Homeworld

by Vivendi Universal

Product Features

• Engage in 16 single-player missions, or play on-line with up to seven others.
• Choose unit types, fleet formations, and flight tactics for each combat group.
• Construct 54 ships ranging from light fighters to huge carriers.
• Completely customize your game, from fuel consumption to color schemes.
• Detailed weapons systems including ion cannons, guided missiles, and space mines.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001LDCK
• Item Weight: 4 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: September 30, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,853 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Every so often, a game comes along that completely redefines a particular genre. In 1998, Half-Life ignited first-person shooters with its addicting blend of storytelling and action sequences. Homeworld, a polished, groundbreaking first-time effort from Relic Entertainment, attempts to change the way gamers play real-time strategy games. In the past, none of these 3-D games have accomplished the daunting task with the same gorgeous visuals and tactical game play as Homeworld.

Upon the discovery of an ancient galactic map inscribed with the words "our home," the people of Kharak began construction of a massive mother ship and fleet to traverse the galaxy and reach their long-rumored home world. Players construct, maintain, and control the Kharak fleet through 16 challenging single-player missions or against fellow humans on Sierra's WON.net online gaming service. During the solo campaign, you'll face literally hundreds of enemy vessels. All friendly and enemy ships, ranging from small, yet dangerously quick interceptors to the powerful, though expensive destroyers and heavy cruisers, are rendered with exquisite detail; further, expect plenty of impressive visual effects, from the glowing ship exhaust to fiery explosions. Adding to the pluses, Homeworld's thoughtful interface design eases the intense--and often complicated--resource gathering and combat situations. --Doug Radcliffe

Product Description

A Thrilling 3D Mystery AdventureProduct InformationYour past is a lie your future is in jeopardy and you are 35000 light yearsfrom home!Kharak a barren wasteland orbiting an insignificant star has been our homefor as long as we can remember.  Until now only vague myths of our pastremained but then came the discovery: an ancient tablet long hidden in theGreat Banded Desert buried within the wreckage of a half-destroyedspacecraft.  Now we know this planet is not ours.  We have beendriven away from our Homeworld by conquerors and billions of our people aredead.  It is now time to leave this cold lifeless planet.  It is timeto return Home.Product Features Choose unit types fleet formations and flight tactics for each tactical situation. RTS fans are able to manage resources and send their armies to combat in an amazing real 3D universe where danger can appear from every angle. With its epic storyline extended over 16 single player missions and a broad range of incredibly detailed vessels Homeworld opens up endless possibilities. Homeworld's multiplayer mode is playable for up to 8 people locally or on the Internet on WON. Command the smallest scout ship or your entire armada in an unrestricted 3D world for pinpoint control.Windows Requirements Windows 95 98 or NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 Pentium II 233 MHz processor 32 MB of RAM 100 MB Hard Drive space (plus 50 MB permanent swap file) 4 MB PCI Video Card (16-bit colors DirectX 6.1compatible) 16-bit DirectX compatible Sound Card DirectX 6.1 Windows compatible Mouse 4X CD-ROM drive

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Graphics and Epic Space Battles, November 17, 1999

By 

Marc Pottier "Natal, the SPARC Instruction Se... (Seattle, wa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homeworld (CD-ROM)

I'm not usually one to play strategy games, but the graphics of homeworld looked so impressive that I couldn't resist the temptation of picking up a copy. After playing it for a few evenings, I've come to the conclusion that this game is simply stunning.

Homeworld immerses you in a full 3D battlefield and makes it easy to zoom, pan and rotate your view to different perspectives. You can choose to watch battles unfold from afar, or select any visible ship and instantly shift your focus to their view and follow them through combat.

Large scale battles are incredible to watch from either perspective. They're so detailed and so well rendered that they remind me of some of the space battle scenes from the Return of the Jedi (ok, the resolution isn't as good, and the game isn't as smooth as CGI, but it's pretty incredible nonetheless-- large battles are definately "wow" material).

The gameplay is well balanced, and to date, I've found the different missions/battles to be quite challenging. Unlike most strategic war games I've played, the storyline for homeworld is quite interesting. It unfolds gradually, and does a great job in building up the drama behind your mission.

The main difference behind homeworld and other strategic wargames is the 3D nature of the battlefield. Space is definately harder to fight in than land.

Definately five stars, definately a must have...

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great game!, December 1, 1999

By 

Jaffo (Holly, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homeworld (CD-ROM)

I've been a fan of RTS for a long time - starting way back with Warcraft I, II, Starcraft, Command and Conquer, etc... I was very excited to hear about Homeworld, and was well rewarded while playing it!

I have seen some of these reviews knock the user interface. I have to say, I thought the 3d interface was great! It was intuitive and easy to learn (A mouse w/a wheel is highly recommended - it allows for zooming a bit easier than with a two button mouse)

The graphics are amazing. They were so good, I didn't mind getting blown up a few times on the last level. The battle between two huge fleets was so pretty, it was hard not to stop and just watch! It was like watching your house burn down!

Another aspect of the game that was impressive to me - I had absolutely NO bugs to report. I know that can be system dependent, but it's the first game in a long time that worked out of the box, through ALL the levels, without failing at some point or another.

I highly recommend this game. I'm sure there will be many imitators - and some may make marginal improvements, but this game is a huge step for the RTS genre.

I hope Relic turns into another Blizzard - I look forward to their next quality release.

Now that we've conquered 3D RTS, where do we go next?

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The finest real-time strategy game I have ever played., January 27, 2000

By 

John Harris Stevenson "tranquileye" (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homeworld (CD-ROM)

Many computer games have tried to use the limitless possibilities of space as a backdrop, but Homeworld is the first to get it right, stretching the aesthetic limits of the real-time strategy in new directions.

Imagine this moment: your fighters fly in tight formation toward an opponent's huge capital ship. You centre and zoom in on your lead fighter, and the sounds of the ship's engine fills the room. As they near their target, your ships break formation, and you tumble and roll with them as they attack. Particle beams pierce the darkness around you, missiles fly past, explosions surround you. There is nothing like this in gaming.

The single player version is excellent. Although the plot draws heavily on classic space operas, such as Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars, the challenges you will face are unique, interesting, and sometimes comical.

A word of caution: to get the most out of this game, I recommend a high-end video card, with resolution jammed to the max. Turn on all the effects; it's more than worth it.

As well, experienced RTS gamers will not be able to jump immediately into the game and succeed. Start with the excellent tutorial and master the 3D play environment. Learning game mechanics at this point is critical.