Homeworld Intro Cutscene + Mothership Launch

sniff It's so beautiful...Homeworld cutscenes, despite being built on a really outdated game engine, put many professional movies to shame. This is the background story and intro for Homeworld, one of many beautifully animated cinematics one can find throghout the game.
Disclaimer: I don't own Homeworld, as cool as it would be if I did.

[@Turtleproof]

That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you introduce a classic space strategy game with superb story telling.

[@davegunning1443]

How many people here remember being in total shock returning from the hyperspace test drive mission only to find the surface of Kharak burning. Oh man the feels :(

[@acs197]

Punch to the gut, for sure. Then a frantic scramble to get more fighters made and in position for combat.

[@LordTelperion]

I'll never forget. The utter shock and horror.

[@Epinardscaramel]

spoilers 😀

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

​@acs197 you've just been told a group of humans found an ancient relic that united them into a concentrated goal. Something we desperately yearn for in reality. Something to catalyze us as a species. And erase the false lines we draw between ourselves. These people found that. And it cost them so much.

[@UpcycleShoesKai]

Spoilers dude

[@Yeeren]

Even over a decade later, this scene still moves me to tears. The fulfillment of a people, of a species, after centuries of in-fighting and decades of united labor, the opportunity to reach out and seize their destiny amongst the stars in one great, united endeavor coupled with Barber's Adagio for Strings is too powerful not to strike a chord with my very soul, even after all these years.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

It's a wonderfully painful tragedy. It's unfair. Its grotesque. But that commitment to build the ship, is inspiring. It's deeply human.

[@DogmaBeoulve]

"... Hiigara, Our Home" gets me every time. Knowing what's the come, what's at stake and where it all goes, it gets me teary to this day.

[@kummer45]

Homeworld 3. It's happening. Imagine the scale of this.

[@darthjekyll3648]

The gaalsien were right

[@pacman10182]

right up there with "kharak is burning"

[@darthjekyll3648]

And the clans united.

[@Zeithri]

Even if time will make me forget the plot, the word _Hiigara_ is forever etched on my memory.

[@legowelt88]

"every effort on the construction of the ship that would seek it out...among the stars..." get me every damn time....this game is a masterpiece. And the narrator is god.

[@PillowWillow007]

Rest in peace

[@afterburner94]

Apart from this beautiful intro, the game's manual was a masterpiece. There are approx. 30 pages about History of Kharak & Hiigara, and every Kiith was introduced, with their role explained in the Kharak society... This manual was one of the best i could have read in my player's life. Thanks Relic, for this beautiful game :)

[@michaelandreipalon359]

That sure is a great manual. Even moreso if you got Cataclysm's manual too.

[@moradin84]

Amen brother. That manual is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read, not only in the way of game manuals... and I've been reading for as long as my nearly 40-year-old self can remember. I have that manual in its original physical form as well as digitally on each and every one of my portable devices and laptops. I can't help myself re-reading it every once in a while even after all these years, truly some of the most inspired pieces of art to have ever been written, I hold it up there along with _Contact_ , _Monsoon_ , _The Lord of the Rings_ and _The Name of the Rose_ .

[@s3dchr]

"Mothership has cleared the Scuffold.... We are away." *breaks down into happy awe tears*

[@vlweb3d]

*AFTER ALL THESE YEARS ...* *THAT MUSIC STILL SENDS CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE* What a hauntingly beautiful game.

[@ThePicus88]

VL VIDEOS Exacly my foughts - it's been alsmot 15 years and still chill goes though my spine.

[@davidsirmons]

+VL VIDEOS Yes. Homeworld was a truly elevating experience. It was for RTS games and space games what Half Life was for shooters.

[@soddinnutter5633]

The awsomest intro in the history of ever. "The Mothership has cleared the Scaffold. We are away." Unbeatable. And the way the Mothership moves just as the chorus hits peak is epic. Legendary, even.

