Space is not known for its interesting topography. The word itself implies no terrain at all, and so it makes sense that the original Homeworld series – an RTS game set in outer space – had no terrain. But that was the early 2000s. Now, the long-awaited sequel Homeworld 3, due out in 2023, is recreating one of the fundamentals of space combat strategy. It has terrain, which means it has cover mechanics, and that completely changes the game.
During an hour-long practice session at Gamescom 2022, I played the original two missions from Homeworld 3; Facility 315 focuses on instruction and Kesura Oasis is more dangerous. Both are populated by dozens of terrain fragments; asteroids, derelict space cargo ships, and massive structures are just some of the floating items on Homeworld 3’s map.
The map design of Kesura Oasis is the star of this particular show. A massive cracked Star Destroyer-like ship serves as its platform. It’s an incredible sight when viewed up close, you can see it’s meticulously crafted with dead mechanics, flashing lights and mechanical ‘guts’ leaking out of the twisted and torn hull. broken. But zoom out and you can see the mechanical logic in action in its structure. At a distance, the routes your unit can take around this large piece of terrain are clearly visible. Naturally for an RTS playing in 3D, your fleet can move above or below it, but the blocks the giant ship have split apart to provide the ‘lane’ that the battleship has can fly over. Better yet, you can even send groups into the wreck’s engine exhaust, which acts as a tunnel that leads directly to the midpoint of the map, where your ship can then re-emerge after the crack. on the hull of the ship. It’s almost like recreating the Death Star track.
All of this makes map design much more rewarding to navigate than just an empty void, but when combat breaks out, the terrain truly comes into its own. The mission featured a number of massive enemy warships that could launch long salvoes of homing missiles, tearing my little Recon and Interceptor ships to pieces. In a head-on skirmish, my units won’t stand a chance. But through the use of cover and flanking tactics, I was able to turn the tide. I sent an Interceptor unit to draw the enemy’s attention and then fly behind what developer Blackbird Interactive calls a “lily pad” (actually a floating metal plate). While the enemy ships fired salvos at those Interceptors, those who survived thanks to the new cover, I was able to send in a squadron of bombers from the rear. The rocket ships were already floating before they could circle and target their new invaders.
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So far, the Homeworld series have always been tough guys. Like a game of rock-paper-scissors, each unit always has a ship it is strong against as well as a ship it struggles to fend off. That’s still true for Homeworld 3, but the hiding opportunities provided by the terrain will add ‘soft’ counter-strategies to your overall strategy. Suddenly units that didn’t stand a chance were able to not only survive, but take the initiative to take down ships that they normally wouldn’t. For example, while enemy missile ships are unlikely to be counterattacked by bombers, I also have the ability to destroy them with a group of Missile Interceptors capable of slamming into the flanks while the missile targets the enemy units. the Recon is hiding. Sure, it’s slower and less efficient, but the scenario shows how new tactical opportunities can be found in this terrain.
As an early campaign mission, Kesura Oasis is relatively straightforward. While my fighters deal with the missile barges through clever use, I slowly move my mother ship forward through the rubble of the giant structure so it can can support fire from its dozens of heavy weapons. While all that happens, I have utility ships that collect keys that plug into the wreck to power up the main objective: a giant hyperspace portal. It’s a sensible juggling with low tension between the two missions, thanks in large part to the exceptionally intuitive controls that somehow always accurately predict where in the 3D space you’re trying to be. Try to navigate your fleet.
The big question is what Homeworld 3 will look like when the pressure really increases. Blackbird promised me it was a game of strategy, positioning and forward thinking thanks to the sublime action gameplay enjoyed by many RTS games, and that’s very encouraging. I’m intrigued to see how that approach makes sense for the kind of combat encounters and mission objectives the story has in later missions. It’s easy to envision complex structures that offer all sorts of opportunities for flanking tactics, or maybe even ‘space stealth’, where ships can get through groups of enemies with a single ship. cargo capable of aiming. Whatever awaits us during the entire campaign, I just hope that it really captures and relentlessly drives the kinds of strategic terrain opportunities I’ve seen in this demo.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s News and Features Editor in the UK.
