Homeworld
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For some reason I keep thinking about this game and continually forget I haven't written about it yet. Homeworld was one of the only Real Time Strategy games that takes place in space and with that one of the only ones that takes place in 3 dimensions. Released in 1999, Homeworld gives you control of either the Kushan or the Taiidan as you take the remaining 600,000 members of each of their planets on an exodus that includes both revenge and the search for their origin.
Homeworld was just perfect, with nothing else like it. Floating your little ships out of their colossal mothership, with their trailing blue jets and their muffled radio chatter. Organizing your ships into various formations and launching them into orbit around a piece of salvage as another wing circulates, keeping watch for raiders.
Homeworld was most enjoyable simply for this fantastic atmosphere it created. Floating around in space, with a frozen crew of 600k, felt lonely as you jumped faster-than-light from point to point on a journey to discover your true home planet. Between the map view and the camera view Relic managed to create a game that was easily manageable even though you had to focus on a large number of ships traveling in a sphere about your primary mothership. You could back the camera way out to get a good view of what was going on, but also close in real tight on any one ship to get a great view of the current action including watching individual gun turret animations.
Homeworld received a standalone expansion, Cataclysm, as well as a sequel a few lears later which I never really knew for sure existed. Both Cataclysm and it's predecessor featured incredible ship designs. Designs which were simple enough, with great silhouettes which made them easily identifiable; an important point both for looks and for gameplay when controlling a vast array of crafts.
Both games also featured an incredible, award winning score, primarily ambient, including a fantastic rendition of the very recognizable Agnus Dei from Samuel Barber. A piece that I can no longer hear without instantly imagining the voyage jump of the Kushan mothership.
It's been much too long since I've had the chance to enjoy this game. Thankfully I'm not the only one that feel this way and the property has finally seen the light of day. Sierra and Relic have passed Homeworld onto Gearbox and Blackbird Interactive who will be making both a brand new game, Homeworld: Shipbreakers and an HD remake of Homeworld 1 and 2. Both of which I feel will be day-1 purchases for me. Colour me very excited.
For some reason I keep thinking about this game and continually forget I haven't written about it yet. Homeworld was one of the only Real Time Strategy games that takes place in space and with that one of the only ones that takes place in 3 dimensions. Released in 1999, Homeworld gives you control of either the Kushan or the Taiidan as you take the remaining 600,000 members of each of their planets on an exodus that includes both revenge and the search for their origin.Homeworld was just perfect, with nothing else like it. Floating your little ships out of their colossal mothership, with their trailing blue jets and their muffled radio chatter. Organizing your ships into various formations and launching them into orbit around a piece of salvage as another wing circulates, keeping watch for raiders.
Homeworld was most enjoyable simply for this fantastic atmosphere it created. Floating around in space, with a frozen crew of 600k, felt lonely as you jumped faster-than-light from point to point on a journey to discover your true home planet. Between the map view and the camera view Relic managed to create a game that was easily manageable even though you had to focus on a large number of ships traveling in a sphere about your primary mothership. You could back the camera way out to get a good view of what was going on, but also close in real tight on any one ship to get a great view of the current action including watching individual gun turret animations. Homeworld received a standalone expansion, Cataclysm, as well as a sequel a few lears later which I never really knew for sure existed. Both Cataclysm and it's predecessor featured incredible ship designs. Designs which were simple enough, with great silhouettes which made them easily identifiable; an important point both for looks and for gameplay when controlling a vast array of crafts. Both games also featured an incredible, award winning score, primarily ambient, including a fantastic rendition of the very recognizable Agnus Dei from Samuel Barber. A piece that I can no longer hear without instantly imagining the voyage jump of the Kushan mothership.
It's been much too long since I've had the chance to enjoy this game. Thankfully I'm not the only one that feel this way and the property has finally seen the light of day. Sierra and Relic have passed Homeworld onto Gearbox and Blackbird Interactive who will be making both a brand new game, Homeworld: Shipbreakers and an HD remake of Homeworld 1 and 2. Both of which I feel will be day-1 purchases for me. Colour me very excited.
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