Rating: 
Summary: let's be fair
Review: I think the concept of 3D strategy game is very fine. in fact there are only two up until now, which is the midst of 2002: homeworld, and homeworld catalysm.
I own both of those, and spent some time playing them. I quite enjoyed the new concept, all the flat-out 2D strategy seem to lose their color after I played the homeworld series. I forsee that if somebody actually used this idea of 3D strategy and explioted it to the limits, most 2D strategy games would simply go out of business. For the sophiscated players, I too, look forward to something like this ahead.
Now catalysm did not make the most out of this innovation. I am not saying it is not worth buying, as mentioned previously, I enjoyed them. But notice how some games lack new ideas but has a lot of goodies in it so people would like them? such games as Diablo2, which is really JUST button bashing and ONLY time consuming. no offense to Diablo2 lovers out there, I too, play that. But you must do a bit of comparison between the different qualities of each game. And for homeworld, it is strictly the opposite of Diablo2- It is rich in its ideas, but lacks the goodies to make it attractive, which in my opinion, explains why it is not even close to the popularity as Diablo2 or Quake for example.
It has no movies, has no 'class' (you see a lot about this from other reviews), has no characters(I intend to mean both), no impressive things to put into a movie-trailor type of show-off other then some regular in-game sequences. You will not like it if you only play Final Fantasy X or that sort of thing.
There are rooms for improvements. I definitly think there are vast potentials for this game and anything similar. The strategies are infinite and only bound to player's imaginations, and- button clicking speed which I meant to discuss.
I need to point out, that 3D micromangement can be a lot of pain since it involves a lot of 2D clicking over a 3D dynamic environment. I hope homeworld 2 puts in some scripting options so people can load up subroutines for groups of units, this should automate a lot of things and reduce the clicking (not my idea origin, forgot who but definitly a brilliant one)(Perhaps this would make the game seem like object-oriented or LISP programming?).
Whilest there are huge gaps to be filled by Sierra as for those neat little things to attract public, I hope the revolution continue. Homeworld is a great feat in real time strategy game for the new dimention it introduces. It woke up all the players out there getting bored at the present limits of gaming formats (RPG, fighting, fighting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting......). If you are bored too but have not played homeworld yet, get it.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a STEAL
Review: At 9.99 this game is a steal! Cataclysm does not require the old Homeworld game, but I recommend Playing the old Homeworld first, for the sake of the intricate and engaging storyline that etends throughout both games. Although the controls for the game may seem daunting when one first looks at the manual, one quickly learns to command the armada with ease. The support systems used in cataclysm limit the total number of unit you can amass despite the amount of resources a player has. This game's graphics are some of the best I've ever seen, and the variety of ships under a players command is formidable. Slower computers will have some trouble with this game, but lowering the texture quality will speed things back up. $9.99 is a ridiculous price for this game!
Rating:
Summary: If you love Homeworld, get one this too!!!
Review: Again, great graphics and lots of challenge. If you like Homeworld get this game too.
Rating:
Summary: Best Strategy game since starcraft
Review: Best Strategy game since starcraft! It has the same addictive and mind-enveloping gameplay, but now only in 3D!
Rating:
Summary: Great Strategy Game
Review: Although Cataclysm seems to have flopped in comparison to the original 'Homerworld', I still had to go out and get it despite all the negative reviews I read about it. This is in truth partly because I found the first game so fasinating. However, I do not regret getting cataclysm at all. Infact I think that in many ways Cataclysm even manages to surpass its predecessor. For example, battle is now much more manageable due to the limited number of ships you can have at any one time (But you won't need that many if you play your cards right). Shortcut keys have been made to conveniently control features previously difficult to alter in the original homeworld. In addition features have been added to give greater detail to the whole game (eg- the ship overlay feature). The graphics are as good as ever they were. But what really caught my attention in this release was the storyline. Cataclysm is definitely a fitting title. The story is set 15 years after the arrival of the exiles to their homeworld. You start out as a lowly mining vessel somewhere on the outer fringe of the Higgara solar system. On one of your mining voyages you come accross the entity known as "The Beast". An entity that threatens to devour the known universe if left unchecked. From then on the story develops and your ship is slowly transformed from a mining vessel to the universe's super weapon and last hope for survival.
I usually rely heavily on reviews whenever purchasing games or books but in this case I feel that reviewers have done cataclysm a great disservice. It 'deserves' a five star review. I don't consider myself much of a gamer, I only go out and get a game if its (in my opinion) really really good. So if you loved playing games like starcraft, warcarft, the diablo series, shogun and mech commander then you should definitely give this game a chance.
