Actually, all of the audio in the game is excellent. The sound of ships moving and fighting in space is handled nicely, and the musical score is suitably atmospheric. Paul Ruskay and Greg Sabitz of Studio X Productions did a fantastic job of conveying both the epic sweep of the story and the sheer horror of facing the unknown in the depths of space. Also, there is no reworked "Roundabout" or "I've Seen All Good People"... for which a grateful nation sighs its relief.

Graphically, Homeworld: Cataclysm is identical to Homeworld. The vastness and beauty of space is nicely communicated through nebulae, planets and moons in the distance, and rubble that floats by for an appointment with eternity. Ships are acceptably realistic when viewed from a distance or from up-close. There is a slight plastic sheen over everything that reminds you of the original game engine's advanced age, but this won't be a problem unless you require your games to sport the latest in eye candy.

Homeworld: Cataclysm and its predecessor are the only two computer games I've been disappointed to finish since I first made my way through Jedi Knight back in 1997. And this makes both titles pretty special - believe me, when you play games for a living, you don't often cry "More!" when you finish one. The basic foundation and overall game balance and execution are so solid that other developers should be ringing up Barking Dog to find out how sequels are supposed to be designed. Don't miss this one.

Brett Todd
Contributing Editor