Summary
TheHomeworldfranchise of space strategy games is nothing short of iconic, and the team at Blackbird Interactive recognized that it’d be important forHomeworld 3to hone in on the qualities that the series made waves with over two decades ago. Although its previous real-time strategy game in theHomeworlduniverse,Deserts of Kharak, demonstrated that Blackbird Interactive had the chops to deliver a strategy game with enough tactical depth to pleaseHomeworldfans, this long waited sequel would need to stand toe-to-toe with its legendary predecessors from Relic.
In an interview with Game Rant,Homeworld 3Game Director Lance Mueller and Lead Producer Iain Myers-Smith spoke about what they believed was important to get right aboutHomeworld 3, as well as the overall design pillars that have made the series a cornerstone of the real-time strategy genre. Impactful tactical decisions, a strong atmosphere, and a cinematic sense of awe are some of the things the team felt were fundamental to making a goodHomeworldsuccessor.
It’s Important For Homeworld Games To Have Meaningful Tactical Decision Making
The foundation ofany great RTS gameis the strategy component, and althoughHomeworld 3differs from its predecessors in a few ways by eliminating subsystem targeting and hyperspace jumps across the map, the moment-to-moment tactical decision-making feels as impactful as ever. Sending the right ships for the job into an engagement is immediately rewarding, and the game’s terrain system introduces an entirely new layer of strategic depth.
What really makes a funHomeworldRTS–and we definitely got a lot of feedback during the demo about this–is bringing in your fleet and having them be able to tactically do different scenarios around the terrain and really have those long engagements that are as cinematic as you’ve ever wished.
I think player decision-making is a key foundational element for RTS in general, andHomeworldRTS is making player choices matter. Making meaningful tactical decisions and making your resourcing meaningful. Making sure your fleet selection, unit selection, fleet composition, and even your group compositions are meaningful. That is what adds up to a really solid RTS experience as the result ofHomeworld’s RTS experience.
Homeworld 3’s cover objectsallow for some tactics that fit right in with the series' overall theme of facing overwhelming odds: even when outgunned, taking careful advantage of the terrain to lay ambushes or employ hit-and-run tactics can turn a lopsided battle into a thrilling victory.
Homeworld Games Are Awe Inspiring and Atmospheric
According to Mueller, some ofHomeworld’s pillars have consistently been the series' awe-inspiring atmosphere and cinematic combat. EveryHomeworldplayer has probably found themselves zooming the camera into combat to watch theirown personalStar Warsspace battleunfold, and the game’s heavy use of ambient voice lines and its dynamic soundtrack heavily reinforce the cinematic nature of the series.
Homeworldhas some major pillars that the franchise has always been about. The first of which is grand scale and a sense of awe. If you playedHomeworld 1like I did when I was 13 years old, you’ll remember that amazing experience of going through these massive environments and not really knowing where you’re gonna go next, but finding out on this amazing journey as you go. We knew we had to verify thatHomeworld 3adhered to that first pillar.
A second pillar for us was cinematic combat and cinematic elements. I don’t know about you, but I always loved zooming in and watching the ships do their thing. They’re the pilots and they’re doing cool stuff. I’m gonna give them tactical orders and strategy orders, but I’m gonna enjoy watching them do their thing. So that was super important for us as well.
AlthoughHomeworld 3’s terrain systemis extremely functional in terms of strategy gameplay, it’s also another element that adds to that cinematic sense of awe. The structures that compriseHomeworld 3’s maps are gargantuan Death Star-sized heaps of metal that entire fleets of capital ships can fly through, and they’re arguably far more interesting to look at than the mostly empty space that the original games occupied.
Homeworld 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the award-winning story unfolds on a galactic scale.Strategic freedom is yours. Hulking space derelicts called megaliths bring 3D terrain into the classic Homeworld battlespace. Use the crumbling remains of an ancient civilization to funnel foes into a brilliant ambush or hide your fleet from powerful enemies. Fortresses teem with menacing turrets and invite your strike craft into dangerous trench runs deep behind enemy lines. But not everything is in your control. Dangerous space phenomena like particle storms and asteroid fields will test even senior commanders.Attack head-on, with a clever flank, or even from above and below your foes. Homeworld 3’s fully simulated ballistics make line of sight and cover critical strategic considerations. Your fleet persists from mission to mission. Scars on your ships linger. Strike craft pilots and capital ship captains pass along critical information through battlefield chatter.
