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Incredible

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 17
Date: February 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Homeworld is more than a technical and gaming masterpiece, but an absolute work of art. If you don't have the hardware to run it at maximum detail, it's time to upgrade. After one good firefight with an armada of ships, you'll be glad you did. The soundtrack is also exemplary- far better than most of the genre. The game is very stable, has remarkably few bugs for such a complex piece of software, and has a remarkably intuitive control system. If you've ever played a real time strategy game, it shouldn't take you more than a half hour to master the controls.

Aside from its technical excellence, the game has a compelling background and storyline. The single play missions are excellent, and the plot really draws you in. They are also quite challenging and- unlike any other RTS I've played- cumulative. That is to say, your fleet carries over into the next mission, so it's in your best interest to not go suicidal just to pass one. Despite the fact that the single play plot is linear, it is still far more engrossing than any other single-play RTS I've gone through.

More than the typical strategy game, this is really one of those titles that has a dominant tactical aspect. Just because you can build tons of units doesn't mean you'll win. For example, you could have a hundred strike craft, but if your enemy has invested in a gravity well generator or missile destroyer, an attack would be suicide. Resource gathering is also far more difficult than in most other RTS titles, and if you don't protect your gathering operations you WILL be dead. Between protecting your gatherers and your mothership, you'll have plenty to worry about. Despite this, the game doesn't force you to micromanage things. You can assign tactics to your units and have them do the thinking, which leaves you to sit back and watch the fireworks. It's the deployment and distribution of your forces that will decide the outcome.

On the aforementioned graphical aspect- it is amazing. The level of detail is on par with Freespace, but you'll see much more of the action and many more units engaging in combat. There are many detailed ships and objects in both fleets, and even more in single play. While the opposing Kushan and Taiidan fleets are nearly identical in capabilities and armaments, their ships look radically different. It's fun to change sides from time to time, just to look at the different vessels.

So, if you haven't tried this out yet, now's your chance. Even if you don't like sci-fi or strategy, you should take a look. Homeworld is bound to impress.

My dream has come true!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 20 / 22
Date: June 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I've always wanted to play a really engrossing space sim, something like a movie / game. Well, after playing a lot of games without any engrossing gameplay, I decided to try out Homeworld. I'm glad I did! Homeworld is the BEST space RTS / Sim / Movie I've ever played! I feel like I'm taking part in a movie with the great music, voice overs, and cut scenes. The engine graphics are just amazing! I'm finally seeing the true power my of pc!

With that said, I do believe I will be playing Homeworld for quite some time. There's so much to do and explore, it really is a great game. If your one to try new games without all the hype, give Homeworld a try. It will change your whole attitude towards RTS games. Starcraft just doesn't seem to have any feel now after playing Homeworld.

Game of the Year bundle: The music CD is great! As for the Prima guide, it's as bad as all their other guides. Large print, lack of pages, and lack of rich content. Oh well, it's free anyway :)

Ive seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of orion.....

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: June 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing this game 6 hours a day for the last 3 days. Its all I do when I get home from work. The game, visually, is intense. Watching your squadrons of strike craft in sphere formation engaging enemy fighters while your capital ships pound your enemies frigates, destroyers and cruisers into debris is awesome. My personal favorite is watching the ion beams erupt through an exploding ship. The mechanics of combat are set up better than anything I have seen before. You have a true sense of scale, the fighters are tiny and motherships are huge. You could never pull something cheap like destroying a heavy cruiser with 2 scouts, the ion cannons have it rough targeting fighters etc.. Strategy is very important in this game. You can get stomped if you deploy your fleet the wrong way. Conversly if you execute your manuevers correctly you can smash your opponent with minimal losses. Combat is easy to manage. Definitely not a click-fest. Its enough to keep you on the edge of your seat but not enough to be overwhelming. Once orders are given you can sit back and watch for a few seconds, and its worth watching. Target selection is very easy, there are several different ways to select either you own or your opponents craft. On top of that when it gets hairy you can turn on a tactical overlay that identifies each ship as yours or theirs and what class of ship it is. The interface is pretty tight, you cant get lost, scrolling around in empty space and its very easy to manipulate the camera with the mouse and give orders at the same time. 3D movement which is tricky no matter how you implement it is done as easily as posible, you have to use it to understand it. Its hard to explain without at least a picture. There are flaws to everything and Homeworld is then just like everything else. There are two different clans of ships but only one campaign. On top of that there is only a minimal difference between the two clans. It would have been nice to see a substanial difference between the two clans ships and tactics like you do in Starcraft. The research and technology implementation is only mediocre. You get the chance to research new technologies after certain events in the game. But the research costs you nothing and you have as much time as you need at the end of each mission so the developers might as well have simply given it to you. The one major complaint that I have is that when I jump to hyperspace some of my ships tend to get left behind..... The bottom line is that this game delivers where it counts. The engine is solid and the gameplay is fluid. The missions are diverse and interesting. Homeworld 2 will only be better I imagine, with more diverse units and clans, and better animation. Homeworld does not feel like a finished project to me but the developers have made the right choices in focusing on the engine and gameplay. It lacks the glitz and lensflares, but if you have ever been burned by a hyped up game that fell flat then you know that its whats under the hood that counts. With the revenues and feedback from Homeworld I believe that further efforts by this team will be more refined and even more enjoyable.

