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Homeworld 2
Hw2box
Developer(s) Relic Entertainment
Publisher(s) Sierra Entertainment
Release date September 16, 2003
Genre Real-time strategy
Mode(s) Singleplayer, Online multiplayer (up to 8)
Age rating(s) ESRB: T
Platform(s) PC, Mac
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough


One hundred years after the events of the first Homeworld game, the remnants of the old Taiidan Empire have scattered throughout the galaxy, most of them joining with the aggressive nomadic Vaygr. As raids on the Outer Rim worlds increases and the Vaygr grow in strength, the Hiigarans prepare their defenses for a full-scale assault, and begin the secret construction of a new Mothership to be the flagship of their fleet, The Pride of Hiigara. Additionally, the noble and legendary Karan S'jet is returning to war aboard The Pride of Hiigara, integrating herself once more as Fleet Command within the massive vessel. Just as construction of the new Mothership is nearing completion inside the great Progenitor derelict at Tanis, Vaygr forces spring a surprise attack. The Pride of Hiigara narrowly escapes with her skeleton crew, but Tanis is destroyed. Arriving at Hiigara, the invasion is in its earliest stages. Delaying Vaygr forces for a short time, The Pride of Hiigara receives her crew and escapes into the galaxy to mount a counter-attack and prevent the invading forces from getting their hands on the far jump Hyperspace Core within the ship.

The reason the Vaygr have become so brazen is because they have discovered a third far-jumping Hyperspace Core- an advantage the new-Hiigarans/Kushan inherited from the wreak of the Khar-Toba on Kharak [from the first game]. The Great Harbor Ship of Bentus- the origin of the powerful-but-peaceful Bentusi- contains the first far-jump Hyperspace Core discovered tens of thousand of years earlier, which allowed humanity to travel to the stars in peace. The Bentusi prophesies that the end of the Third Age will occur when the deity Sajuuk- "He whose hand shapes what is"- is resurrected using the combined power of the three united Hyperspace Cores.

Single-Player Game Objective

It is the mission of the player in the game to follow the mysteries of the Hyperspace Cores and their builders, the ancient alien race known only as the Progenitors, across the galaxy, and possibly find Sajuuk. At the same time, they must defend them self from Vaygr forces, and make tactical strikes behind the lines in order to weaken the forces besieging Hiigara.

Gameplay features and new functions

  • A reworked tactical display allows the player to access Research, Construction, and Launch control options without having to leave the main gaming window. The Sensors Manager still requires stepping out of the battle window, but- like Homeworld Cataclysm- long-range movement and attack commands can be issued from there.
  • During the game, new technologies can be researched to produce new combat vessels, or upgrade current ones. Unlike the previous two games in the series, you must use Resource Unit points (RUs) to pay for initial upgrades and research. However once an upgrade or research is completed, there is no need to do it again. All vessels are automatically upgraded, not requiring them to dock for changes to take place.
  • One new feature in Homeworld 2 is introduced that was not in either of the previous two games- Homeworld and Homeworld- Cataclysm- is the use of Module Sub-systems. These are used to enhance production, or gain new abilities for certain larger ships, i.e. Capital- and Mothership-class vessels.
For example: in order to build Fighter-class ships, the player must first build a Fighter Production Module on a Carrier, Shipyard, or the Mothership. While ships with Production Module slots can still carry & repair strike craft within hangar bays, new ships cannot be made.
Additionally, Modules and engines (from Capital-class size on up) can be specifically targeted by enemy vessels. When engines are completely damaged, that system will be disabled until the ship slowly effects self-repairs over time. [The largest weapon systems on both the Hiigaran and Vaygr Battlecruisers (Twin Ion Bean Turrets and Heavy Missile Launcher, respectively) can also be disabled in the same fashion.] Using multi-functional Resource Collectors to repair ships does not affect these recovery times.

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