An Epic But Disappointing Space Opera: Homeworld 3 Review

has been a long time coming, as fans of the real-time strategy franchise have waited for over two decades to continue the story of the Hiigaran people and learn what became of Karan S'Jet. Developed by Blackbird Interactive and published by Gearbox Software, the latest entry in the series revels in its cinematic scale, delivering grand galactic vistas populated by behemoth space crafts battling for resources. While that may be enough to satisfy some, doesn't do enough to elevate itself when compared to its Progenitors.

Set 20 years after the events of, the story follows Imogen S'Jet, Karan's protégé, who assumes the role of Fleet Commander of the Khar-Kushan, a massive vessel that serves as a mobile base of operations among the stars. Having lost Karan S'Jet in a mysterious quadrant of space known simply as The Anomaly, Imogen is desperate to find her mentor and hopefully learn what became of her people. It's a militaristic story that takes more inspiration from than , sticking to its self-serious tone even when the narrative's events become a little silly.

doesn't exactly break new ground when it comes to the RTS genre, as players will use their main base, the Mothership, to create and deploy a variety of smaller units while juggling the task of gathering resources and shooting down enemies. It's a straightforward process that's made more interesting by its fully 3D environments that task Fleet Commanders with ordering their allies to move around an area with very few physical restrictions. It's initially daunting, with the control scheme likely presenting an early challenge for newcomers, but once it's grasped, the result can be electrifying.

The ability to freely move ships around space allows for more complex tactical maneuvers, as units dip behind floating debris to ambush opponents to flank a lumbering frigate by going over its head rather than the expected left or right. It helps that every battlefield, be it a derelict shipyard hanging in orbit around a