Homeworld/ 1-2

[Mithradates]

I was mildly curious in buying this game has anyone ever seen or played it. I was interested by the idea of epic space battles is this realised well?

[Fragony]

Didn't care for the second(too similar, too many other games that deserved playing) but the first is amazing. Yes the battles are epic, and so is the story. The scale is gigantic, it really has this space is big thing going for it. Oh, and the music, awesome tribal rythims that are strangely enough not out of place. There is absolutily nothing wrong with this game, get it.

[Kraxis]

Homeworld 1 is absolutely superb! The music and the storyline is beyond explaination, it has to be experienced. Let's just say you are alone... VERY alone!

AVENGE HIGAARA!

Homeworld 2 has some nice upgrades to the gameplay (but that is unfortunately lost in what has been lost), but in all I feel it isn't as fun. It has lost it epicness. Also gameplaywise the game has shifted focus from corvettes to heavy battleships, which is a shame to me. In short the game isn't as wellbalanced.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

There are also some good mods out there for H2.

I never played H1 and I found the little I've played of H2 to be amazing. My computer completely stops working after a little bit into level 1 due to my graphics card, but in a little bit I can play it in its entirity on my new PC.

I happen to like large battleship engagements, but H2 stands on its own merits.

[Husar]

Hmm, I played Homeworld 1 a lot and also tried some mods, but the demo for Homeworld 2 put me off, it was like two shiptypes were all it needs to win and nothing else would stand a chance.

[scotchedpommes]

First game is unsurpassed, I have to say.

Unparalleled atmosphere, as far as I am concerned. Truly a great game. Played
Cataclysm [the spin-off] and liked some of the additional features, but it never
really felt the same. Only played the demo of the sequel, and some of the
changes irritated me, along with the lack of that aforementioned atmosphere,
so never thought to buy it.

The first, however, simply excellent. [Never one to take up the rose-tinted
perspective, me, no.]

[Kraxis]

Battleship battles sound great in theory, but in effect they are just large scale versions of fighters. They can only engage one target, and focusfire is magic. So all major fights tend to be beelines of battleships enteringthe same battle where they all focus on the same target or two. It is quite silly.

In H1 you HAD to counter Bombers and Heavy Corvettes since Destroyers and Heavy Cruisers were such immense investments of resources and time that you only had a few at any time. And you yourself could have these smaller counters as well, leading to some very spectacular combined arms battles.

Imagine this:
Enemy strikeforce approach your mining operation. You have to defend it.
In comes a swarm of fighters, only your own fighters can reach them in time, flying in the aggresive X formation (beautiful formation). When they clash they break down into individual dogfights (with comments from the pilots such as "I just lost my wingman!" or "Get him off me!"), meanwhile you are sending in the Multigun Corvettes to give your force an edge. That really smash up the enemy force, but then his frigates enter the scene, ripping your corvettes to shreds while your fighters can't dent them. Luckily you have a few destroyers at hand now, and they begin to chase the frigates out of town, but the enemy sends in a swarm of bombers and give your destroyers a very hard time, while your fighters try vainly to drive them off.
Eventually the battle is a massive brawl of fighters, corvettes, bombers, frigates, destroyers and perhaps even a Heavy Cruiser or two. That is chaotic and pure fun.
Way better than the beeline of capital ships bearing down on each other.

[TigerVX]

Battleship battles sound great in theory, but in effect they are just large scale versions of fighters. They can only engage one target, and focusfire is magic. So all major fights tend to be beelines of battleships enteringthe same battle where they all focus on the same target or two. It is quite silly.

The most excellent mod by -far- for HW2 was the Point Defense Systems mod. In shot, it made everything realistic. Realistic space battles as they would actually be. So now battleships will really have a dozen PD weapons that actually shoot down missiles, bunches of missile pods that attack all targets, and all sorts of main gunnery that will also take multiple targets. Fighter, and frigate AI are greatly enhanced and the battles are wonders to see. Of course, however with all the guns and fancy effects you'll need a beefy system.

