So, this review is a little behind the curve, but there is a good reason for that; and it’s not just because I have been making a bunch of Let’s Play of the game (right here). The main reason is that I was enjoying getting to play a fantastic RTS like I was back in the early-mid 90s. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is fantastic from top to bottom, and does the Homeward brand justice, even if this game takes place far from the deep reaches of space. Not only it is a solid RTS, but it adds features and mechanics that push the genre forward (like there was a genre anymore) and requires that you understand what your each of your units can do, as well as understand your environment and how to use it to your benefit.

The first thing I have to mention is just how utterly jaw-dropping the cut-scenes in the game are. These aren’t your typical rendered fare, but are honest to god works of art. That’s not a complete exaggeration, as  cut-scenes are done in the vain of motion comics, but with incredible depths of detail. I’ll be the first to say they are so gorgeous I want to see an entire show/film done like this. The rest of the game, while done in your standard 3D, is still large and detailed. Units have a distinct style to them, making them easy to discern, even in larger groups. The desert itself also feels like a living, breathing creature as you travel deeper and deeper into it. Winds blow over the pock-marked landscape and you’ll have quickly find out that those pretty vistas are also strategic positions.

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak plays much like the Homeward games of old. Sure, you aren’t in space, but the Homeward mechanic work so well that it takes to the dunes perfectly. You control a mobile carrier that has been modified to traverse the desert, and use it as your building hub. You can build resource gatherers, support units, attack units, and make all sorts of upgrades. It’s easy enough to understand, even for new players, but remembering that your base is mobile sometimes takes a bit, especially for those not used to the Homeward format. Units themselves are varied and fun to play with, but each has their own unique abilities and talents. These abilities are extremely useful, more so that in many other RTS games.

Pretty much every RTS games allow you to assign a chunk of units to hotkeys in small battalions, but often times just taking a huge mishmash of units would be enough to get the job done; Deserts of Kharak is not this sort of game. Assigning groups is essential as units are so specific that having them in a huge ball of troops will make them less effective. Some units are better as quick attack and retreat units, others most useful from higher vantage points, other from a distance and so on. Your carrier is also quite capable when needed, but it also serves as your operations base for all air units, as a regular carrier today is.

While your carrier can also upgrade and be upgraded, you also have to manage its internal functions. This means rerouting power to various systems to best suit the needs of the current situation. This mobile carrier really adds a great deal of depth to the frantic situation that the game often falls into. There is no mini-map onscreen, instead you drop into a map screen that shows elevations and unit movements because of how much is going on. You really have to understand how things work and plan movement patterns, trying to think two or three steps ahead. It’s all extremely rewarding, but also build well on itself without just throwing you in neck-deep. The story also helps this, and it’s also extremely engaging.

I normally review games for work, and play games for fun to truly enjoy them. Homeward: Deserts of Kharak was a work game, but one that I took my time with because of how much I enjoyed it. The audio is also top-notch, even if you probably won’t be humming any tracks outside the game. Where things really work is in the details. Units chatter over coms about all sorts of technical things, and this really adds to the immersion. Winds sweep through the stages, and all the little feels and whistles keep everything actively and lively. The voice acting is also quite good, with characters being well-defined and emoting well.

Now, that isn’t to say that Homeward: Deserts of Kharak is a perfect game; it isn’t. While this isn’t a true Homeward game (more a prequel side thing) it’s still a lot of fun, but the biggest issue is that it’s pretty short. If you know Homeward, or are an RTS veteran, you’ll probably be finishing this one in under 10 hours. That in and of itself isn’t a deal breaker (length doesn’t make a good game), but chances are you are going to hit the end game and be wishing desperately that there was more here. A bigger issue to hardcore RTS fans will be the baddies themselves, which probably comes into play with the length.

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak at times felt like a casual RTS game. The enemy AI often feels like they are being commanded by a commander that gets bored pretty easily. Enemy units are predictable and really need some help doing smart things. Im’ not one that likes losing (who is), but I went so long without even fearing for my units. Early on I played it really safe and slow, but that generally ended up with me absolutely decimated the enemy troops. There are also a great many people speaking on the bugs that pop up from time to time, but I was pretty lucky and haven’t had anything that hurt the game.

One thing that is a bit lacking is the multiplayer aspect of Deserts of Kharak. I’m not a big multiplayer person, but an RTS is one genre that I do enjoy jumping into to test my skills. There are only a handful of maps for play at the time of this writing, and that just isn’t nearly enough to build a community on. Lastly, and the thing that aggravated me the most, was the camera control. It’s always awesome to zoom in on individual units and groups to see them battle it out, but don’t expect to zoom out to a comfortable place. Right off the bat I was wondering why I couldn’t pull the camera back father than it would let me. This makes the game feel cramped, even during the most open moments.

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is a lot of fun, but it comes up a bit short of the true, full fledged Homeward game that many were expecting. I think that’s where a lot of the issues crop up with people jumping into this one. If you understand that you are playing a smaller version of Homeworld, almost like an expansion pack, then you are going to have a lot of fun. Those new to RTS games, or that haven’t played in a longtime, or aren’t familiar with Homeward will really like this one. The good outweighs the negative here, but at $50 it does feel a bit pricey.

*A copy was provided for this review*

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J. Luis

J. Luis is the current Editor-In-Chief here at GAMbIT. With a background in investigative journalism his work encompasses the pop-culture spectrum here, but he also works in the political spectrum for other organizations.

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