Homeworld: Cataclysm

 PC
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Evil Avatar
    100
    The tweaks to the interface make the mechanics of the game much less frustrating and the amalgamation of many different unit functions into a smaller group of units makes directing your forces easier.
  2. Adrenaline Vault
    100
    Gorgeous visuals, an easy-to-use interface, and a great storyline all combine to make it one of the most dangerously addictive games I've ever played.
  3. ActionTrip
    95
    The story is exciting and reminds of a novel. Replay value is enormous, because when you pass the single player campaign, you can switch to Skirmish mode or Multiplayer.
  5. FiringSquad
    93
    The gameplay of the Homeworld series is now cemented as revolutionary. Games in the future will either draw upon this series as influence, or out and out steal its ideas. Homeworld and its sequel, Cataclysm, have done more for RTS than all others save perhaps Herzog Zwei and the PC Classic "Dune 2000."
  6. Antagonist
    93
    Deep, complex gameplay, a fascinating story, and enough mystery and action to keep you on the edge of your seat for hours.
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  7. IGN
    92
    It is a very solid game that will draw you in and will beg you to play "just fifteen more minutes."
  8. GameSpy
    91
    One of the best single-player campaigns ever makes this a great expansion to the Homeworld series. A "must-buy" game.
  9. Gaming Age
    91
    Barking Dog's attention to detail and their sincere desire to improve almost every aspect of the original has resulted in an extremely solid title that easily stands up to any real-time strategy game released this year. I am impressed.
  10. PC Gamer
    91
    A worthy follow-up to our 1999 Game of the Year. [Nov 2000, p.130]
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  11. Gamers' Temple
    90
    Cataclysm has made some welcome improvements to the excellent original game and provides more fun with the best real-time space combat game to date.
  12. Game Over Online
    90
    The improvements to the game are just phenomenal. It's very hard to take an already impressive game and improve it, but Barking Dog has done a superb job of taking Homeworld further.
  13. GamePro
    90
    While the gameplay remains the same, the new features and improvements make Cataclysm even more enjoyable the original.
  14. All Game Guide
    90
    This sequel contains enhancements and expanded gameplay by providing new gameplay aspects such as waypoints and sensor screen attack commands, new types of ships capable of upgrades with advanced technologies and weapons, fog-of-war, damage control, research and mothership modules.
  15. CNET Gamecenter
    90
    You can tell from the beginning that this game is a visual feast: the graphics are gorgeous, and combat is a blast to watch.
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  16. Happy Puppy
    90
    So far above and beyond the majority of real-time strategy games out there, it's tough to find any shortcomings at all.
  17. Electric Playground
    90
    Outstanding visuals, an ominous orchestral score, a well-scripted story with real plot twists, excellent voice acting and a host of brand new ships and weapons, Cataclysm is a sequel to Homeworld as much as "Aliens" was a sequel to "Alien." It’s better, has more action, and plays longer.
  18. GameSpot
    89
    The great graphics, incredible sound and music, and true-3D gameplay made it a favorite among strategy fans and critics.
  19. TotalGames.net
    88
    There are predictable twists and a couple that may just surprise you, the voice acting is impressive and the animated cut scenes are still a breath of fresh air after the endless glossy renders of other games.
  20. Games Radar
    88
    A distillation and purification of an already dangerously potent liquor. Only its closeness to its parent prevents greater recommendation.
  21. Spank!
    86
    Everything that the original should have been.
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  22. GameZone
    85
    Sheer joy – a delight to look at, a treat for the ears and a challenge for the mind. This game is the sibling to an award-winning program, and will in all likelihood be continuing that family tradition.
  23. GamerWeb PC
    85
    The only drawback of Cataclysm is that, being an expansion pack, it doesn't really have the magical epic feel that Homeworld offered.
  24. Da Gameboyz
    82
    A pretty solid game that manages to recapture some of the award winning gameplay of Homeworld, but still fails to match up with its predecessor.
