While Blackbird’s HD update of the original Homeworld titles may have shipped with a few nagging bugs, this original and inventive prequel reinvents the series in way I hardly even hoped could be possible. It’s fresh but familiar. It’s Homeworld, but it’s something new. Like its story-chronological successors, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is amazing — there’s simply nothing else like it.

Even though it’s set on the surface of a planet, Homeworld: Desert of Kharak brings you all the fun, the strategy and the sense of dimensions of the Homeworld saga. One of the best strategy games of the year, flawled only by minor bugs.

This is far from a reinvention of the RTS genre, but it is certainly a much needed rebirth for this series. At long last, the king has returned.

Homeworld is not an easy name to tackle, and yet Blackbird Interactive did a great job, maintaining some of the brightest ideas seen in the series, and adapting its gameplay in order to support the new location. It is not as memorable as its predecessors, but it’s still a strong and narrative driven rts, that will be appreciated by fans of the genre.

Homeword: Deserts of Kharak achieves its goal: to be a fantastic tribute for the original series. As a RTS, HDoK hasn’t much new, but is a fun game for the hardcore public of this genre.

Blackbird Interactive clearly understands what makes Homeworld such an esteemed series, and for the most part Deserts of Kharak delivers. Only a relative lack of content somewhat lessens an otherwise excellent RTS.

A curious relic, uncovered by a freak sandstorm, and soon to be reclaimed by the desert. [Issue#248, p.58]