The ultimate RTS thread

[TheJBurger]

Command & Conquer was one of my favorite games, and I subsequently played the sequels, Red Alert + 2, Tiberian Sun, and C&C 3 (skipped Generals). I haven't played Starcraft (but only have heard good things about it) and I only played a little of warcraft.

And I don't know why, but I can't seem to get into 3D RTS's (C&C 3, Company of Heroes [demo]) as much as the old games like Dune 2, and Warcraft, etc.

And another thing I hate about the recent FPS's I've played is that it all seems to be about massing units. When I played C&C 1, and I saw an enemy obelisk, I would meticulously plan out strategies to knock out the power from the safe side of the mountain with artillery, or slowing kill the sam sites with my orcas, or use my commando and sneak in from behind. I actually had to use my head to work out a plan.
In the recent C&C games (because they are the only strategy games I play), all I do is build 50 tanks and mass rush the enemy base. I don't know if it's what I'm supposed to do, or if there's another way to play, but it works and I just do it.

[Oliwerko]

I see that most of you that love C&C are into Red Alert. IMHO Red Alert 1 was the best C&C so far. Despite its simplicity it has had a great gameplay.

I also forgot to mention Stronghold Crusader - I spent a few hours of my life in this game, it is really fun. I dont know why, but it is.

JA2 is still the best of its genre I think. But with JA2 it is like with all hardcore games - only few of them - and no one except the hardore players (few people) buys them. This is a bit sad.

For everyone TBS-based, I would suggest playing Steel Panthers: World at War, which is free and hilariously perfect to say. Absolute WW2 strategy, I doubt there is a better one. Just try it, and after a while trying to understand the rules, you wont play any other WW2 TBS.
Civilization 4 is also a good piece in TBSes, with all that diplomacy and stuff, I like it a lot as well...

[DoorKnobHandle]

I would like to know on what points you base your assumption here that a C&C game would be "just another SC clone"? It seems that you build that opinion up purely based on the universe the game is set it, not the actual game mechanics?

You're a SC fanatic. Either this or RTS fanatic.

Well, if in a strategy-game, caring about the actual game-mechanics makes me one, then I guess I am one. By my definition I sure ain't.

To me, it doesn't really matter if I can group infinite or twelve units, use peons to build a farm or have HQ put some crap into ground and let building pop up miles away, collect crystals or some gas too. The mechanics should enjoyable and make gaming comfortable, nothing else. To me, I mean. It's still all about destroying enemy, overpowering him with your wits and strategy.

And that is exactly the difference between our opinions - you don't care much about game-mechanics, you prefer the feeling, the universe maybe, the ability to overpower. I prefer a well-told story with dynamic characters (just compare C&C stereotypes like Tania, the Russian special agent with huge tits, with the dominant female character in SC, Kerrigan, who actually shows feelings and opinions, who changes sides from Terran to Zerg in the course of the story, all embedded into your missions), I prefer a game in which you can't just mass über-tanks and run over the enemy no matter what he has build up (read above posts).

All that now sounds like I'm not respecting your opinion, perhaps, but that's not true, just wanted to make that clear - I respect your opinion there and I'm sure there are many more gamers out there thinking exactly like you - as there are many out there thinking like me. In fact, I used to love C&C and still like it for what it's worth: a trashy (in the good sense here) and humorous, but rather nonstrategic game.

[deadsuperhero]

Loved the Command and Conquer series. But, WarCraft and StarCraft were amazing to me.
Hopefully, StarCraft II will be even more awesome.

[BOYD1981]

strange how the most liked ones seem to be from the 2D age
one thing i really love about the 2D RTS games (and 2D dimetric/isometric games in general) is zooming into screenshots to see the amount of detail on everything which disappeared with the early 3D attempts when instead we got blocky units and structures with lo-res textures.

[lo_res_man]

I have never played an RTS whose story really grabbed me. It always felt like such a side issue. Sure, it helped give a REASON for my actions, but it never felt like it was all that important. I was a commander, my mission was my mission and that was it. The cut sceins whether Live Action/CGI Red Alert, or full CGI like Warcraft or Starcraft, were fun for setting the mood, but not important for driving me to play.

[Oliwerko]

I have never played an RTS whose story really grabbed me. It always felt like such a side issue. Sure, it helped give a REASON for my actions, but it never felt like it was all that important. I was a commander, my mission was my mission and that was it. The cut sceins whether Live Action/CGI Red Alert, or full CGI like Warcraft or Starcraft, were fun for setting the mood, but not important for driving me to play.

This takes me to one thing I forgot to mention - I usually play skirmishes and instant battles instead of campaigns in RTS games. I hate strategies which dont have skirmish!