5. Dune 2000.
[Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Dune_2000_(Game).jpg]
From the same people who made Red Alert 2, as you can probably tell from the in game interface. This game is the predecessor of one of the earliest rts in the history of gaming: Dune II, and I played that game, it was like observing history in the gaming, single unit select, awkward unit pathing, goddamn sandworm eating my expensive units... Dune 2000 certainly look a lot better than Dune II did, in fact the graphic kind of remind me of Red Alert I, I am a fan of the novel series, so naturally this game brings great nostalgia for me... the harsh sand of dune forces you to build windtraps for electricity, and building must be on concrete slabs or it will lose hp... giant spice harvester roaming about looking for spice deposits, and I get to play the Atreides ... This is a Dune fan's dream come true, to help Duke Leto claim that cruel sand for the Atreides family and protect the duke from Harkkonens. Too bad I can't change the plot of the book, but this game does bring a sense of fulfillment.
4. Age of Empire 2
[Image: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110219203110/ageofempires/es/images/2/29/Age_Of_Empires_2_The_Age_Of_Kings.jpg]
This is how I learned history, seriously I used the name El Cid because of this game, El Cid Campeador is of course one of the many historical figures introduced to me in the game. Graphic wise this game looks great even today, I can positively say it aged really well, can't say the same for Age of Empire III though... Gameplay wise, this game focuses more on macro than other rts I played with the exception of supreme commander or its ancestor: Total Annihilation. A lot of AE is about massing up army and unit composition that allow you to counter your enemy's units. It is very well madee and I recommend this game to anyone.
3. Red Alert 2
[Image: http://img.wallpaperstock.net:81/red-alert-2-wallpapers_19871_1600x1200.jpg]
The first red alert 2 I played was a modded version, back then game piracy in China was rampant and I have no idea what piracy were. I just knew the cds I bought are bootleg, but little do I know this disc is full of non-sense. Stuffs like mobile gundam version of Starcraft, medieval version of starcraft and... a modded version of Red Alert 2 where everything cost a buck, except dog which costs 2... I don't know why dog is more expensive than dreadnoughts frankly at the time I didn't know the names of the units anyway, all I know is I can build eiffel towers for one buck, and so I filled my base with them and watch enemy attack in droves only to die by electric shocks from those goddamn towers. It was hilarious. Only later did I get a proper version and play the campaign, it was so hard I only manage to finish the campaigns properly not a year ago, but boy are these rewarding.
2. Starcraft (& broodwar)
[Image: http://us.blizzard.com/static/_images/games/sc/wallpapers/wall1/wall1-1920x1200.jpg]
Starcraft was probably my first rts game, it introduced me to the genre and for a time I thought everybody in the world knows about this game (because every kid I know when I was in China knows about this game) I still remember the first time I played this game, I was in a dark room with no lights on, I think my parents were out or something I clicked it open and had no idea where the fuck should I click to start the game, it was in english and at the time I knew diddly squat about english, all I remember is there is that awesome animated battle field all lid up when my cursor was on it, so I clicked that, and the ok, and now we are on the main mission screen, too bad I don't understand a bit of the interface and clicked custom game... it was a long list of trial and error before I manage to actually play the campaign, but boy was it worth it. I remember being so surprised about the unit portrait, it looks like a camera shot it although to this day I am still not sure if they filmed the portrait or made it, I was pretty sure at the time computer animation was not at the level to make those but yet there they are again.
Anyway I got sidetracked, this is easily one of my favourite rts, even though I thoroughly suck at it.
1. Warcraft III
[Image: http://hd.wallpaperswide.com/thumbs/warcraft_3-t2.jpg]
I know most people who play RTS would pick Starcraft as their number one rts, but not me bro, that's too mainstream... but seriously, I love Starcraft but I must admit WCIII is the very first RTS that I played through the campaign without cheating, starcraft? cheated, Age of Empire II? cheated, red alert 2? No cheat? Didn't play through (well I did later). Something about WCIII's plot just captures my attention so much. When I finished the human campaign I was in such despressed state like you wouldn't even know, then the start of undead campaign I was cringing like mad just because how attached I was to Arthas and how painful it is to see him as a deathknight killing the very people he tried to save. It was an experience comparable to Spec Ops the line. When I think back, I just know it had to be my number one rts.