C&C Red Alert vs. Total Annihilation - Which is better to buy today?

[darkjester]

Yes, I know they're both really old.
Yes, I know RA2 is out.
Yes, I know you can get both for under $10 nowadays.



Knowing all that, I was feeling nostalgic and gunning for an RTS so I went to my local mall today during lunch to see what games Best Buy had packaged together in their cheapy bundles. C&C RA with the Aftermath expansion was there. Cool!

But I took a quick spin over to Electronics Boutique to see if they had any similar bundles. Well, they don't. But they have the Total Annihilation Commander Pack (includes The Core Contingency expansion) on the real cheap also. So...

I was thinking of grabbing one of those two this evening after work. They both got AMAZING reviews, back in their day (which is long over now). I just need a new game to keep me busy for a couple of weeks. But I don't need two. Afterall, every dollar saved is another dollar towards a NEW game.

So what do you guys think? Which of the two should I pick up?

Thanks!

 

[CanOWorms]

I always liked playing Total Annihilation over TEN when it was still alive. Massive armies Shore to Shore was an awesome map!

They're both good, but I personally liked TA better back then.

 

[Spook]

I had both, and I liked TA better... Sometimes I pull it back out and play some....

Love that game.... too bad they went under...

 

[Czar]

TA, its still one of the best games of its kind ever made. If only they had a stable net code though:frown:

 

[warlord]

TA, and the whole online game on cavedog.com was pretty cool. well until there was the overwhelming numbers of people.

I actually just pulled this out the other day and was playing. I still can't beat the Krogoth (whatever) encounter, that dam level kicks my butt, but I was working on a new stategy this morning that should work.

 

[Rent]

Total Annihilation by FAR.

I remember after I got the Core expansion (and being on 56k) that I'd play vs. 4 computer opponents on hard. I'd barricade myself in until I had 20 or so krogoths and just let them WIPE THE MAP CLEAN.

I played Red Alert before TA and it was a fun game, but TA has so much more value.

 

[MikeO]

<< TA, its still one of the best games of its kind ever made. >>



What he said. Total Annihilation kicks butt.

 

[darkjester]

Wow. The score so far is:

C&C - 0
TA - much more than 0

Okay, then a followup question is: where can I get downloads for TA. Cavedog has some downloads, but I'm looking for more someplace with more (and better) updates, such as Planet Annihilation. The problem is that Planet Annihilation is hosted on the GameSpy network and uses FilePlanet for downloads. Their servers are insanely slow this afternoon and besides, I hate the FilePlanet system. Are there any other good TA sites out there that, for one reason or another, just aren't being google-ized?

Thanks for all the opinions!

 

[BeauJangles]

They were both damn good and damn addictive... but I would agree... get TA.

 

[Ameesh]

i guess ill be the only one who says red alert, as far as the single player missions go i like RA better.

 

[CplHicks]

I gotta take a stand for Red Alert, becuase it's one of my most favorite games of all time. If you haven't played it I say get it over TA. It's a much more better game (TA's only big advantage is its pseudo-3d graphics). You'll find RA in many top 20 games lists, but you'll be hard pressed to find TA mentioned. I would also say that Red Alert is much more of a "classic" than TA.

 

[MikeO]

<< TA's only big advantage is its pseudo-3d graphics. >>



IMHO, almost everything in TA is better than in RA

Graphics, sounds, the units, the fact that strategies actually matter... in RA, not once did I stop thinking just how in the hell do I beat the enemy, in TA I find myself doing that alot. What kind of defense you build, from where do you attack.. it all matters much more in TA. Just my opinion of course...

 

[SerraYX]

TA by far..but as for downloads..

A lot of TA sites were shut down, so files are hard to find. I have probably the best unit pack made for TA, TAUIP 2.1, in a zip file if you would like it, contact me on AIM (Utzie14) if you would like it. I also have a few other misc unit files that are compatible.

As for maps..your best chance is google search or sites on PlanetAnnihilation, as sucky as it may sound. All of the sites I used to visit were shut down from server file transfer costs.

