Homeworld 3 Review

Release Date: May 3rd, 2024
Platforms: PC
Developer: Blackbird Interactive
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing

Overview

Homeworld 3 is a real-time strategy (RTS) game set in a distant future where humanity has ventured into the stars. The game unfolds in a richly detailed universe, showcasing stunning scenes that captivate the eye. Players navigate through the remnants of long-lost civilizations, engage in epic space battles, and manage resources to build and upgrade their fleets.

In the Story Campaign Mode, players will experience a blend of strategic depth and narrative-driven missions.

War Games introduces a new roguelike mode to the Homeworld series. In this mode, you tackle a series of progressively challenging missions, either solo or in online co-op. Team up with a friend or match with a stranger via quick play or the server browser.

Skirmish is Homeworld’s PvP mode, available for play against AI or other players online. The default objective is to destroy all enemy Motherships to secure victory. You can also host your own private or public skirmishes, setting custom rules such as map selections, time limits, and victory conditions.

Story

The storyline continues the epic saga of the Hiigaran people. Following the events of Homeworld 2, the Hiigarans face new threats and challenges as they seek to uncover the mysteries of the galaxy. Central to the plot is Karan S'jet, a recurring character who once again plays a pivotal role. The Hiigarans must contend with a formidable new enemy faction and explore ancient hyperspace technology that holds the key to their survival.

Gameplay

Mechanics: In Homeworld 3, players build and command fleets, managing resources and deploying units strategically to gain an advantage. The game operates in real-time, requiring quick decisions and adaptability, with the ability to pause and issue commands for precise control. Utilizing asteroids and other debris for tactical advantages and navigating environmental hazards like asteroid fields add enjoyable mechanics to the gameplay. Combat is fully three-dimensional, emphasizing the importance of unit formations, depth perception, and spatial awareness for effective maneuvers.
Controls: The controls in Homeworld 3 feel somewhat clunky and lack the intuitive smoothness of earlier installments. Navigating the interface and managing units can be cumbersome, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
Difficulty: There are four difficulty settings to choose from: Story, Easy, Normal, and Hard. On Story, the game feels like a pushover, with enemies offering little challenge and fleet composition being less critical. On Hard, however, the AI puts more pressure on your fleet, requiring better use of units and more strategic planning.
Replayability: On Easy, the single-player campaign lasted roughly six hours, but it didn't offer much replayability. There is more replayability in the WarGame and Skirmish modes. However, I found Solo War Games to be very repetitive, with similar missions each time.

Graphics

Visual Style: Homeworld 3’s visual style is breathtaking, beautifully capturing the vastness and serenity of space with intricate ship designs, dynamic asteroid fields, and colossal space structures. The game’s advanced cover system allows players to strategically use debris and wreckage, enhancing both the visual appeal and tactical depth of the experience.
Technical Performance: Homeworld 3 generally ran well on my modern system, though there were some frame rate drops during large battles and view transitions. However, I experienced zero crashes or errors throughout my gameplay.
Art Design:.

Sci-Fi Realism: Homeworld 3 features a highly detailed and realistic science fiction aesthetic. The ships, environments, and space phenomena are meticulously designed with intricate details and realistic textures.
Vibrant and Dynamic Lighting: The game employs dynamic lighting effects that enhance the visual experience. This includes the glow of distant stars, reflections on ship hulls, and dramatic lighting during battles.
Color Palette: Homeworld 3 uses a rich and varied color palette. Deep blues and blacks dominate the vastness of space, while ships and celestial bodies are highlighted with bright, contrasting colors such as reds, oranges, and greens.
Epic Scale: The art style emphasizes the vastness and grandeur of space. Ships and structures are depicted with a sense of scale that conveys the immense size and scope of the game’s universe.
Clean and Sleek Design: The ships and structures have a clean, sleek design with smooth lines and geometric shapes, reflecting advanced technology and engineering.
Environmental Detail: Nebulae, asteroid fields, and debris from battles are rendered with great detail, adding to the immersive space environment.
Cinematic Presentation: The game’s visuals support a cinematic experience, featuring sweeping camera angles, epic vistas, and dramatic space battles.

Sound

Soundtrack: The soundtrack features epic orchestral themes and ambient tracks, blending traditional orchestral music with modern electronic elements to enhance the game's immersive space-based experience. The dynamic compositions evoke a range of emotions, from the tension of battles to the melancholy of deep space exploration.
Sound Effects: The sound effects are well-suited for the space battles, and the confirmation radio chatter integrates seamlessly, adding to the realism.
Voice Acting: The voice actors delivered exceptional performances in Homeworld 3. Ike Amadi stood out with his portrayal of Isaac Paktu, consistently conveying deep emotion and bringing the character to life. I had no complaints about any of the voice performances.

Multiplayer

There is a multiplayer mode, but I struggled to find anyone to team up with, even using the game's search function. It's unclear whether this was due to bugs or simply a lack of players in open lobbies.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

The story campaign is enjoyable, offering around six hours of gameplay if you take your time, though it may feel a bit short for the price.
Building and research have been combined into one easy-to-use category.
The game is visually stunning, especially when zoomed in to observe the detailed units.

Cons:

The camera and movement controls are somewhat clunky.
The ship AI has issues, with occasional pathfinding problems.
There are not enough fleet formations.
The season pass is geared more towards multiplayer rather than the single-player story.

Final Verdict

Overall, I enjoyed my playthrough and was satisfied with my purchase. While not the best iteration in the franchise, it's a game I will definitely play again. However, I would recommend waiting for a sale rather than paying full price.

My final verdict for Homeworld 3 is 3 leaves out of 5.