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LanPhreaks
CipItTech
PlaystationWorld
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Homeworld: Cataclysm
When
Homeworld won Game of the Year in 1999 from PC Gamer magazine, it just seemed
right to me. I'd had the game for months, playing every mission until I g ot
it perfect before moving on to the next. The end was dramatic and well though
out, but it left the perfect opening for a sequel. Homeworld: Cataclysm is NOT
an expansion pack, but a stand alone game, and a great one. Well, enough about
it's history, lets look deeper to see what makes this game tick ; ).
Single
Player - Here is where the
original Homeworld really shined, and so does this installment. You start out 15
years after the completion of the original game. It really helps to read the
manual and the back-story, so you have a good grasp of what is going on.
Basically your Kiith (clan) was impoverished by the death of your previous
world, and has recently been bolstered by the ranks of lesser Kiithid. The
Mothership has been
placed in orbit around Hiigara and is being used as a shipyard, and your Kiith
recently got access to it for a short time. They built two super-capitol sized
mining ships, the second of which you command, the Kuun-Lan. The game starts
with you on a mining tour interrupted by an attack on Hiigara. Your ship runs
off to help, and your soon enmeshed in the story. I won't go in to it here, as I
don't want to spoil it for you =).
Improvements
- Homeworld: Cataclysm still
uses the Homeworld engine, but with a few improvements. The textures look better
and less fuzzy, it's easier to move units and a lot of options have been added
to the right-click to make them quicker. There is a whole new set of ships, from
your Mothership on down. You start out with access to only the simplest
technologies (fighters and harvesters) and work your way up gradually. For the
first 5 missions or so you're at a very distinct disadvantage, but the missions
are
beatable. One you reach that point things start to get fairer, your tech catches
up. One thing that's not a very big deal in H: C is money. From the start you
mine plenty of cash and, if you spend your money and units wisely, it will last
you through the game with a surplus. The new ships are also very involved; most
of the new features will keep you busy. And when you do have a spare moment, the
cool-ness of the whole game gets a minute or two to sink in. The ships from the
original Homeworld are there too, just on the opposing side. It is to your
benefit to capture some of them, they are often a boon to your technology, and
early in the game that's very useful. You'll also immediately notice the new
"Workers"; they take the place of Harvesters, Salvage Corvettes, and
Repair Corvettes. Very cool, but the Repair and Salvage functions have to be
researched.
Continue..
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