A review from the author of Tales of Ancient Xenar

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: December 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have played many Real Time Strategy games which use a Real-Time 3D architecture. But this game uses it the best of all. The controls are very easy to understand. You Can move the camera around simply by holding down the righ mouse button and moving the camera around. Hold both mouse buttons or use the mouse wheel if you have one to zoom in and out. And because the action is entirely in space, you don't have a ground to block your camera movement as you do in many other RTS games that use RT3D. There are many different usits you can use. Strike craft like Scouts, interceptors and attack bombers. Corvettes like light, heavy and salvage corvettes. Frigates like ion beam, support and attack frigates. And capital ships like Destroyers, missile destroyers and heavy cruisers. I gave this game 4 stars because it does have 2 weaknesses. 1 is in the 1 players games, both sides have the same storyline to follow. And 2, because its RT3D, the game tends to slow down on some systems if more units become present in play. But all in all, this game is very good. The only other game I can recommend is the standalone expansion, Homeworld cataclysm. And check out my book on this site too ;)

Highly Immersive Gameplay!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: July 04, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Homeworld's best features-graphics engine, scripting, control mechanics, narrative flow, and mission structure, are so fluid, so highly immersive, that it makes the experience far more than the sum of its parts. The combination of large scale fleet actions and cinematic perspectives creates the most impressive space combat ever made for a strategy game. Its like being in the middle of, and in cotrol of, a Star Wars battle. 16 single player missions can make for some short gaming time but most people go through the campaign at least twice-its that good. In single player, you'll encounter 2 races, aside from the main one that your trying to decimate. There are 26 units to choose from on each side, with 3 main classes of ships-from the paltry fire of the scout, to the amazing might of the heavy cruiser. The excellent use of 3D makes for some interesting strategies, putting much imphasis on the element of surprise...

To sum it up, buy Homeworld for its engrossing real-time-strategy matched to a vital and visually intense story, making this a gaming experience like none other.

P.S. You may want to check the Relic and Sierra message boards to see what other people think of the game-plus it could help you along in learning the basic components of the game

A game of Epic proportions -- You'll be looking for Cylons

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 09, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Have you ever heard of Galactica ? If you have, then you will feel right at home in Homeworld, (no pun intended) searching for your Homeworld aboard your mothership.

By now you've probably seen the screenshots or demo and know that it has an amazing 3D engine and awesome graphics...

Here's why it was game of the year in 1999: Playability and Fun Factor !

If you liked Starcraft, Command and Conquer etc. and are ready for a bigger and different challenge...this game offers the same real-time management thrills but multiplied in another dimension...space in true 3D.

The maneuverability of the viewpoint is something that must be experienced to be believed. Few games to date can match it in terms of ease of interface for a complex spatial environment.

This game re-defined a genre(RTS) and has a rich story (Galactica-like) and technical merit (beautiful sound/music and graphics) it does belong in any Sci-fi or Space RTS fan's gaming library, a true classic.

One of the best ever, hands-down.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 29, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Homeworld is, quite simply, one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played. The graphics will bring tears to your eyes (as long as you've got a halfway-decent video card, anyway), as will the haunting soundtrack. The single-player campaign has an engrossing plot expounded by nifty anime-style cutscenes as well as in-game 3D animation sequences, and multiplayer matches are a blast. Yes, the interface takes a little getting used to at first (it is 3D, after all), but it's really not bad at all if you give it half a chance.
In addition to beautiful graphics and sound, excellent gameplay, and an engrossing plot, there are countless little details that make this a great game. I love being able to customize the color schemes of my ships, for example. And the fact that turrets and gimballed guns actually move to point at their targets before firing - despite the fact that I'm rarely zoomed in close enough to watch this during an epic battle - is excellent.
I could write pages about this game, but playing it will give you a far better idea of what I'm talking about. Enjoy!