And I'm a homeworld fanboy, I fell in love with the game during the first playthrough and have stuck with the franchise ever since!

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Kraxis - were the fighters in HW1 controlled individually or as one unit of several ships? I thought it was the former, which seemed unappetizing. I may look into purchasing HW1 if it is indeed so much better than 2.

The PDS mod has blossomed into a ridiculously complex mod called NGCS and some spin-offs I think. It's crazy and it confuses me. And it slags my current hardware.

[hoom]

Fighters in HW1 are individual but you do get to use group formations.
Yes, its a pain (I was sooo very happy when I discovered STW with only max of 16 controllable units at a time :) ) but at the time that was the standard way of dealing with all unit types for RTS.

I am of course now going to have to go & run HW1 again, haven't seen it on the 24" LCD...

Another very good space RTS type game is Nexus:The Jupiter Incident, its got fewer ships but more detail/deeper level of control (& very nice looking ships too)

[scotchedpommes]

This grouping of ships into single units was one if the things that I found
particularly unappealing - I liked to be able to control each ship, as in the first
game.

[And I must admit to liking the battle chatter turned on full, as well. Excellent
for those chaotic dogfights.]

[Kraxis]

This grouping of ships into single units was one if the things that I found
particularly unappealing - I liked to be able to control each ship, as in the first
game.

[And I must admit to liking the battle chatter turned on full, as well. Excellent
for those chaotic dogfights.]

Same here... If I wanted groups, I would make them.

Generally I had two groups of fighters (one home and one away), one of bombers, one of corvettes (generally a 2/3 multigun 1/3 heavy combo) and one of capital ships. And then the odd groups, such as a carrier taskforce or those cloaked fighters (lousy crafts but rather fun to use).

I have the Star Wars mod Warlords installed. That really makes for some spectacular battles. The detail is supereme and it is wholly impressive when a battlegroup of Star Destroyers barrel down on you (or you send them yourself).

[professorspatula]

Stop... making.... me..... want ... to.... purchase.... this ..... game!!

Damnit.

[scotchedpommes]

Well, I'm going to have to re-install it right now.

[And the disc is missing from its box. Typical.]

[Mithradates]

Thanks for the feedback i have bought this game and despite some slightly dated graphics i am now thoroughly hooked! :)

[Leet Eriksson]

Stop... making.... me..... want ... to.... purchase.... this ..... game!!

Damnit.

its only 5$ in the bargain bin, everyone should try Homeworld 1. Its the best space strategy i played in my whole life.

[professorspatula]

I already bought a few bargain basement games recently, and don't have the hard disk space, nor enough time to play them as it is. I don't need another, however tempting it may be!

I've looked at buying the game several times, but happy to let it pass for now.

[scotchedpommes]

I already bought a few bargain basement games recently, and don't have the hard disk space, nor enough time to play them as it is. I don't need another, however tempting it may be!

I've looked at buying the game several times, but happy to let it pass for now.

Come on, man! The Leetster just said it was the best space strategy game he
has played in his whole life! [Granted it may be the only one he has played, I'd
have no idea - even so.]



How many glowing endorsements must you have?

[Geezer57]

I've looked at buying the game several times, but happy to let it pass for now.

Let me add my recommendation to the list - buy this game next time you see it in a bargain bin, even if you don't plan on playing it right away! At least then you'll have it for when you finally take the plunge. And expect to be challenged - the campaign is quite difficult, unless you're one of those especially gifted individuals.

[Divinus Arma]

Homeworld 2 was ridiculously hard. The campaign had such steep requirements to be successful that it became unenjoyable. And there is no difficulty setting. The "free for all" type sandbox option was very good though. All the units and tech with no objective but to kill the other team. And it looks very pretty too. I enjoyed it and I don't regret having paid good money for it. Master of Orion 2? Now THAT was poop.

