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Total Annihilation preview

Strategy gaming on a high, by Andy Spence

Note: with the screenshots, you can click on them to see a full-size version. Adjust-click will open them in a new window in most browsers.

Differences...

TA is more technically advanced than say C&C: Red Alert, as the maps use real 3D height and line of sight, despite being 2D graphics. This allows for strategic use of height in defence and attack, so units can shoot further when higher up. Units have different capabilities which match varied terrains; for instance, some units can't climb tall hills or shoot over them. There is also depth in water, some parts being shallow and others deeper. Only special marine units and the commander can travel in the deep water, while most land units can only go in the shallow water.

The radar system in TA uses a fog of war approach, whereby units can see a certain distance but if they can no longer see part of the map it becomes clouded. This means the enemy can surprise the player, although the player can improve matters by setting up radar towers which scan a wider area.

Units The units in TA are real-time 3D objects, this means they move in a more realistic way. For instance when going up and down hills they tilt, when firing cannons recoil and when being attack they shake. There is a big selection of units in the original game, but in add-on packs and on the internet there are hundreds more. The units are separated into areas of K-bots, vehicles, aircraft and marine craft. Units can be either level one or level two, level two being the more advanced.

Something which completely separates TA from the C&C series is the use of a commander. This is the strongest unit in the game for each side and if you have enough power he can fire his devastating D-gun or even cloak. The commander is the main constructor of buildings and can absorb resources. The only other units which can do this are the construction craft, but they are a lot slower. If the commander is killed then it's usually game over, although this option can be toggled in multiplayer games.

Gameplay

As with all strategy games in this genre you have to collect resources; in TA these are energy and metal. To generate energy you can build a selection of structures such as solar power, wind generator and others. On some planets organic plants can be converted to energy using a construction unit. Metal is used to construct units and buildings - it can be extracted from the ground using a metal extractor or even taken from destroyed units or buildings. The best places from metal extractors are over deposits, which are found in the ground.

There are a variety of buildings in TA, with some constructing mobile units either level 1 or 2 depending on whether the building is advanced or not. There are the normal resource storage structures and defensive weapons like metal storage and plasma turrets.

Interface & missions

The battle map is viewed from a top-down 3D perspective. The menu bar is on the left side of the screen and as well as having the usual radar and construction options, a unique feature is the command menu. This shows the commands available to the currently selected units, from basic movement to patrolling of areas. You can play as either of two sides in two separate campaigns, battling through 50 missions. Also, even if you get stuck on a missions and eventually lose it, you can still go on the next mission.

Multiplayer & beyond

Like most games these days you would expect TA to sport some kind of multiplayer option and Cavedog haven't let you down. TA boasts extensive multiplayer and internet support to keep your phone bills high. Total Annihilation is a great game on the PC and highly addictive. If and when it comes out on the RISC OS platform I highly recommend it to any of you who haven't played the original, especially to strategy fans. There is a huge amount of support for it on the Internet, where you can download hundreds of new maps, units and add-ons.

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Andy Spence