7 Reasons Total Annihilation is a Timeless Classic RTS

[@shriker5969]

I used to play TA when it came out and returned several times since then. In the beginning I had only the three missions from the demo and kept replaying them over and over in the night. I used to sneak to the computer room in the night just to play it more. Thanks for your tribute

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you so much for viewing my video tribute and commenting. Apologies I didn't get back to you as I uploaded it and just sort of moved on. Much appreciated, thank you very much .

[@shriker5969]

@@MBGamingReviews no worries

[@spunkflunk]

Great review, this was the first rts i ever played. I think i was like 7 years old

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you for your positive comment. Sorry I didn't respond, I uploaded it and did not really expect to get much viewing from it. Glad you love the game, It's an amazing RTS that I've spent many hours on throughout my life!

[@TotalAnnihilationReplays]

A Fantastic review! For those looking to play online, we play on Total Annihilation Forever, a client set up specifically for TA. The two most popular mods to play online are Escalation and ProTA. A note on ProTA if you're a single player person - the campaign works perfectly in it, and is a touch more challenging with the changes to the units. So if you want to experience the Campaign with some modern quality of life changes and a bit more challenge you can do that.

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you for your very kind comment. Very much appreciated! Apologies I did not respond sooner as I uploaded this and did not really expect much viewing/comments. Escalation and ProTA are the 3D varients if I recall. I never managed to get these to work very well and I always quite enjoyed playing against the AI as it was convienient. The mods available are awesome and really helps this game prolong its life!

[@TotalAnnihilationReplays]

@@MBGamingReviews Hi there! You might be thinking of the 3D Spring engine games. The original game is 3D, but played with the top down 2d perspective. ProTA and ESC keep this perspective. It looks and feels just like playing Original TA, with balance updates (for ProTA) and new units (For Escalation). So the campaign in ProTA is the exact same campaign, with the exact same narration and perspective, just with the QoL updates and unit balance.

[@6StimuL84]

Great review Man..... The very first game I still load on any computer I get......Wife, most kids and even grandkids have a blast playing ta.....and mods

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you, much appreciated! Its a classic, with some great mods outlined, still very much worth playing today.

[@gambit_toys6554]

TA Sound Effects deserve recognition! The Pew Pew sounds, Light Lasers, Heavy Lasers, AA, etc have such a Satisfying sound!

[@futurefox128]

agree!

[@MBGamingReviews]

Agree! If you ever get to use the Star Wars Tie Fighter unit mod for the game, also has a great distinctive sound.

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you all so much for your comments and feedback. I'm currently working on another video. If you have any suggestions for future reviews, please pop them on here. Thank you all!

[@frepotheman2333]

Been playing this game for 25+ years now. The escalation mod really takes it to another level, excellent mod!

[@austinstoner1988]

How can I play escalation?

[@frepotheman2333]

@@austinstoner1988 1. Get the original game. 2. download the mod. 3. install mod following the provided instructions.

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you both for the comments! Yes just download the Mod from TA Universe and follow installation instructions, it's not complicated so don't worry!

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thanks for the comment! Yes this mod really does enchance the game, My only issue is the sheer amount of time it takes to construct some of the super weapons, even with max time speed.

[@austinstoner1988]

@@MBGamingReviews I did that but can only do the auto installer. I'm too damn stupid to do the latest manual install version 😑 can you help me manually install?

[@gambit_toys6554]

Excellent video for a new channel! You're gonna go far!

[@MBGamingReviews]

@gambit_toys6554 thanks so much for the comment. Almost finished a new one!

[@Punisher_8731]

I'm a Twitch streamer and I only play BAR, which is inspired by Total Annihilation, I used to play TA in 98'. I recommend Beyond all reason

[@draco4u2]

Before Escaltion and other mods .....god damn Krogoth was something!!

[@austinstoner1988]

How do I install the escalation mod?

[@6StimuL84]

@@austinstoner1988 Look up TA universe...Goto the forums, scroll Down to Escalation in hosted projects and read there....

