Homeworld 3’s demo has me feeling slightly concerned about the RTS legend

Blackbird Interactive has simply launched a demo for Homeworld 3, the long-awaited third (and maybe ultimate?) installment of the legendary RTS franchise. The demo, out there via Feb. 15 on Steam and the Epic Video games Retailer, highlights the sport’s roguelike “Struggle Video games” mode, permitting you and your pals to play via progressively troublesome levels with randomized targets and enemies.

Picture: Blackbird Interactive

I spent a number of hours with the demo, which supplies a small vertical slice of what we will anticipate when the sport launches on Mar. 8. The demo options an abbreviated model of the Struggle Video games mode with simply three levels, however it does embody the complete development system that can be current within the retail model of Homeworld 3, which lets you unlock new ships and cosmetics. As an added bonus, any development that gamers make through the demo will carry over to the retail model of the sport.

The demo serves as a superb showcase of Homeworld 3’s technical and gameplay enhancements, however quite a lot of irritating points have considerably shaken my confidence in studio Blackbird’s capabilities in delivering a follow-up to a beloved franchise chained to greater than 20 years’ value of expectations.

Picture: Blackbird Interactive

Whereas the demo could also be consultant of an older construct of the sport, I bumped into issues like notably cumbersome digital camera controls and questionable pathfinding. A key addition in Homeworld 3 is terrain in area that’s supposed to supply a tactical benefit to your items. Nonetheless, this characteristic usually resulted in my items having issue discovering probably the most direct path to a goal. The in-game digital camera additionally struggles to supply one of the best view, usually clipping into the terrain and obscuring items. This subject is made worse by the painfully sluggish controls, which rotate and zoom at a glacial tempo, even with their sensitivity dialed up. It’s potential that these considerations have already been addressed by Blackbird Interactive, however seeing them within the demo left me questioning the type of recreation we should always anticipate roughly 4 weeks from now.

Picture: Blackbird Interactive

Regardless of its points, I nonetheless loved the Homeworld 3 demo and respect the immense effort Blackbird Interactive is placing into this title. In case you’d wish to strive the sport out for your self, make certain to take a look at the demo earlier than it leaves on Feb. 15.