Edit: Oh and if you feel like a fun space flyer, I really enjoyed that freelancer free loader whatever game. It is very sandbox and piloting from the cockpit in some of the bigger battles is just adrenaline-dumping. I loved approaching the huge enemy ships and controlling a starwars style strafing run, only to twist and dodge my way out. Just cool. I only wish you could control individual ships.

And stayaway from X2 the threat. Once the alien unknown baddies start showing up, the sandbox is over. They kill everything and ruin your entire factory operations. This had the potnetial to be an all-time favorite but they ruined it with those *%&*@@#$!@# aliens that kill everyone. The devs tempt you with the potential to own huge factories and massive fleets with capital ships, any one of which is pilotable from a unique cockpit in a fairly large universe. Then they take away the punchbowl right when the party starts getting good.

[Grey_Fox]

I only have Homeworld 2 (intend to get the other two games) but it is pretty damned good, especially at the start. Tarrak is right though, it does indeed turn into a Capital ships fight later on in the game, which is why I prefer the earlier missions which are more balanced as the tech is limited and the smaller ships are more useful. Nothing like sending in some fighters to draw off opposing fighters before sending in the bombers against their frigates.

From what I've heard the original game is based on the premise for Battlestar Galactica (indeed it was going to be a Battlestar Galactica game but for problems getting a license).

[Geezer57]

Master of Orion 2? Now THAT was poop.

Emphatically agree - it was such a letdown, after loving the original DOS MOO from the now-defunct Microprose. The original was so good that I keep an old DOS box around just to play it, Master of Magic, and XCOM (all Microprose titles).

Edit: Oh and if you feel like a fun space flyer, I really enjoyed that Freelancer game.

Freelancer is another classic, and should be in every gamers library of great games.

[JimBob]

Because of this thread I replayed Homeworld. Then I remembered why the Gardens of Kadesh must burn in hell. Although swiping Multi-Beam Frigates is just fun. And makes frying capital ships so very simple. And the Junkyard Dog. I lost a missle destroyer to that thing.

[Leet Eriksson]

the junkyard dog was a total bastard. tiny ship that can steal even the biggest ships and it has almost infinite health.

Took me forever to destroy the little bugger.

[scotchedpommes]

Then I remembered why the Gardens of Kadesh must burn in hell. Although swiping Multi-Beam Frigates is just fun.

Restarted the game twice in order to build up sufficiently just to make it through
there. [Was mauled completely afterwards, if I remember rightly.]

[Crazed Rabbit]

I'm going to throw in a good word for the X-Pack to H1, whatever it was. I've never played H1, but got the standalone X-pack and had loads of fun.

Crazed Rabbit

[scotchedpommes]

I'm going to throw in a good word for the X-Pack to H1, whatever it was. I've never played H1, but got the standalone X-pack and had loads of fun.

Cataclysm? I re-installed it last night, as I couldn't find the other disc, though
it was unplayable. Seemingly there is a graphics card conflict which renders the
ships invisible, and causes crashes. Any suggestions as to how I might resolve
this kind of problem would be appreciated.

[I understand that my particular GeForce card - FX 5200 - seems to be the most
disagreeable when it comes to compatibility.]

[Mithradates]

Gardens of kadesh was easy when i realised i could just fly over all the sensors and turrets! And god dammit i also lost a missle destroyer to that damned junkyard dog!!

[Leet Eriksson]

Gardens of kadesh was easy when i realised i could just fly over all the sensors and turrets! And god dammit i also lost a missle destroyer to that damned junkyard dog!!

You can go around it, put a sacrifice frigate or corvette ahead of your fleet and then have your entire fleet pound on it (i had maxed everything by that time) if you time it right you can kill the junkyard dog before it can steal your ship.

[Martok]

Darn it, now you guys are making me want to pick up this game as well!

What's sad is that I'd actually purchased the game (it was a special edition for $20.00, and included the "strategy guid"), but I no longer have it. I'm not certain, but I think I gave it away--I remmeber that I was simply to pre-occupied with other games at the time (MTW being the main culprit!). I could kick myself now for having gotten rid of it.