Favourite strategy game of all time

[Kraxis]

I loved Sacrifice, even played multiplayer semi-actively. Sac is a good example of a game that's original, has high production values, is a critical success yet tanks in sales. Maybe it was a bit too weird.

It's funny when people are being snobbish and denouncing mainstream games while demanding originality, but when you ask if they have played (and consequently supported) "different" games like Sacrifice, Planescape: Torment, OP:Flashpoint (in the US), Grim Fandango, Terra Nova, System Shocks etc, the answer is no. Somewhat hypocritical.

While I have only played System Shock and OP Flashpoint of those mentioned, I didn't like the feeling (no atmosphere, just... well not me I guess) of either the Grim Fandango or Planescape: Torment, though I must admit that they were well made and different. It was like when I say Brokeback Mountain, I didn't like it much but I could see it was a good movie regardless.
But I haven't heard much about Terra Nova or Sacrifice...

Take a look at these games. When people complain and haven't played them it could very much be because those games haven't been exposed very much. Not everyone go out and looks for special games, especially if they don't know they existed.
So take the complaint to be directed at the big ones. About the most original big game out there is RTW! That says something.

[orangat]

I don't play or like strategy games in general. The TW series however is a niche in the rts genre with its tactical battle gameplay. There are other similar games but they seem to be arcadelike and primitive compared to TW.

One important feature of RTW is its ability to set the difficulty the tactical and strategic campaign separately. Since I prefer the tactical portion, I lower the campaign difficulty.

[Samurai Waki]

1. STW (This was the very first strategy game I played, and really attached me to CA's Style)
2. Hearts of Iron II (Not as big of a fanatic as I used to be, but I still play when theres nothing else to play)
3. MTW (Played this for years and still play from time to time)
4. Combat Mission (I loved each and every installment of the CM genre)
5. RTW (Although I feel like CA back tracked in a few areas with RTW, overall, the game is still fun, especially playing it with the many many mods that are available).

[GiantMonkeyMan]

1) Command & Conquer: Red Alert - when i was younger i used to get up at 5 in the morning before school just to get in a skirmish battle for this game
2) Alpha Centauri - i still play this game all the time on my laptop, it is so fun and the AI is actually quite good sometimes
3) Shogun: Total War - my first taste of TW for a fiver... aren't i so glad
4) Castles - this game was so fun and really hard to understand but i was hooked for a bit
5) (i am sorry guys) Age of Empires - i really used to like this game but now i never play it

Rome for me is about 7 behind red alert aftermath and civ 3

[Crandaeolon]

But I haven't heard much about Terra Nova or Sacrifice...

Take a look at these games. When people complain and haven't played them it could very much be because those games haven't been exposed very much.

They were both critic darlings at the time, so I don't think it's lack of exposure. TN got eclipsed by Mechwarrior 2, but I'd be hard pressed to call MW2 a "better" game. Just a better brand.

Anyways, on topic: (fav TBS or RTS games, in no particular order)

Total Annihilation
Master of Orion 2
Age of Wonders 2: Shadow Magic
Dominions 2 (as PBEM)
Combat Mission
Steel Panthers: World at War

I might sound a little blasphemous here, but i don't like the Total War series all that much. I've never finished a single campaign in any of the three games, it's mostly been about multiplayer only. And TW multiplayer has suffered from serious flaws since day one... in retrospect, it was rather sucky. Other games are so much smoother, dunno why i bothered in the first place. Maybe because there were, and still are, few alternatives to get that epic battle feeling.

[econ21]

I might sound a little blasphemous here, but i don't like the Total War series all that much. I've never finished a single campaign in any of the three games,...

What Total War does so well, IMO, are the battles. They are just like the minature wargames I used to admire, but with all the complex rules, die rolling etc going on under the hood and a lot more flashy visuals, sound n fury etc. I don't think any other computer wargame has come close to matching TW battles in getting such a balance between authenticity (lots of modifiers etc), playability and sheer visual flair.

May be they are just not for your cup of tea, but two suggestions just in case:

(1) Have you considered joining a PBM (visit the Throne Room)?

Playing a TW campaign solo requires a certain amount of will and patience - the game does not really have the hooks - the goody hut type rewards and the scarey AI threats - of some other games (Civ4 comes to mind; RPGs even more so). I typically did not finish campaigns in STW and MTW. Ironically RTW was about the first TW campaign I finished - it was my first game (Julii) and then I almost gave up on the game until I tried RTR.

Being in a PBM shortens the drag obviously and somehow makes it more vivid - the sense of continuity, trying to make good on what you've inherited and to leave something good for the next player. Also you come to it at various stages of a game and may be surprised by how good some of the mid/late gameplay is. Two examples: playing a Almohad mid-game in MTW, I got into some epic scraps with a massive Byzantine empire - probably the best TW game I've had:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...&postcount=202
More recently, playing a Seleucid PBM, I was surprised how much fun it is to take on the 4 Roman factions in the late game, when they have big stacks etc.

Of course, if you like writing (and reading), that's another plus of a PBM.

(2) Second suggestion - try the mods, of course.

RTW was a 6/10 for me until I tried RTR, then it shot up to 9/10. EB is probably even better ("...it goes up to 11..."). Given the slow pace of a TW campaign, having great period detail, beautiful and authentic units, better battles, a more challenging economy etc makes you savour it more.

[Azi Tohak]

STW is my tops, but I also liked M1 Tank Platoon. Disgaea is good too... but not really in the same vein as STW.

Azi

[Xiahou]

Anyways, on topic: (fav TBS or RTS games, in no particular order)

Total Annihilation
Master of Orion 2
Age of Wonders 2: Shadow Magic
Dominions 2 (as PBEM)
Combat Mission
Steel Panthers: World at War

Im glad that someone threw Total Annihilation a bone. That game was years ahead of it's time imo. Too bad the company went under after dropping that turd of a game Total Annihilation: Kingdoms....

I find Im not much for RTSs anymore, but I may still go back and reinstall TA sometime.

[Subedei]

1. RTW (EB & RTR) + i guess Blue Lotus/ Citadel
2. X-Com: Enemy Unknown (the amazing atmosphere)
3. Pirates! (Sid Meier's)
4. AOE II (b/c of the Mongols)
5. MTW (1st & surprising TW game i played)

...and a game on c64 called "Emperor" or in german "Imperator"

...just had to think about how many joyfull hours these games gave me....

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Empire Earth

[Zanderpants]

My favorite strategy games that I've ever played:

1. Medieval: TW + VI
2. Rome: TW + EB
3. Hearts of Iron
4. Myth I & II (still amazing games)
5. Black & White II/Caesar III
6. Warcraft II and Lords of The Realm II (Back in the day)

Ahh, memoriesssss