TECH2

After the implosion of THQ and the rights to the game bouncing from publisher to publisher, Gearbox studios picked it up and ran with it.

We’ll, sort of. Instead of making a new game, Gearbox took the original Homeworld, and updated the graphics.

This is 100% fine by me.

If you played Homeworld “back in the day” don’t wait, just go get Remastered. If you’re like me, you have exceptionally fond memories of this game. I dusted off my old copy a few years ago, and played through it again for the first time in a decade. Its remarkable how, after all these years, it still feels fresh, challenging, and entertaining. Not many games from that era hold up like that.

Gearbox, for the most part, just updated the graphics. New textures, the ability for higher resolutions (up to 4K), and so on. During my playthrough of the original version, these were the two things that were most sorely need.

Here’s the trailer:

If you’ve never played Homeworld, definitely buy this. Right now. It’s one of the greatest Real-time Strategy games ever made. Think Battlestar Galactica, but with prettier space backgrounds. You control a huge fleet, and most importantly (and uniquely), the ships you build (and that survive) each level, you continue with onto the next level. It adds a whole new level of challenge, and the possibility of last minute failure. The first time I played Homeworld I made it, barely, to the last level… just to find out I didn’t have enough ships to win. I went back a few levels, was more careful, and was able to win.

You get 3D control over your ships, and while you can’t “fly” one individually (how could would that be?) you can give each one (or groups) commands and formations.

While the story is compelling and well written, the score is probably the most brilliant aspect of the game. Sure, the opening’s “Adagio for Strings” is almost overused at this point, in 1999 it was a brilliant choice and it still works. Through the rest of the game, Paul Ruskay’s original music is atmospheric, and sets the tone and mood to perfection. It’s so good, I’ve had it on my computer just to listen to (and write to) for ages.

And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, from over 1,600 reviews, Homeworld Remastered has a 9/10 rating on Steam.

So if you just want to re-enjoy an old classic made pretty, or if you’ve heard about it but never played it (or if you’re just hearing about it now!), definitely check out Remastered. The $35 Collection has the original and the sequel, and a multiplayer beta.