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Introduction

Homeworld Cataclysm stands as a fine example of how to expand a game franchise with exactly the right mix of additions and enhancements to gameplay. To take an award winning RTS title like Homeworld and make it even better is a feat in itself. Cataclysm gracefully takes the series to a higher level in just about every facet of the game. Aside from the introduction of a new enemy race, there is nothing revolutionary about Cataclysm. It’s the less noticeable things like the addition of waypoints and the ability to assign more complex commands from the Sensors manager that make Cataclysm so much fun to play, not to mention being more accessible as well. There are many subtle refinements in Cataclysm. These range form graphical enhancements, to new ships and special abilities like disguising your spy ship as an asteroid or enemy vessel. An engaging story with surprises at every turn will have you glued to the game for hours at a time. Plus, you don’t even need Homeworld to play since Cataclysm is a game of its own. Whether you’re an old Homeworld fan or just looking for a quality RTS game, Cataclysm definitely hits the sweet spot.

The story begins with your Explorer class deep space mining vessel, known as Kuun-Lan, receiving a desperate plea for help from a fellow Kiith, or clan. Your mining excursion is interrupted and you are asked to hyper space to another part of the Hiigaran galaxy for immediate assistance. Imperial Taidan raiders are attacking, and yours is the only ship within range to help push them back. Even though your ship is primarily a mining vessel, due to its large stature it is also capable of mounting an offensive complete with fighter class ships. This introductory show plays out through a fantastic cut-scene which uses the same 3D engine that powers Cataclysm. The cut-scenes in Cataclysm are particularly notable for their level of professional quality. Each cut-scene sets the stage for the next mission, and a subsequent cut-scene leads right into the mission itself, making a nearly seamless transition from mission to mission. By the time each scene is finished, your adrenaline is pumping and you’re ready to go to war against those diabolical Taidan rebels. After being so startlingly dislodged from your mining expedition, your life will never be the same as you find yourself drawn into the seemingly endless war against Turanic raiders and other unnamed enemies. The rest of the story plays out in a similar fashion, with enough plot twists to make keep it fresh and lively. While the missions themselves can be a bit tedious at times, the anticipation for each forthcoming mission is never lost.

Cataclysm picks up several years after Homeworld, when the Kushan finally reached their place called home, otherwise known as Hiigara. The Kushan people are in a weakened state after their long and hazardous journey and are broken up into several clans known as Kiith. Kith Somtaaw is the most advanced of the clans, and therefore plays the major role in Cataclysm. The story of Cataclysm consists of a single campaign spread over 17 missions. Each mission has multiple objectives to complete with many objectives being discarded or changed as the plot twists and turns it’s way through the game. Cataclysm boasts 18 new ships to assist you in defending your home world. Many of the ships are upgrade able after the pre-requisite research has been completed. Much of the focus in Cataclysm is on researching 25 new technologies to make your fleet stronger and more resistant to enemy forces. Mining resources is also crucial to success in Catclysm. A new mining ship called the Worker replaces the old mining ships from Homeworld. Managing resources is less time consuming in Cataclysm for several reasons. There seems to be a fairly abundant supply of asteroids to be mined in most missions and once resources have been collected they will stay with your command ship from one mission to the next. After a few missions your resources will have built up to the point where there is enough in reserve for a mission or two. At the end of a mission in Homeworld, many minutes were spent mining every last resource available before moving on to the next mission. Cataclysm offers a solution to this monotony in the form of time compression. With the tap of a key, time is advanced by a factor of eight, meaning that you won’t have to twiddle your thumbs while waiting for your mining vessels to finish cleaning up the galaxy. Additionally, enemy ships don’t seem to attack mining vessels as much in Cataclysm as they did in Homeworld. They will attack from time to time, but the enemy fleets are usually more concerned with attacking your command ship or other vehicles.