Ion Cannon Frigates, for instance, are very vulnerable to fighters due to the unwieldy (albeit powerful) nature of their single weapon. Ships within each class specialize in certain areas and are vulnerable to certain other ships, although there may be ships in the same class that do not share the same vulnerability. Although the larger ships are more powerful and durable, they are also much slower and less maneuverable. Although the Mothership is initially the center of new research, Carriers and Shipyards can build their own on-board Research Labs.Īll units in Homeworld 2 are starships of various classes, from small to large: Fighter, Corvette, Frigate and Capital Ship. The Mothership can also build Carriers, which themselves can build any ship from the Fighter, Corvette and Frigate families. The Mothership is capable of constructing all but the very largest ships, which must be built using Shipyards (the game states these are built at orbital facilities and arrive via hyperspace). The player's fleet is centered on the Mothership, the destruction of which results in an immediate Game Over in a single-player game, and is a critical loss in a multiplayer game. RUs are the currency for both ship creation and technology research, placing limits on what combination of shipbuilding and new technology research can be carried out in a single game. Gameplay in Homeworld 2 depends on so-called "Resource Units," (RUs) which are collected by harvester craft. Units are moved three-dimensionally using a combination of mouse movements and key presses to modify the z-axis of the destination position.
Homeworld 2 shares the movement system and three-dimensional play area of its predecessor. In contrast to the closely equivalent Kushan and Taiidan forces of the original game, Vaygr and Hiigaran spaceships differ significantly in design and application. Its gameplay takes a new direction with the enhancement of its graphics and audio. Its story concerns Hiigara's response to a new enemy called the Vaygr.
Homeworld 2 is a real-time strategy video game sequel to Homeworld, developed by Relic Entertainment and released in 2003 by now defunct publisher Sierra Entertainment.