[@Cp-71]

The thing that to this day stays unmatched is the sound design. The mechanical sounds, the engines, the crew chatter... This is what I'm missing in HWR. My favourite line in this intro is not the Hiigara, the we are away or the 60 years. It's the minor "What a beautiful sight". You can feel the excitement and ecstasy of these people so well...

[@Rock787b]

"Construction would take sixty years." That reading always gave me chills for some reason.

[@joparsons1111]

So many years on and this STILL sends shivers down my spine. Epic doesn't do it justice. And that mothership design hasn't been beaten. Thanks for sharing.

[@croweater78]

This intro is awesome, I remember first watching it thinking 'oh this is gonna be epic!' yeah I still play Homeworld every now and then. Adagio for Strings just isn't as majestic without the engine roaring and personnel radioing in status in the background

[@LordTelperion]

Just wait until you can experience it with a live choir.

[@Gord471]

One of the truly great games of all time. I remember playing it for the first time and getting back from the second mission to find kharak destroyed. No game has moved me as much before or since.

[@andregeo13]

Man, I love this game. Reminds me of university. Almost lost one year because of Homeworld. Truly a superb game. Nowadays a classic in the genre. Such good taste in music and a really great story!

[@kummer45]

I can't explain how I feel watching this and knowing that there will be a Homeworld 3. The Agamemnon, I will be able to see it. It's a deep feeling of seeing my which come true with current gen graphics. This is just too much. I cried.

[@Varian-Killbot]

How do you feel about Homeworld 3 now that it's out?

[@kummer45]

Graphics and 3d modeling is amazing. Gameplay mechanics and game types are good. Yes, the story, writing and narrative is top quality woke horse excrement of the finest degree. This video game needs a serious narrator, a well experienced writer who played previously these games and a passionate team like Sierra.

[@codword]

Gives me goose bumps every time. It's SO well done. SO good. Relic, you are sorely missed :(

[@Xyos212]

2:30 that "skip" in the sky of the ship in the distance always remembered that lol! AMAZING GAME!

[@CrimsonInquisitor]

The Hiigaran hyperspace core serves three primary purposes: 1. It is one of the First Cores discovered by the civilizations of the Homeworld galaxy, and is therefore one of the cores from which all hyperspace travel was derived. 2. It is part of the Trinity, three cores needed to activate the massive progenitor warship Sajuuk 3. It is also part of the charging mechanism for Sajuuk's main beam cannon, arguably the most powerful ship-to-ship weapon in the galaxy.

[@InZax_x]

Man, this was such a good game. The story was amazing and the multiplayer was fantastic.

[@gr33nf00t]

The intro to Homeworld knocked my socks off. I was actually so amazed I called my brother into the room to watch it with me. This was the most cinematic, emotionally involving media display I have ever witnessed. I'll admit it, I cried manly tears when Kharak burned.

[@gr33nf00t]

Just realized it's been 10 years since this was released (September 28, 1999). It's still soooo good.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

23 years.

[@Yeeren]

The moment of launch, coupled with the climax of Barber's superb adagio for strings never fail to move me to tears.

[@stuartwesthall]

Greatest intro ever to (arguably) the greatest space RTS game ever. Apologies to Elite and EVE, both awe inspiring games, but neither of them have anything close to the sheer gooseflesh and tears inducing emotional impact of this game. An absolutely timeless masterpiece.

[@kamacazi8]

Before, You had to fight for a save point.. You had to fight for a small cinematic, you had to fight for every single unit in the game.. and the plot and story line, ran through entire game. So much that your purchase of each game came with a description of each unit but also each clan and background on the story, even ran pages upon pages of information of the overall landscape of the game. With notes at the end to write as if you had just read a book. that is how in depth each game used to be...Reach out for those games, place a blind eye to modern graphics and place an open mind to playing previous great games like these. :) Even if it takes you a while to jump OS or find a playable version.

[@liquid6901]

"Construction would take sixty years.." always gets me.

[@tba113]

The manual elaborated a bit on that in a touching way. "During the course of this massive project, 2,357 personnel gave their lives for the future of our people, and their names are engraved on the central hyper drive core of the Mothership. They will never be forgotten, and their brave spirits will precede this vessel into the gulf of hyperspace."

