Graphics: Catalclysm looks fantastic. It runs without stutter, distortion, or clipping with resolutions up to 1600x1200, and supports software rendering, OpenGL, and Direct3D. The beautiful graphics of the original are augmented with a number of new effects, such as the energy vortex created by a Worker as it harvests dust, and the distortion effect as a Mimic engages its holographic projectors. The Beast's infection weapon is also impressive to behold, as its corruptive charge leaps from vessel to vessel.

The ships themselves are extremely detailed, and almost all of them have separately animated parts. For example, the Acolyte deploys wings while maneuvering at high speeds and the Kuun-Lan has a rotating crew section. Vessels darken, spark, and vent fire when damaged, exploding gloriously when they are destroyed. A new "pilot's eye view" can put players squarely in the middle of the action. Watching a space battle in Cataclysm is at least the equivalent of watching one in a science fiction film or television show; it is a visceral and involving experience.

Interface: Cataclysm includes almost every option in the book; players can configure everything from the amount of radio chatter to whether or not the weapons have muzzle flashes. Players can select their own control scheme, as all of the keyboard commands can be remapped. For Homeworld veterans, Cataclysm can be set to play in "classic" mode, with all of the same controls as the original.

The powerful and intuitive in-game interface remains intact for the most part, with several features that smooth out all of the problems of its ancestor. A meter showing the progress of shipbuilding and research activity is placed prominently on the main screen. The right-click menu has been retooled, and is even more comprehensive than before; it can control almost all of the game's functions. Also, a simple and flexible waypoint system makes it easy for players to set up patrol routes or navigation paths for their ships. In addition, a time compression feature speeds up harvesting and transit times, placing the focus squarely on the exciting aspects of the game. Finally, orders can be issued while the action is paused, which gives players time to plot strategies and co-ordinate large forces. All of these features serve to make an already simple and effective interface into something superb. It doesn't get much better than this.

Gameplay: The designers should be commended for the documentation of Cataclysm, which is all-inclusive and meticulous, full of technical and historical data about the game universe as well as gameplay details. The manual and the excellent tutorial make Cataclysm very accessible and simple to learn. Once players master the controls, they can enjoy one of the greatest real-time strategy titles ever. The all-new units, with their entertaining special abilities, lend themselves to intelligent strategic use, as opposed to simply swamping your enemy with ships. Every unit is important, and maintaining a well-balanced force is essential to victory. An excellent story with some great suspense and plot twists made Cataclysm all the more engrossing.

My only complaints are that the single-player campaign seems a little short at seventeen missions, and that there is no campaign from the Beast's perspective. However, these are minor issues, and they were eclipsed by the sheer fun I had while playing.

Multiplayer: Multiplayer Cataclysm offers players a staggering range of options. Setting up a match through IPX, TCP/IP, or Sierra.com is simple, with a number of game types and scenarios for up to eight players. Multiplayer can be completely customized, from the amount of resources to the victory objectives. Sinister-minded players can assume the role of the Beast, whose infection can be countered with a vaccine -- in multiplayer only -- which helps to maintain a better balance between the races. As in the original, multiplayer Cataclysm is fast-paced and fun, adding almost infinite replayability.

Sound FX: The sound design in Cataclysm is as slick as the graphics. Each ship has a distinctive sound, from the whine of the Sentinels to the low roar of the Dreadnought. The weapons sound as powerful as they look; there's nothing quite like the thrum of an ion cannon followed by a bass-heavy explosion as an enemy ship is cut in half. The voice acting is also very well done, especially the cool, reassuring voice of the captain of the command ship. The voice acting does its part to enhance Cataclysm's terror-filled moments; the chilling scream of your pilots as the Beast virus dissolves them is not easily forgotten.

Musical Score: A darker, more atonal score sets the perfect tone for Cataclysm's more horrific theme. Combining well-composed orchestral fare, wordless vocalization, and tribal-sounding drums, it creates just the right feeling of isolation in deep space. The musical scores also repeat very infrequently, providing a varied and immersive experience.

Intelligence & Difficulty: The intelligence of your pilots is based on an experience system; the more combat they've seen, the smarter they are. Veteran pilots often take command of their squadron, leading them into battle more effectively when your attention is elsewhere. The AI is also somewhat customizable; as in the original, you can configure the aggression level of your ships from passive to aggressive tactics. Enemy AI is also very impressive, once again due to some great scripting. For example, I thought that I had found the perfect way to avoid being infected by the Beast virus: I simply disguised waves of Mimics as Beast ships and sent them to wipe out the enemy fleet. It seemed to work at first, but the third time a Mimic came into range of the Beast fleet, it was immediately fired upon and destroyed.

Cataclysm sports several difficulty levels, from "very easy" to "very hard," and the normal difficulty setting is just difficult enough to be exciting. The game does an excellent job of making the odds seem stacked against you, but not to such a degree that they seem insurmountable and frustrating.

Overall: Cataclysm is a must-have for fans of the original and new players alike. Gorgeous visuals, an easy-to-use interface, and a great storyline all combine to make it one of the most dangerously addictive games I've ever played. Barking Dog Studios took a great product and made it better, as Cataclysm not only raises the standard for sequels and expansions, but for the real-time strategy genre as a whole.

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