ROSS’S GAME DUNGEON: CONQUEST EARTH

On 9/12/2022 at 9:35 AM, Im_CIA said:

30 seconds later

(2bh after 20 years, I know how to cheese the kadesh missions along. But it still feels overwhelming each time)

There is no easy "cheesing" Bridge of Sighs unless you're playing the Remaster 

Honestly that cutscene prior to everything kicking off is probably one of my favorites in any game. It's a very simple and short exchange but you can just feel the underlying tension and anticipation of wondering what's going to happen next.

I picture everyone in Fleet Intelligence hanging on every word being spoken by the Kadeshi representative, while the ambassador ship sits there nervously as the Kadeshi ship slowly circles around him as he speaks. Then the words that have sealed the fate of this encounter are spoken: "If you will not join, then die."

At that moment everyone immediately realizes there is no way out of this encounter without having to fight for their lives. The ambassador ship sits there for a moment in stunned realization of this fact as the Kadeshi ship turns around to leave after casually announcing your imminent destruction. The ambassador ship finally turns to leave, the entire crew onboard with a pit in their stomach, wondering if after everything you have survived so far in the void, your journey finally ends here.

Meanwhile back in the mothership, the moment the conversation ended, everyone and everything is immediately scrambling to action. Everything is instantly at red alert. Fighter pilots and corvette crews immediately start preparing to launch as fast as the hangar bays will allow it, personnel on frigates start rushing to battle stations,  and the commanders of all capital ships start watching with masked nervousness as dozens and dozens of fighters and frigates start pouring out of the large ship ahead in the distance. They aren't here yet, but they will be very shortly. Not even thirty seconds perhaps. The incredibly short calm before the storm, as many begin to make their peace with Sajuuk.

Then, all ever loving hell breaks loose as the last of your people begin the most savage and intense fight yet. The fight for their very existence.

On 9/13/2022 at 5:38 AM, Generic-User said:

Honestly that cutscene prior to everything kicking off is probably one of my favorites in any game. It's a very simple and short exchange but you can just feel the underlying tension and anticipation of wondering what's going to happen next.

 

I picture everyone in Fleet Intelligence hanging on every word being spoken by the Kadeshi representative, while the ambassador ship sits there nervously as the Kadeshi ship slowly circles around him as he speaks. Then the words that have sealed the fate of this encounter are spoken: "If you will not join, then die."

 

At that moment everyone immediately realizes there is no way out of this encounter without having to fight for their lives. The ambassador ship sits there for a moment in stunned realization of this fact as the Kadeshi ship turns around to leave after casually announcing your imminent destruction. The ambassador ship finally turns to leave, the entire crew onboard with a pit in their stomach, wondering if after everything you have survived so far in the void, your journey finally ends here.

 

Meanwhile back in the mothership, the moment the conversation ended, everyone and everything is immediately scrambling to action. Everything is instantly at red alert. Fighter pilots and corvette crews immediately start preparing to launch as fast as the hangar bays will allow it, personnel on frigates start rushing to battle stations,  and the commanders of all capital ships start watching with masked nervousness as dozens and dozens of fighters and frigates start pouring out of the large ship ahead in the distance. They aren't here yet, but they will be very shortly. Not even thirty seconds perhaps. The incredibly short calm before the storm, as many being to make their peace with Sajuuk.

 

Then, all ever loving hell breaks loose as the last of your people being the most savage and intense fight yet. The fight for their very existence.

That's a narrative quirk of Homeworld- there is so much going on behind the scenes that casual player might miss. Fleet Intelligence gives you very B-School, corporate all-hands press briefings during and between missions but if you read between the lines there a secret story going on. 

"The subject did not survive interrogation".

Well yeah, they probably juggled his balls with jumper cables considering what happened... later they convince you participate terrorist campaign against a space weather station by spinning it as an act of military retribution. 

On 9/13/2022 at 8:49 AM, Im_CIA said:

"The subject did not survive interrogation".

Yeah you get the impression that "maybe" it was never intended for him to survive the interrogation in the first place. It makes you wonder how that went down. Were your people as calm and dispassionate as their attackers were when committing their heinous crimes against your people? Or was he spared no mercy as they painfully forced the answers from him? The practically disinterested matter-of-fact delivery leaves it open to interpretation.

Quote

later they convince you participate terrorist campaign against a space weather station by spinning it as an act of military retribution. 

Look, I saw a frigate launch from it in the opening cutscene for that mission, that tells me all I need to know. Valid military target. "Light 'em up boys."

But I actually thought that level was an interesting way to mix things up considering how you have to navigate it. When you have a game that takes place in space with full 6DOF in 3D, you can't really have "terrain" to shape your levels to physically guide the player and stage encounters, so you have to get clever with your presentation. Otherwise it's almost always "move in a straight line from A to B because there is nothing to physically prevent me from doing so", aside from maybe wanting to avoid triggering certain groups of enemies.

Upon watching, I can't decide if this or Mage Knight Apocalypse is the worst game that's been on the show so far. This looks more painful to play, at least. It really is like they tried combining Xcom and C&C, but did it in the worst way possible.