Homeworld Remastered Collection

Homeworld HD

Release Date: February 25, 2015

Strategy, science fiction, RTS, in space, package, remasters/remakes, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet

88%

Steam

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Homeworld Remastered Collection is a remastered edition of the space strategy that wast first developed in 1999 by Relic Entertainment. The game was rejuvenated by Gearbox Software, studio known for the game series Borderlands and Brothers in Arms. We follow the history of Kushan, a forgotten race that was attacked by an alien civilization and almost entirely wiped out.

Homeworld Remastered Collection is a bundle containing the renewed versions of Homeworld and Homeworld 2, the renowned space RTS games made by Relic Entertainment studio. The remake was developed by Gearbox Software.

The first Homeworld tells the story of the Kushan people, who have developed their civilization on the desert planet of Kharak for thousands of years. The history of this society is made up mostly of series of wars for the scarce natural resources. Everything has changed since the discovery of the wreckage of an enormous alien spacecraft. The ship contained technology which allowed for interstellar travel, and a map leading to a planet named Hiigara, which meant “Home” in the Kushan language. This discovery united the people of Kharak and throughout the next century the entire civilization focused on creating a spaceship of their own, based on the findings and technology extracted from the wreckage. However, a terrible tragedy took place during the first flight. The vessel had successfully performed a jump through hyperspace and arrived at its default destination, only to discover a handful of fighters of a hostile, alien civilization. After defeating them and returning to the orbit of Kushan, the crew found that the fighters were only a part of a huge armada, which annihilated all of the Kharak’s population. The 600,000 Kushans hibernated aboard the ship were the only survivors of the slaughter. The crew decided there wasn’t any point in returning to the ruined planet and set out for Hiigara.

The plot of Homeworld 2 begins 115 years after the events of the first game. That century was a time of peace and prosperity for the Kushan people and their new homeworld, Higgara. The end of that golden age was marked by the dynamic growth of the warrior race of Vaygr, which launched a massive invasion on the Kushan civilization. After a series of battles it became clear that the inhabitants of Hiigara are losing the war. In the face of defeat, the Kushan decided to build an enormous mothership, a way to tip the scale back in the favor of their own people. Unfortunately, before the project was completed the enemy had already prevailed and managed to reach the construction site of the massive spacecraft. As their last effort, the Kushan launched the ship into space and fled from the enemy with a few Hiigarian survivors on board.

Both of the Homeworld games are space RTSs, true to the laws of the genre. Our task is to collect resources, deliver them to the mothership and then use them to produce new units and research new technologies. What distinguishes Homeworld form other games is the combat system. The battles are fought deep in the vacuum of space and the devs have made a wonderful job of utilizing its 3D nature. The combat isn’t limited just to the horizontal plane and we can attack our enemies both from below and above their ship’s position. In combination with the small number of objects on the maps, this completely revolutionizes the way our engagements develop and the game renders all of the ordinary combat strategy completely useless, forcing the player to come up with new tactics in order to prevail.

Both Homeworld and Homeworld 2 have long storylines, as well as a well-polished multiplayer mode. In comparison to its predecessors, Homeworld Remastered Collection offers superior graphics and sound design. All of the textures have been changed to high resolution versions and the cutscenes have been remade from scratch. The soundtrack has also been redesigned, under the watchful eye of Paul Ruskay, the composer responsible for the original soundtrack of the Homeworld games.

Last updated on August 14, 2015

Videos and Screens

[2:30] Homeworld Remastered Collection launch trailer

[2:46] Homeworld Remastered Collection story trailer #2

88%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (11,312)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Nostalgia and Storytelling: Many players appreciate the nostalgic value of the game, highlighting its compelling story and emotional depth. The narrative, centered around the survivors of the planet Kharak, is praised for its engagement and immersive atmosphere.
Visual and Audio Improvements: The remastered version features significant upgrades in graphics and audio, enhancing the overall experience. Players have noted that the visuals still hold up well even in 2024, especially with HDR and OLED displays.
Gameplay Mechanics: The game is recognized for its unique 3D RTS mechanics and the strategic depth it offers in fleet management and combat. Players enjoy the challenge of organizing fleets and adapting tactics to different missions.
Classic RTS Experience: Many reviews mention that the game is a classic in the RTS genre, with its historical significance and influence on modern strategy games.

The main cons of the game

Steep Learning Curve: Some users found the learning curve to be steep due to the complexity of managing fleets in a 3D environment, which can be confusing, especially during intense battles.
Difficulty Scaling Issues: There are complaints about the difficulty scaling based on fleet size, which can lead to frustrating experiences where players feel overwhelmed unless they intentionally reduce their fleet size.
Control and Interface Problems: Several reviews mention that the controls are clunky and could use improvement, making navigation and gameplay less enjoyable.
Bugs and Technical Issues: Some players reported experiencing bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including soft locks and mission-breaking issues.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Better Tutorial and Guidance: Users have pointed out that the tutorial is insufficient, especially after the early missions, leaving players unaware of unit abilities and mechanics.
Quality of Life Improvements: Players expressed a desire for features like a fast-forward option to speed up resource gathering and unit movements, which can be tedious at times.
Enhanced Controls: There is a call for revamped controls to make the gameplay feel more modern and accessible, as many found the existing controls frustrating.
Additional Content: Some players suggested that remastering additional titles like Homeworld: Cataclysm could enhance the collection and provide more content for fans.

Summary

Overall, while Homeworld Remastered Collection is celebrated for its nostalgic value, storytelling, and strategic gameplay, it also faces criticism for its steep learning curve, control issues, and technical bugs.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024

8.6

GAMERS Score

Average score from 720 votes. 113 players anticipated the game.

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GAMES

in Homeworld Game Series

Game Series

Homeworld Series

A series of space-based real-time strategies, set in a universe designed by two American science fiction writers - Arinn Dembo (under the pseudonym Marcus Skyler) and David J. Williams. Initially, the series was developed by Canadian studio Relic Entertainment (also known for such titles as Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War or Company of Heroes), working for the publisher Sierra Entertainment. In 2013, the rights to the brand were acquired by Gearbox Software, which in subsequent years decided to prepare remasters of the first two parts of the series, as well as to share the license with Blackbird Interactive studio, founded by part of the team responsible for the first installments of the series.

6 video games

Homeworld Game Series