For me this was 9 dollars well spent
Rating:
Summary: The Experience Equals its Great Predecessor: Homeworld
Review: The game starts 15 years after the original Homeworld war: the remnants of the Higaraans are divided into two kind of Kiiths(clans?), the ones that was not hybernated and so had to fight their way and later became the inner circles of power in the new homeworld, and the ones that was hybernated and missed the whole, bloody journey and woke up to find their original clan back home destroyed and end up as a less powerful clan. You get to play one of the latter clans called Kiith Somtaw, who mine minerals from asteroids in the near galaxy.The game opens with the two major powers vying for the Higara: The good side: the Higaarans(your people), the new, democratic Taiidan Republic that is on good terms with Higaarans, the neutral Bentusis, and the bad: the remaining Taidanni imperialists and their pals, the Turanic raiders. The balance of power between these two are broken when the Somtaaw fleet finds an ancient emergency beacon that contains a powerful virus capable of eating up organic and inorganic matters. The virus soon turns out to have intelligence and devours anything and everything that comes in its way that includes the initial victim, the research deck of the Somtaaw's mothership that had to be discarded and latter becomes the Beast mothership, and the revengeful Taidanni imperialists literally signs a contract with the devil by joining forces with the creature now known as the Beast in hopes of overthrowing their long time foes... As can be seen, the story is still intriguing, the graphics still superb, 3D functions are still awesome. Nevertheless, some of few downfalls are the lack of new 'enemy' fleet and (still) confusing manuals. Notice only the enemies, whereas the Sometaaw has their own new arsenal. In addition, the part of the manual that explains the past history was still vague(like the original), and that is the reason I wrote the above story line. Overall, having believed what some people criticized 'Cataclysm' as un-original than the 'Homeworld' for a long time and not playing it, I regret that now: this is certainly an improved Homeworld or Homeworld version 1.5. Anyhow, this game is more than good: it is one of the best titles out there for the money right now, and because of this game, I really look forward to Homeworld 2. Grab this title before it becomes a jewel version with no manuals to help you at all. It was a joy to play this game, I applaud the Barking Dogs Studio for their great work, and I definetely give it an A+.
Rating:
Summary: great game
Review: Excellent game, great game for anyone who likes science fiction many buildings and units the only bad thing is the difficulty in learning how to play it
Rating:
Summary: Exellent semi-sequel to the original game!
Review: After playing the first game, Homeworld, I was having so much fun, it's almost been a year, and i'm still playing it! I couldn't wait for Cataclysm! Now I have it, and it is ALMOST what I was expecting. The graphics are improved, and the controls are better, but I preferred the originals sound. The single-player and multiplayer are not quite as good as the first game, but still very good. This is a very good game, but first, pick up the original, than this game. Can't wait for Homeworld 2. Especially because it's being done by the original's team at Relic Entertainment. ...
Rating: 
Summary: do NOT get this game
Review: Compared to the original, this game is a bust. You basically have to destroy the "Beast", a creature that takes control over machines and humans. you have to battle your way to their mothership, while facing numerous attacks from rebels, and destroy it. PROS: Great graphics, all new ships, 17 long missions, new abilities; interesting new objectives, and it is a sequal to homeworld, so it has to be a little fun CONS: incredibly easy, even on the hardest skill level; levels get boaring after a while; the only way you can lose is to send your command ship headfirst into the enemy base completely unprotected; the "new" ships are basically re-named, re-done, versions of the old ones, it is so easy to replace ships that you can basically build millions of fighters, kamikazee them, and build them again, and since you never run out of resources the enemy can't stop you,capital ships are too strong(i think i only lost 1 destroyer the entire game), the new ships give you an unfair advantage, for example, in some levels you can use a ship called a leach to completely destoy the enemy carrier without even having to fight it, your command ship is too impervious to attacks and you barely have to leave an escort with it, you can't get the best ship in the game to use in multiplayer, and it is kind of anticlimax. there is no final video or anythign like that.
Rating: 
Summary: Not terribly exciting
Review: After purchasing Homeworld (for a great price... always wait until the "Game of the Year" goes on sale for a great deal), I natually felt inclined to try Cataclysm. What a mistake. The whole beautiful "space is a large, lonely place" premise has been completely manhandled with foolish commentary. The music and sound effects are trite. The ships are still huge, but a lot of the "improvements" or other enhancements seem visual or unnecessary. The fact that "Barking Dog Studios" (never heard of them) places their logo on the pause screen helps to solidfy the fact that Sierra and Relic seemingly don't want to touch this one. I'm hoping that Homeworld 2, being developed by the Relic team, is a closer match to the awesome original.
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