Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable files from the Microsoft website (2015, 2013, 2012) both x86 and x64. The game should boot up just fine after that. I'm not sure if you need all of them but i haven't tried one at a time. The game is fun once you get it going.

Deserts of Kharak is the sequel/prequel to the first Homeworld, and since this game ist set on land, the combat and actiity takes place in a 2D plane. Gameplay is similar to Ground control, and it's good. Graphics are nice, sound and music are well done, the inability to remap controls was an annoyance, but check the forums for a fix. The maps are however a bit small, and it doesn't take much time to finish the missions, which makes the game too short imo. Buy it on sale, you won't be disappointed.

I always liked the idea of RTS games, but was never able to enjoy them because they're stressful, there's too much multitasking involved and it's not always obvious what you did wrong. If you're like me, you may like H:DoK. If you're an old fan of the genre, maybe trust other reviewers instead. I consider the original Homeworld a masterpiece (at least the parts I managed to see before giving up) and this preserves much of the original's atmosphere without being as difficult to control since it's in 2D. It was the first RTS I didn't give up on half-way and managed to beat. The atmosphere and storyteling is effective and it looks beautiful. The campaign felt just stressful enough, without being overwhelming for me. Micromanaging your units helps greatly, but is mostly unnecessary. In fact, it becomes less and less necessary over time and my main criticism is that the final two missions were a complete cakewalk amassing effectively infinite resources and a large artillery group with battlecruisers to protect them and scout out their targets. Most other people's criticism seems to be centered on three things: game being too easy, AI being dumb and there being no active pause. The difficulty didn't bother me and I actually liked the way normal felt, except for the final missions. I did feel stressed occasionally, but not too much after I figured out how the game works. I didn't feel like the AI was dumb, but I'm a newbie. They did try to bait me and their ranged units did try to keep distance so it felt smart enough to me. As for the active pause, the devs added it in a patch but I don't recommend it. I tried playing like that, but it completely ruined the experience for me. Then I restarted the campaign without using it and preferred it that way. So in conclusion, get it for the atmosphere and the story. Don't be afraid if you're not a fan of the genre. If you're a veteran, it'll be a cakewalk and you may not like the gameplay.

If you have played the first and second games, then this may be a very interesting prequel game. If you haven't played before, it's not recommended to start with this. The plot of the story cannot be said to be boring, it can only be said to be relatively plain. The combat aspect is indeed very interesting, but it is only limited to this. The process takes about 11 hours, and it is recommended to purchase at a discount.

Genuinely one of the best RTS games I have ever played. I replay the campaign regularly. Presentation is amazing. Voice acting is excellent. Sound effects are quality and punchy, echoing crisply off canyon walls and into the distance over the sands. Graphics are beautiful with each faction and unit looking distinct from both an aesthetic and practical perspective. It manages to capture the feeling of the previous space-bound 3D Homeworld games on land-bound 2D plane in a way I find impressive. It's also the only game I can think of currently that manages to portray aircraft carrier-based warfare so well, despite taking place entirely in a desert. In terms of critiques, there are some bugs and some polish is still needed but the game is done from what I can tell. I wish there was more, the amount of content presented is not worth the full asking price in my opinion but on sale it is a blast. An expansion or sequel would be most welcome but we have Homeworld 3 on the horizon. TL,DR: This game is an RTS gem that should be bought on sale.