A Gem from the Ancient World

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm writing this review to emphasize that this is one of those games that is timeless, like Fallout 1 & 2. And for only $10, the value of this game is comparable to those old favorites of mine (together they are also $10).

The reason it is timeless is because of the developer's implementation: they made a scalable graphics engine. Homeworld may have looked mediocre four years ago, but now that people have computer systems that can handle it in 1600x1200x32, its graphics are comparable to current titles (2003). Ships still have a relatively low polycount and the textures are a little pixelated, but bear in mind: this game was released in 1999!

Other strengths that the game has are mentioned in other reviews. One of my favorites is that the "maps" are so expansive. You really feel like you are in the unfathomable depths of space fighting galactic battles over huge distances. The sensor system makes this overwhelming environment managable; it is one of the coolest features of the game IMO. Did I mention it has an awesome story?!

One of the BEST games ever. Period.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: December 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Before I got this game, I was not really into real-time-strategy (RTS). However I was looking for a good space sim and so I got this game. All I can say is, WOW.

The standard by which I measure games more than anything is the story and content. Homeworld delivered both of them beyond my wildest expectations. And while the graphics may be somewhat dated by today's standards, looks really do not matter compared to the content that the game delivers.

The story is about a 4,000 year-old derlict ship discovered in the desert of a backwater planet called Kharak, which contains an artifact known as the 'guide stone' and information that the inhabitants of Khrak (you can choose from two races to play) are not native to planet but from a world known as Hiigaria. This united Kharak's clans as never before in a massive project to return in their homeworld. Over a period of 60 earth-standard years, a gigantic colony ship is built. Deep inside the mothership is the hyperspace core from the derilect, which was rebuilt for use in the mothership. The ship's tests largely go as planned until the test-run of the hyperspace core. While the jump itself went flawlessly, a science ship sent to the systems edge to receive them has gone missing. Scout ships and probes discover a burned out hulk of what was once the science vessel and a distress call that they came under fire from mysterious hostiles. The mothership and its defending forces are ambushed by these same hostiles but manage to return to Kharak, only to find the planet engulfed in a planet-wide firestorm. All that is left of the Hiigarian race is the mothership crew and some six hundred thousand people in cryogenic suspension who survived the destruction of the mothership's scaffold. The msterious attackers attack the cryo trays, doing their best to make the Hiigarians extinct, but the cryo trays are saved and the crew of an enemy frigate are captured. The enemy crew reveals that the Hiigarians violated a 4,000-year old treaty that they knew nothing about, a treaty not to develop hyperspace technology, which is punishable by extinction of their race. With nothing left, the Hiigarians have no choice but to make it to their homeworld. I will not spoil anything, but the journey is filled with with new discoveries and new perils along the way. The hunt for the mothership and the Hiigarian's fight against the enemy empire to retake Hiigaria would become known as "The Homeworld War."

The gameplay has a steep lurning curve, and taking the training course before beginning the camapaign or skirmish is ESSENTIAL. Even if you have played RTS games, the gameplay system in here is unique enough to require it. You also need a very three-dimensional mind to play this game: learning to defend yourself, think and fight along all three axis is the only way you will win this game. You will also need a lot of patience. Many missions are very long and you will be going back and retrying. From the sixth mission and onward, the game gets VERY hard.

The music is top-notch, ranking up there along with the music from Deus Ex, Heavy Gear and Mechwarrior 2. The music is a combination of orchistral and middle-eastern.

All in all this game deserves five stars.

Spend 10 bucks & leave reality for HOMEWORLD!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 01, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Computer gaming is an amazing thing; two of my 5 favorite PC games of all time were purchased for under twenty bucks apiece.

One of those, Homeworld, is simply spectacular... I've played few games more immersive, and none more epic in scope. The visuals are gorgeous, and the music... the best I've come across in my many years of gaming. I even play the accompanying Homeworld soundtrack cd in my vehicle while cruising about town - it's that good. I've been a scifi buff all my life... from the original Star Trek through Star Wars through Babylon 5. Yet only once has a game really captured the fantasy of deep space travel, of interstellar intrigue and great wars among the cosmos. And that game is Homeworld.

Though I wouldn't call it a 'negative', the single person game can be quite difficult at times (there are no level of difficulty settings). I resorted to the strategy guide for a level or two - though like most strategy guides, I found my own way of doing things on other levels that worked just as well (if not better). But oh, the gratification of winning back our Homeworld... was it sweet!

For ten dollars, it's a sin not to pick up a copy of Homeworld!

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