Shame that Cavedog went out of business, Total Annihilation was probably the best RTS ever made, yet it was overcome by the tedium that was (and still is) Command and Conquer / Red Alert. If only someone would buy all the licenses and make a sequel..I guess we can all dream

 

[Draco]

My vote would be for TA. What a kick ass game. Even though it took a pretty powerful machine for it to run well. I bet it would great on today's pc's!

Whatever happened to Cave Dog? I would of loved to see a sequel

 

[Tominator]

I've still got lots of maps, units and mods fot TA.....someone want to host them?

 

[MadRat]

Go download UberHack 2.0 for your TA, fellas.

The last release of UberHack is 3.1.4, which some say is inferior to the 2.0 version. The 3.0 version is pretty good, probably better for most people compared to the 2.0 version. You'd have to play all three to see the difference.

UberHack 2.0 = here
UberHack 3.0 = here
UberHack 3.1.4 = here

See the UberHack 3.1.4 specifics here or here.

Visit TAEC for more general UberHack details.

 

[GhettoFob]

I'd say Red Alert only cuz my old comp couldn't handle TA, but from reading some of the posts, I definitely plan on checking it out.

 

[SSP]

I gotta vote for RA. Its an addictive game and have pretty good single player missions. RA2 is a lot better though (strategy and technology wise). Still, RA is a classic.

 

[datalink7]

TA is STILL the best RTS of all time for Multiplayer, hands down. If you are interested in single player, maybe go for RA. But if you are into multiplayer, TA no contest.

There is a big website that still puts out units and organizes tounaments for TA. PlanetAnihilation. Check it out.

 

[darkjester]

Well, I picked up a copy of Total Annihilation, and you guys were right: awesome! I had played the original C&C but never went beyond that, and I don't remember it being as fun as TA. Maybe by the time I finish the TA and TA-CC campaigns, RA2 and Yuri's Revenge will be packaged together for a lower price and I'll progress into something more contemporary. Besides, it's nice to be able to run a game at it's absolute highest settings and not even have my computer hiccup.

Thanks for the input and the resources.

 

[skace]

Well strictly speaking C&C vs TA, TA wins hands down.


*mumbles* ...but SC beats them both blindfolded *mumbles*

 

[StageLeft]

I just never liked TA for some reason. Red alert owned.

 

[JEDI]

fyi: u can stick TA, battle tactics and core contigency all on 1 cd

also, krograth encounter: keep that kroggrath alive and that energy plant!!! (i'm assuming u are core). if either goes, u are dead. then build a vehicle plant to get more builders!

it's a 2 prong problem. even if u manage to keep the krogath/erergy plant alive, u still have to keep the enemy from swarming your base. built a heavy laser at the 2 bottom corners of your base w/dragons teeth to protect it.

played that scenario over and over again. it was FUN.

note: if you held off the assault and manage to push them back to half the map, it's over. you won.

btw: playing vs korgaths- build heavy bombers. a group of 10 (assuming 7 survive to make bomb drop) can do some SERIOUS dmg to it.

 

[LukFilm]

T&A!!! That was an awesome game, pick that!

 

[MadRat]

If you took a look into UberHack (see my previous post) then you know why TOTAL ANNHILATION is king of the RTS scene. Its built in a modular style with alot of flexibility for modifications. I've been a part of a huge TA culture since 1997 and what has kept us around is the expansion of the game. CAVEDOG ENTERTAINMENT (now defunct) built T.A. with the intent to release NEW UNITS on a semi-regular basis. Each unit released threw the T.A. scene into a feeding frenzy unlike any game before it... or since.

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of 3rd party NEW UNITS for T.A. in order to keep it fresh. Not only that but mods like UberHack rebalance out all of the units on the grandscale.

Not only that but a certain group of Swedes have figured out how to squeeze 16000 unit types into the game whereas previously we were limited to no more than 512 different unit types! What was once a 256 weapon type limit has also been expanded to like 4000 weapon types. Did I mention that 4 races can be done on T.A.'s engine?? Now that is one flexible game engine!