As a remaster: The game played smoothly for me. The remastered graphics aren't mind-blowing, but very effective in giving the original a facelift to at least be on par with the second game. The biggest split among fans is how the remastered edition changed the first game to be more in line with the sequel, and removed a few overpowered things, but the classic versions of each game are also included -- so you can play whichever one you prefer. Overall: I was obsessed with Homeworld 1 when it first launched. It has a very strong story for an RTS and a wonderful soundtrack. I loved building out a fleet, and also capturing enemy ships to use as my own, all of which have unique abilities. Homeworld 2 is a slightly less compelling story, but still very much fun to play. Homeworld 2 in particular has a TON of mods for almost every sci-fi fandom you can think of that features capital ships, so you'll have lots of reasons to revisit.
You're going to see some baseless 1-star review for this game that have nothing to do with how it actually plays, so try to disregard. This is a game that feels very much like a late 90s or early 2000s level-based action game, complete with the lighthearted atmosphere that used to define them. There are four chapters, each with optional challenges and secrets to find. It's a short game. The main story is about 5 hours if you take your time, but there's an arena mode for unlimited custom brawls with changing variables. The core gameplay is similar to Sekiro, but the focus is on managing larger groups of enemies using the environment around you to divide-and-conquer. You can fling buckets onto enemy heads, knock them over by kicking barrels, fire cannons, etc. It captures the sense of being in a swashbuckling movie like Mask of Zorro. You have to constantly keep moving. Playing with a gamepad is best. I would love to see the developer build on these fundamentals in the future to make a longer game, because there's a lot of potential there.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Rebel Galaxy. It's very simplistic: a combination of space trucking, bounty hunting, mercenary work, and (if you wish) blatant space piracy. The controls are streamlined and straight-forward. It's not a simulator. As others have mentioned, the combat is very similar to Black Flag. It's not fancy and does not pretend to be. It's perfect for when you want to relax and enjoy something that doesn't require a lot of intense focus. It's a very charming little game with a killer Firefly-esque soundtrack that really sets the mood for space shenanigans. Could it be more complex and have more content? Sure. It's not an absolute masterpiece. But it really owns its niche in the gaming market, and it's wonderfully entertaining.
