Sound, Multiplayer, and Final Thoughts

If all of the preceding doesn’t convince you that Cataclysm is worthy of installment on your hard drive, the graphics will. As in Homeworld, the visual splendor of Cataclysm is unmatched in 3D RTS games. First of all, the game takes place in a fully three-dimensional universe. The camera is completely free to rotate while focusing on a single ship or an entire fleet. Ships can be observed at mere inches away, or form a birds-eye perspective. Every ship is carefully detailed with moving parts and special effects. Ship textures look every bit as good up close as they do from a distance. Explosive effects offer an impressive, cinematic quality that will have your mouth watering for more. If you want to get up closer to the action, there is a new pilot view in Cataclysm that allows you to hop in the cockpit for a roller coaster ride in virtually any ship in your fleet. The graphics are scalable to meet the needs of your computer hardware capabilities. Many functions can be turned off for users who have less up to date hardware, so the game will be playable by just about anyone. With all the graphical features enabled, the game is just beautiful to look at.

The soundtrack and audio qualities of Cataclysm are almost as good as its visuals. A new soundtrack provides some excellent background music that adds to the eeriness of the atmosphere in Cataclysm. The narration and voice acting throughout the game also do their part to draw the player into the story. Additionally, all of the ships have unique and convincing sounds whether they are in peaceful transit or dogfighting with an enemy fleet. Explosions, lasers, and weapons of all kinds have exceptionally good sound quality. Just listening to the low rumbling sound of the command ship is a reassurance that your fleet is capable of holding its own.

Multiplayer is as much fun as single player in Cataclysm. An in-game interface provides easy access to Sierra’s Cataclysm servers. If you’re feeling diabolical you can play as the Beast, or take a more traditional role as the Somtaaw. Multiplayer missions can be recorded for viewing later, so you can see what you and other players did right or wrong. A plethora of options allows multiplayer games to be tailored according to the desires of those playing.

Much more could be said about the high quality experience Cataclysm brings to the table. Suffice it to say, this game is not one to be passed up by RTS players or fans of the original Homeworld. Aside from a somewhat restrictive and linear single player campaign, there is little about Cataclysm that would turn you off from buying the game. Superb graphics, sound, cut-scenes, and abundant atmosphere combine to make Cataclysm a potential winner for the RTS game of the year.

Overall Score: 90%