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

​@@tba113 Thats like 3 people a month on average. Damn.

[@Turtleproof]

Every time the car starts and goes into gear: "We are away."

[@Razgriz_01]

RIP Campbell Lane

[@followyourideas]

One of the best games I've ever played. It makes you feel that you're actually there

[@UnDeaDCyBorg]

I still occasionally watch this, and it gets me close to crying sometimes. Really well done with the resources they had. Even if they had more I wouldn't know how to improve upon it.

[@DreadNawght]

And then I accidently pressed scuttle while focusing on the mothership

[@MalirTiris]

Hey, I've got a cheat code for you. Go into the Sensors Manager and type in ACCESS.

[@oklev89]

This is easily one of the best intros ever. Epic, spooky and emotional. Relic knows what's up.

[@Hazzard65]

Brings back a lot of memories. Cutscenes still send shivers down my spine

[@ShaunYoung]

The artwork in homeworld is just fantastic, and the music and sound direction is also superb. One of the most epic and deep games in the history of gaming.

[@UnrealKeyboards]

deff one of my favorite games of all times. the musical score pushes the space fights in the game from "great" to "epic" thanks for putting this online man, brings back so many memories!

[@bjm100]

i love those scenes they just work so well, i would love it if someone made a game that looked exactly like that hand drawn art

[@FlinkerDifar]

This games atmosphere is incredible due to the beautiful soundtrack. I own it in Original and I still love it.

[@firewireo]

This game is on my Hard disk since 1999 and will probably stay there forever, you can play this game over and over for a million times and it will never get old, it has the most original space fiction story, theme and atmosphere, besides Starcraft, these games are the most Marvelous wonders in the gaming world.

[@marslance]

It took me like TWO YEARS of off and on playing before I finally stopped beating my head against the wall and figured out that the key to beating this game is to salvage EVERYTHING. This is still one of my favorite games today.

[@CeloHunter]

had to come here to see after look the remastered page on steam ;X

[@MpowerdAPE]

this game MOVED ME. ive never been as effected by a game before or since. watching this brings the memories back.

[@Doowoo]

This game was waaaaay ahead of its time.... not only graphic wise but also gameplay wise!

[@Cheranetube]

You did a beautiful job with this video, and the sound quality is excellent. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@BlinkyBM]

It still looks so great. Rare to see a game age so well

[@ArjeeBhajee]

This game was the total package - gameplay, story, music, even the manual (! How many games can you say that about?) had so much poured into it. Graphics-wise, its still quite presentable. I bought it quite by random way back in the day when my parents bought our first PC, and its still one of my favourite games.

[@Gordioni]

A truly visual feast - Eye candy at its best. A true classic and an inspirational, innovative example of it's genre. Well done Sierra/Relic and keep em coming...

[@wingspantt]

One of the most chilling and effective introductions to a game ever.

[@Turtleproof]

Among the best science fiction storytelling in video game history. If only the sequel's gameplay wasn't so broken. This game is still a landmark. Beautiful.

[@SpazzyMcGee1337]

Rewatching this, hearing about a people that forgot all there differences and united for a shared endeavor and sacrificed so much and accomplished so much... and knowing what their fate would be, that their dream led to their destruction. The thought just tears me up inside.

[@ItCameFromTheSkyBeLo]

It was an injust catastrophe. It hurts so good.

[@00bean00]

To me, the destruction of the homeworld right after the first mothership test was a real blow, and the choral arrangement---what a decision---of "Adagio for Strings" made that one of the saddest moments in gaming. I had never heard Samuel Barber's "Adagio" before, but how could you ever forget it after that? I eventually found a piano version to start learning (years later).

[@Orthanc98]

There are no words to properly describe just how epic this game truly is.

[@Sajukhar]

-Tears up- It's so wonderfull, I still think this game's story is one of the best i've ever played. its an older game but i reccomend people play it anyway

[@MaisieSqueak]

But what happened to T through Z!?... Won't somebody think of the T through Z's!?

