Total Annihilation: Kingdoms’ graphics are great. They’re 3D on a 2D landscape, but you don’t need a 3D accelerator. In fact, slow 3D accelerators will make the game run slower than pure software mode. The accelerators simply make fog of war look more like fog, enhance spell effects, etc. Nothing mission critical. The graphics are gorgeous, accelerator or not. The units are detailed, the landscapes are very realistic, the buildings look like buildings, and the crops look like crops. Plus, the spells rock.
The sound is good as well, with realistic arrow, sword, and spell sounds, along with beautiful atmospheric music that changes depending on what’s happening in the game. The FMVs feel like you’re watching some sort of documentary on PBS, complete with voice-overs from people acting like other people... only this time, the people happen to be imaginary. It’s an interesting way to do it, and it works. Hell, the instruction book is gorgeous, with production quality ten times that of most instruction booklets nowadays. Very, very nice.
