I played a ton of RTS games, but I still remember fondly Tiberian Sun for the art style.
It has a very, very distinct feel from anything else back then, and anything that followed.
For me it's a combination of many factors. Voxel units looked great at small scale compared to any polygonal type that came after that. The infantry and landscape is 2D and hand-crafted. It's gorgeous. I think this was the last game in the series where this was the case. Dynamic and scripted lighting, esp nearby tiberium, added a ton to make some of the landscapes really look alien and alive - but did so without changing the vibe of the game. The soundtracks were very fitting as well, although not as memorable as C&C RA.
I'm not nostalgic here. I really did like subsequent games in the series. RA2 was great. I had lots of fun with Generals too (which I always thought looked stunning).
But Tiberian Sun has really a _distinct_ feel to it encompassing everything. RIP Westwood.
It has a very, very distinct feel from anything else back then, and anything that followed.
For me it's a combination of many factors. Voxel units looked great at small scale compared to any polygonal type that came after that. The infantry and landscape is 2D and hand-crafted. It's gorgeous. I think this was the last game in the series where this was the case. Dynamic and scripted lighting, esp nearby tiberium, added a ton to make some of the landscapes really look alien and alive - but did so without changing the vibe of the game. The soundtracks were very fitting as well, although not as memorable as C&C RA.
I'm not nostalgic here. I really did like subsequent games in the series. RA2 was great. I had lots of fun with Generals too (which I always thought looked stunning).
But Tiberian Sun has really a _distinct_ feel to it encompassing everything. RIP Westwood.