[@6StimuL84]

@@austinstoner1988 Do you have the Gog version? If you do I'll send you exactly what you need,,,,,

[@MBGamingReviews]

Krogoth was an absoulte boss! With escalation mod.....meh lol

[@zoltancserenyi6598]

I loved TA, SupCom, they both have very good atmosphere. BAR(Beyond All Reason) is better in a lot of things(game engine related, pathfinding), but i miss the music and the classical sounds of TA and SupCom.

[@6StimuL84]

Jeremy Soules soundtrack in ta is a classic......

[@MBGamingReviews]

Its' epic, one of the very best and helped this game stand out in glorious, but crowded, RTS genre.

[@Alianger]

I've read that builder units can auto-reclaim scrap metal via the patrol command, but you need to spam patrol points near it for it to work well? I can't get this to work, they prioritize repairing allies or speeding up production instead. Is it another command or only in a mod? I've also read that you can choose between circular line of sight as in Starcraft, permanent line of sight as in Command & Conquer or true line of sight, where units cannot see through walls and hills or over cliffs. But I can't find this option? The last one seems to be the only one used, which I don't mind though

[@MBGamingReviews]

No I think you're right, patrol will reclaim, usually I manually just queue the orders for a bot anyway. I've never played too much with the units line of sight settings, but the developers did add that into the AI I beilieve. Thanks for the comment!

[@Alianger]

@@MBGamingReviews I see, no it doesn't seem to work for most builders to just use patrol but queue-ing does work ok of course

[@RestoTek]

Love Supreme commander was a brilliant game, I wonder how far TA can br pushed today 🤔

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you for your comment, Sorry I did not respond, I uploaded this video and just kind of moved on. Th modding community is an amazing bunch that has enhanced this game for sure!

[@6StimuL84]

I play on a 2.4 Ghz i7 Laptop 1500 unit patch and play 5v5 skirmishes on 38x38 maps, that literally the minimap is COVERED in units...Literally THOUSANDS of them...with few hiccups/crashes ever.... Still mine and my wifes favorite RTS.....

[@RestoTek]

@6StimuL84 haha that's insane, still my favourite too, might make a video on it 🤣 1,000,000 units 😄

[@mussim2919]

Nothing beats the original TA! We need TA 2.

[@MBGamingReviews]

@@mussim2919 The original TA is still great, BAR is a superb modern version as well. Thanks

[@austinstoner1988]

Kick ass review. Literally the best og rts game. Do you know how I can download and install the escalation mod? I'm trying to do it manually. Can't find shit. Great video man.

[@MBGamingReviews]

Thank you so much for your comment, I appreciate all feedback! The escalation mod is available at TA Universe and the instructions are quite straight forward. Let me know if you're still struggling.

[@austinstoner1988]

@@MBGamingReviews I'm definitely still struggling. I downloaded the 9.9.3 auto installer. Ez. But the latest 9.9.8 is manual only. I don't know how. It's so frustrating. I'm highly intelligent. Can run a dozen different machines at work. I get absolutely lost in files. I have TAF. I only play single player. Just want the latest esc and new maps.

[@6StimuL84]

@@austinstoner1988 Start screen should show TA Escalation and the version

[@6StimuL84]

@@austinstoner1988 TONS of maps AND large mappacks on fileuniverse Try V maps.....Not sure what kind you like....Realize Escalation has a full 4 tech levels,, not just 2 like OTA.....

[@6StimuL84]

@@austinstoner1988 I keep trying to tell you how to get it and KZbin keeps deleting my comments....

[@bradz9413]

12:52 Name?

[@bradz9413]

Beyond all Reason?

[@MBGamingReviews]

Hi @bradz9413 - Sorry I didn't reply, just uploaded this and moved on, was not expecting this amount of intrest to be honest! The first game on that time stamp is Zero K and the second is Beyond All Reason. Many thanks

[@MBGamingReviews]

Hi All. Here is my latest video based on the series of Total Annihilation Games. Beyond All Reason: The HIDDEN GEM of RTS Gaming in 2025. Hope many of you enjoy it. Thanks for supporting the channel and have a great New Year! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZDXq6OZlNmkaJI

[@mcblanc900]

Well, now we have beyond all reason, it's just better. TA is outdated. Simillar thing to SC1 and SC2. Both games are great, but new players dont want to play SC1 anymore, because its outdated and there is a better thing already.