Homeworld Cataclysm

Developer: Barking Dog Publisher: Sierra System Requirements: Processor: Pentium 166 OS: Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 Memory: 16 MB RAM 4x CD-ROM drive

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Homeworld cataclysm runs great on my system. I've owned this game quite a while now and have played it through multiple times. This game offers a new twist on the Real-Time Strategy genre, 3D! Instead of your typical land-based RTS game this game takes place entirely in space.

The game has different controls than your standard RTS. This is necessary to manipulate the camera in a 3d environment and order ships to go up and down instead of just forward, back and side to side. It sounds much more difficult than it actually is though, because the game includes an excellent tutorial to familiarize you with the controls. Your standard group assignment controls are here for RTS veterans but there are new innovations rather than simply selecting a group and focus-firing on a target.

Many of the ship types you will have under your command have special abilities that can be performed in combat. Your standard fighter, the acolyte, can launch a missile at its target by pressing Alt+M when in range for example. Using a group of acolytes to perform this action will have a powerful effect on even capital ships. Workers will harvest resources for you to use in the construction of ships, repair your vessels at your command or even capture damaged enemy ships (capital ships even if in groups). Two acolytes can be combined to build an ACV which can utilize EMP technology to disable enemy ships. These can be built without combining two acolytes as well. There are several other special attacks in the game to research and deploy tactically to destroy your enemies.

In this game, instead of constructing a base and deciding where everything will go, you have a command ship. In the single player campaign you are presented these new technologies at times of need. For instance, your fleet has a need to gather reconnaisance but do it stealthily. You will be given the chance to research the technology which lets you build the mimic, a ship which can appear as an enemy vessel or even an asteroid. Your command ship will have modules available for construction that will stay you over the course of the single player campaign unless they are destroyed and must be rebuilt if you wish to use their abilities. You will also carry any resources you harvest with you. So, it is rewarding to save your ships before they are destroyed by ordering them to dock and repair at the command ship. Harvesting every mineral on the map is recommended as well.

Not only do your resources carry over mission to mission but your fleet as well. Your smaller fighter types will dock in the command ship's hangar bay or that of your carriers. Capital ships will simply join in formation with the command ship and hyperspace to your next destination. Keeping your capital ships alive is very important as they will gain levels in combat and as a result do more damage overall.

The single player campign is fun and the missions are well designed with many different objective types. Reconnaisance and stealth are important in some missions as well as those that simply require brute force. The game is tactically challenging in Hard mode, which I play on. There are reduced difficulty levels for beginners of course. Some missions can really challenge the player, and you may be restarting some as you will probably mess up like I did several times. One mission has you sneaking through a nebula defending a crippled ship. If you're detected by the base on the other side of the nebula, which will be sending ships to patrol the area, they will send their entire fleet at you. Fortunately the game autosaves each mission and it's easy to simply try again and keep all your resources and vessels. This also allows you to go back and play some missions that are particularly fun.

The game's story is both interesting and entertaining. You can play others via sierra.com's server. The music and sound effects are superb. Highly recommended for RTS fans or those interested in trying out the genre. Buy it here.