Help me choose between two oldies! (The third doesn't count)

[Erik_Twice]

So, I'm going to oficially start to build a PC collection by buying my first 486 game thorugh the internet. However I have not really decided yet which one to buy and I have two options.

I do not currently own an original 486 or early pentium so running in XP SP2 is a huge plus.

The options are: Command & Conquer: Red Alert and Total Annihilation

1) C&C : I played this game all I could and more. Beaten all the campagins, got all the expansions, downloaded the mods and played agaisnt the quite bad CPU very often just for fun. That's both the strenght and the weakness of this choice: I like this game but I already did completed it.

2) Total Annihilation : A game I have never played, only read about and has been sitting on my "must play" list for ages. It was brought foward when looking for multiscreen games I found that it's "sequel" Supreme Commander supported such unnnecesary display of awesomeness.

Unfortunatedly my hype for SC quickly died down when I heard about the dissapointing game balance and how SC2 was straying away from the hardcore basebuilding game I wanted.

And so I turned to TA.


So, what do you think? Which game is the best option?

[Breetai]

So, what do you think? Which game is the best option?

Of those two? I prefer Command and Conquer.

Warcraft II is fun. Dungeon Keeper is cool. Fallout 1 and 2 run great on Pentium I systems. Terminal Velocity was a fun 3D space shooter that's a good showcase for pre-3D card graphics. Rise of the Triad was a unique and fun early FPS. Magic Carpet 1 and 2 are amazing. Star Control 2 and 3 are awesome. I really liked the Might and Magic strategy games as well. II was the one I was into.

Hopefully that gives you a few ideas!

[t0yrobo]

I don't think you could go wrong with either game. But since you've already played Red Alert I'd recommend TA. For something a little different in old rts games you could check out KKND and Z! As well.

[lwcook]

So, I'm going to oficially start to build a PC collection by buying my first 486 game thorugh the internet. However I have not really decided yet which one to buy and I have two options.

I do not currently own an original 486 or early pentium so running in XP SP2 is a huge plus.

The options are: Command & Conquer: Red Alert and Total Annihilation

1) C&C : I played this game all I could and more. Beaten all the campagins, got all the expansions, downloaded the mods and played agaisnt the quite bad CPU very often just for fun. That's both the strenght and the weakness of this choice: I like this game but I already did completed it.

2) Total Annihilation : A game I have never played, only read about and has been sitting on my "must play" list for ages. It was brought foward when looking for multiscreen games I found that it's "sequel" Supreme Commander supported such unnnecesary display of awesomeness.

Unfortunatedly my hype for SC quickly died down when I heard about the dissapointing game balance and how SC2 was straying away from the hardcore basebuilding game I wanted.

And so I turned to TA.


So, what do you think? Which game is the best option?

No question...TA all the way. This game single-handedly got me into PC gaming. With it plus the expansion pack and the campaigns they include, it is the pinnacle of veteran RTSes.

[dsheinem]

3?

[Ack]

I say pick Total Annihilation. Between the many different types of units, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, the variety of worlds and terrain, the differing ways of generating resources, the build queues, the unit creation queues, the super weapons, the massive maps, and what I felt to be an entertaining storyline where two factions battle over the fate of humanity they have both managed to lose, I'd say its one of the best RTS titles I've ever played and one of the few I would return to.

Also, great explosion physics. I remember being awed as I blasted buildings and units into tiny pieces and then used their burnt out mechanical corpses for scrap to further fuel my war machine. You haven't lived until you've seen a nuclear strike on a heavily built up base in this game.

[lwcook]

3?

No need for three really. The awesomeness of CC+TA = 3.

[CRTGAMER]

A ton of older PC games are at your local thrift store.

[Hatta]

3) Master of Orion

[fastbilly1]

Yall know that C&C Gold and Red Alert 1 are freeware right?
http://forums.commandandconquer.com/jfo ... /6967.page
To promote Red Alert 3, RA1 was free, RA2 was free if you preordered.

Total Annihilation is a fantastic game that is probably all the base building you will ever want, but I still vote C&C. The story is just awesome.

TA and expansions is currently $5.99 at GOG - but goes on sale occasionally (I got it last week for $3):
http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/total_an ... ander_pack