stick out too often like Warcraft or Command and Conquer, it still broke free enough to be its own thing.

Ultimately, Total Annihilation might be getting older, flabbier, and stressed with all these kids with their Tiktoks and loot boxes, but it is still one of the greatest games you’ll ever play. That is thanks to the simplicity of gameplay counterbalanced with countless maps and hundreds of missions. If you are looking to ride out the nothing of January or the end of December with a classic RTS, I’d highly suggest returning to this absolute classic, refined beautifully.

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Total Annihilation

$5.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• No extra chaff.
• Gameplay that still stands the test of time.
• Filled to the brim with units, maps, and scenarios.

Cons

• Dated options and menus holding it back a little.
• Graphically, a little dated.