Cataclysm Screens and Impressions

We recently received a few copies of the stand-alone expansion to Homeworld, Homeworld: Cataclysm. This game is a sequel in everything but name. You play an entirely new kiith, or clan. While the Kushan have reclaimed their homeworld, the Taidani - the villains of Homeworld - continue to maintain a presence on the periphery of the empire. As the remnants of civil war continue to plague the empire, your kiith, which is but a poor mining clan, is thrust into the middle of a skirmish between Taidani rebels and Kushan warships. However, as your efforts to assist the Kushan take you into deep space, you uncover a menace that threatens all the inhabitants of the galaxy.

Your kiith in this game has an entirely new roster of ships, and your ultimate enemy in the game also has altered ships based on the designs of the old Homeworld vessels. There are all-new technologies, a new resource, and lots of new gameplay tweaks, including time compression, waypoints, different voices for the various ships, and more.

In many ways, Cataclysm seems to borrow numerous gameplay enhancements from Starcraft, including upgrades for units, more special abilities, fog of war, and supply limits.

Homeworld: Cataclysm's missions are quite challenging, which makes it seem geared toward veterans of Homeworld. However, the game does have an excellent tutorial.

We've captured a dozen screenshots from the early missions of the game. The graphics are even better than Homeworld's, with gorgeous details and colors. The music is also top-notch, following the standard set by the original game.

Look for our full review of Cataclysm next week.