

Cnet gave it 3 and a half stars out of 5.
#TOTAL ANNIHILATION KINGDOMS PATCH PATCH#
Cnet originally gave it a bad review partly for the heavy lag in-game, then stated this problem was fixed with the free 2.0 patch and gave a more positive review.IGN gave it a rating of 6.9 stating that 'Cavedog's me-too fantasy game is beautiful, but the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.'.Mark Asher of CNET Gamecenter wrote that 'Kingdoms didn't do too badly, but with a much larger development and marketing budget than TA's, it certainly underperformed when compared to that title.' Unlike the original Total Annihilation which has most of the units on its two factions virtually the same, other than in appearance, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms has very distinct characteristics between factions.While the original Total Annihilation has players playing through the Core or Arm campaigns separately, Total Annihilation: Kingdoms switches between the four groups, players playing each side, as the levels progressed.Four sides at the start, as opposed to the original's two, with an expansion pack that added in a fifth.Simplified resource-management, with just one resource (mana) instead of two (metal, energy).A change from a futuristic setting to a fantasy setting.A more in-depth storyline, told with cutscenes between missions just as Total Annihilation had, but with more detail.There are numerous thematic and design differences between Total Annihilation and Total Annihilation: Kingdoms.

Although the game is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the original Total Annihilation game, comparisons between the two games are inevitable. Total Annihilation: Kingdoms is the anticipated second installment of the Total Annihilation franchise.