[@deathtax10]

Most brilliantly constructed RTS game, ever. There is no other contender whatsoever

[@opasnione]

awesome sountrack and story, bring back some good memories

[@paanjang16]

".. the mothership has cleared the scaffold... we are away!!!" I wonder how many has shed a tear when this line is read?

[@novato455]

oooohh boy they dont make videogames like this anymore, the only thing triple A companies care right now its money, back in the 90s and 2004 we really had some quality titles.

[@swordgamevr49]

oh shut up.

[@novato455]

SwordGame VR And why the fck should i shut up mmmhhhh? its my goddamn opinion and its not far from the truth!, kids these days dont apreciate games of old, just shot shot and shot. meh.

[@swordgamevr49]

novato455 LOL. Sins of a solar empire, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, New Total Annihilation, Lots of space RTS coming out.

[@colbitruman]

With the exception of star citizen, fuck all those other games. For 1999 when this came out, it was on a whole other level. Won game of the year. I dont think you understand, when there were no 3d plane games out at this time, I was 11 years old when this game came out. My brain fucking melted when i played this game. I feel sorry for kids these days, it just isnt the same when we were growing playing games from this era.

[@novato455]

colbitruman the only thing kids these days get are shooters a la call of duty with pretty graphics, i remenber there was a kid in a saving private ryan video here on youtube (it was omaha beach) and he said that the graphics of the "new call of duty" look realistic. can you belive that?.

[@theaznfishy]

Homeworld one was the best, the storyline and every mission was great. I especially loved their cutscenes and drawn out movies. HW1 could be tedious at times cuz you can only build one ship at a time and sometimes the distances were really far but still its still the best ship game ever.

[@__RobertM__]

"what a beautiful sight!"

[@BaronUberstein]

That music almost brings tears to my eyes. When I first put the disk into my computer, I fell in love with this game.

[@v10mclaren]

simply one of the best games ever made. i remeber playing this game late, with let lights out, and feeling totally alone in space. this game really sucked you in

[@CrimsonInquisitor]

They wrote the music for the game's ending cutscene. I believe that this particular version of "Adagio for Strings" was performed under the auspices of Paul Ruskay.

[@talitrus]

One of the best intro that I've ever seen. Epic and touching

[@ShaunYoung]

Jesus Christ... Such a beautiful game. So much passion and creativity went into this game that Relic would have to be crazy not to at least be tempted to make a Homeworld 3, or even a total remake of Homeworld 2. Or a spiritual successor like Supreme Commander is to Total Annihilation.

[@thelovebat]

Homeworld is the best pc game I've ever played, as well as one of the greatest games I've had the pleasure of playing. My favorite part is the music for the two levels when you encounter the Kadeshi at the nebula. Calming, relaxing music. Things that seem tedious at first just create a better challenge for you.

[@tapirbender]

i just love the style of the cutscenes ... epic greatness

[@TheMrPerrini]

This is the most underrated, superb game of all time.

[@Arr4err]

After seeing this, "Home" holds greater meaning to me. Priceless place - Home. Your home. "Our home".

[@Jambopin]

cheers mate, brilliant video thanks for everything!

[@AdmiralKew]

I still feel my hair stand on end while watching this.

[@axocopan42]

Not strange, it was a very well put together intro and the choral version of adagio for strings is just beautiful - you'd have to be dead to not be moved I think. :)

[@zarulhairee]

played this game around 2005-2006, after scouring my computer.. found the old gem :) replaying it now . i hope what i hear about homeworld 3 is good.

[@URxLASTxBREATH]

One of the Best Games of all time. I remember playing this when I was like 13 or something. I still love this game!

[@PhillioDoede]

It is true that some of the levels are only 2D on the surface but what really made Homeworld special was the way the story and atmosphere pulled you in the way very few games ever do.

[@magiclava]

Truly epic! One of the best game intros ever.