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  25. Eurogamer
    80
    Marginally better than the original. The single player game is undoubtedly more enjoyable, whilst the multiplayer is still flawed but nevertheless worth a few games.
  26. Daily Radar
    75
    We recommend Cataclysm for "Homeworld" fans, but if you've not played "Homeworld" yet, grab it first and play that -- it's a better game.
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best PC Game of 2000
68
#68 Most Discussed PC Game of 2000

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 92 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 92
  3. Negative: 4 out of 92
  1. Ade_the_Rare
    Jun 13, 2012
    9
    Actually a very enjoyable sub-sequel (it was originally meant to be an addon, but ended up being released as a stand-alone game) to theActually a very enjoyable sub-sequel (it was originally meant to be an addon, but ended up being released as a stand-alone game) to the original, with huge amounts of atmosphere and many of the little annoyances of the original ironed out (combat commands from map screen implimented, auto-harvesting resources at end of missions instead of waiting for hours, etc). Very worth aquiring this one for any RTS collection.… Full Review »
  2. llamayarmybar
    Jan 23, 2014
    10
    The shocking truth that so many people would never really want to consider here, is that Cataclysm is not only a fantastic sequel, but handsThe shocking truth that so many people would never really want to consider here, is that Cataclysm is not only a fantastic sequel, but hands down- the best game in the series. What we can immediately pull away from the amazing presentation is the knowledge that a very intelligent developer named "Barking Dog Studios" saw the potential for the series and worked very hard to make it a better experience all around. If anyone hasn't played Homeworld in a while, you'll remember that it had a fantastically executed story held back just a smidge by occasionally buggy fleet A.I., a killer difficulty curve after the 3rd mission, an almost unfair amount of frustration at times, and of course some cumbersome interface quirks. This has really all been cleared up by Barking Dog, since not only have they patched and filled some of the irksome frustrations of the interface, but they've completely cleaned up the issue with unit balance as well. Incorporating a unit cap was an incredibly good idea, it adds quite a bit more strategy in when you choose to build your units. Though this was frowned upon as an overall game-changing mechanic, I thought it made unit preservation that much more important. And with how much faster paced Cataclysm is compared to its predecessor- it makes a good deal of sense to implement that feature. Without getting too much into the story, the actual flow of combat is what really drove me to enjoy this game over and over again. The back and forth of the main factions in game are nothing short of nerve-racking. Slowly preparing a fleet to do battle with a foe that can reverse your technology and assimilates your ships is terrifying and incredibly interesting. Working out the balance of your fleet, researching new ways to counter your borg-like foe are all part of the campaign as well as the skirmish modes. To mention briefly the sound design is nothing short of brilliant, its much more engaging than the original game, though some of the voice work does sound a little goofy initially, overall its very well implemented as well. The atmospheric soundtrack is back, and though it doesn't feature anything that standouts as well as the first game, it is still very good. The games engine itself was starting to see some gray hairs unfortunately, so of course it was polished as well as it could be for 2000. Between the much more involved story line, the pacing of various space battle, the more efficient research and harvesting system- the game easily outdoes 1999's origin tale. If not by design alone, it certainly features a much more engaging plot that really goes all out in conveying the urgency of stopping your mistake that was born from foolish ignorance. If you have always wondered what the best "sequel" was, this is it, this is the actual "Homeworld 2" and their is really nothing like it inside the real time strategy genre.… Full Review »
  3. TheABC
    Aug 20, 2018
    10
    THIS IS EPIC. its LEGO BATTLES IN SPACE. it is truly awesome like killer keemstar said: "homeworld catalysm is only second best to legoTHIS IS EPIC. its LEGO BATTLES IN SPACE. it is truly awesome like killer keemstar said: "homeworld catalysm is only second best to lego battles wich is the best game ever" - Killer keemstar 1937… Full Review »
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