2026-06-07
The Ill-Fated Masterpiece Total Annihilation: A Plastic Surgeon’s Gaming Recommendation
A nostalgic look at Total Annihilation, the 1997 RTS classic that pushed technical boundaries and influenced the development of StarCraft.
The Ill-Fated Masterpiece Total Annihilation: A Plastic Surgeon’s Gaming Recommendation
This is a game created by a company called Cavedog around 1997 or 1998.
Back then, I owned a Pentium 150, and since this was quite a high-spec game for the time, it would occasionally slow down during gameplay.
However, I believe it was the best game of its era. It was actually ahead of StarCraft. I heard that when StarCraft was first showcased as a successor to WarCraft, the content felt so lacking compared to Total Annihilation that they decided to rewrite the program from scratch.
When you first start, there is a ‘thump’ sound, and it makes a sound every time you click.
Also, the background music played directly from the CD.
I recall StarCraft playing music via MP3 files, but I remember this game playing high-quality audio straight from the disc.
The text from the intro screen:
‘What began as a conflict over the transfer of consciousness from flesh to machines escalated into a war which has decimated a million worlds. The Core and the Arm have all but exhausted the resources of a galaxy in their struggle for domination. Both sides now crippled beyond repair, the remnants of their armies continue to battle on ravaged planets, their hatred fueled by over four thousand years of total war. This is a fight to the death. For each side, the only acceptable outcome is the complete elimination of the other.’
By the way, does anyone know exactly what ‘now crippled beyond repair’ means here? Please leave a translation in the comments.
https://youtu.be/k6mZZiI4ShQ
It is a game I really want to play again.
It seems to be available for purchase on Steam. I heard that Cavedog unfortunately went out of business.
It was a game that was simply too far ahead of its time... but I think we have it to thank for the version of StarCraft we eventually got.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and by which company was Total Annihilation made?
Yes, it is a game developed and released by a company called Cavedog around 1997 or 1998. At the time, it was a high-spec game with demanding system requirements, to the extent that it would slow down somewhat on a Pentium 150 PC.
How is this game related to StarCraft?
Yes, it greatly influenced the development direction of StarCraft. It is a game that was ahead of its time, to the extent that there is a story that when the initial StarCraft was poorly revealed, feeling like a sequel to Warcraft, the developers were stimulated by the excellent completeness of Total Annihilation and rewrote the program from scratch.
How was the background music of Total Annihilation played?
Yes, the background music played as CD audio tracks when the game CD was inserted. This was a different method from StarCraft, where background music was played as MP3 files, and the unique sound effects that occurred with each click were also an impressive feature.
Can I still play Total Annihilation today?
Yes, it is currently available for purchase through the Steam platform, so you can play it again. However, the company that developed the game, Cavedog, is reportedly defunct, perhaps because it was too far ahead of its time.