[@begamer90]

This was my introduction to video games as a 6 year old. I was so mesmirized by everything in this game. Of cohrse I havent finnished it but I remember atarting a new game just to see this intro and hear this music. It atarter my love for games and sci fi and art overall to be honest...

[@falcrum]

The most climatic intro ever...

[@MarikBentusi]

Amazing how active the community is in these comments. This very first in-game zoom on the mothership is SO epic with this music. I don't know if it was because of the graphics or something, but Homeworld gave me a real mix between "You're alone" and "You're in the middle of a legend". Some parts of the universe was just black, other areas colorful clouds. Amazing game.

[@Triggerhappytel]

I love the art style and presentation of the cutscenes. It's simple, yet very distinct and effective. Such a good game; I'm playing through it at the moment. Apparently THQ bought the rights to the series from Sierra last year, so it seems likely that Relic could be making another - that would be awesome.

[@93riven]

@Turtleproof its one of the VERY few games that give me shivers. a true work of art.

[@johnnyxp64]

i love his voice from all the gundam series. i always wanted to play homeworld but never found the time, so now i pre ordered the remastered collection and it looks like its going to be a good time to start.

[@eugeneyermakov]

It is beyond my reasonable explanation how the game designers managed to build such a magical world of nonexistence.

[@ZerooOne01]

"Higaara. Our home." So epic...HW was truly revolutionary - one of its kind. No other RTS - or barely any game whatsoever - had invested so much in creating a great plot in a foreign environment. I haven't even completed it, and i still think it's great.

[@Dekkerhus]

i just love this game its brilliant in all aspects of the word. even the choise of mood setting music and actors to do mission intros... respect=)the song when launch of mothership is Barbers - agnus dei.

[@AdviSjet]

So perfect, so beatiful! Unforgettable...

[@SlamHannigan]

I had to look this up to be sure, and it never occurred to me to do so. When I watched Platoon for the first time about a year ago, I thought "Now I KNOW I've heard that song somewhere before." Sure enough. I thought I had known it from Homeworld, and that occurred to me a while back, but it was a vague memory and I couldn't be sure. But there it is...Barber's "Adagio for Strings", in chorus. Beautiful.

[@Arissef]

An excellent game. I started out with Cataclysm originally, and moved over to Homeworld afterwards. Now after I've repalyed HW for a few times, I am going to replay Cataclysm for the second time. As you might have noticed, HW goes for abstract but convincing ship designs. Because of this aesthetic completeness, HW's video engine is OK the way it is. Also, don't forget this game was released in autumn 1999.

[@SlamHannigan]

If they keep that amazing rendition of Adagio in the upcoming HD re-release, I'm going to freak the hell out.

[@SlamHannigan]

THEY DID.

[@lulzalfest]

Homeworld 1 and 2 are getting HD re-releases for Steam while the original team who made Homeworld 1 are creating a new Homeworld game.

[@hardman659]

LINKS???? PLEASE!

[@lulzalfest]

greg thescaleymanfish Its now available on steam for a Feb 25th release at 30 dollars.

[@hardman659]

thank you!!! I will pre-order :D

[@MarikBentusi]

Homeworld has influenced me very much and even does now. The atmosphere is simply epic and I could really feel it, feel the massive storywork behind it - it is a game with a real face. Unlike certain modern games that just want to introduce new technologies or features >_> Homeworld is a great game and certainly left a great impact on me.

[@humexgorge]

Still as brilliant as it was when it first released.

[@starbomber]

Great, I love this cutscene. You are given win.

[@EBTcraft15]

Seen those news! They are really hinting (as in they don't bluntly tell us that they are already going through concept arts)to a new Homeworld game! thank you for telling me because i wouldn't have noticed otherwise! can't wait for some info someday!

[@benphenicie]

Easily one of the best single games of the 90's-00's and possibly ever.

[@GDRLive]

Still gives me the goosebumps.

[@Achmeron]

They're making an HD version of Homeworld and Homeworld 2 ^-^ I'm actually happy for this! An update for two of the greates RTS games of all time

[@Star841]

I found the game in my closet and started playing again a day ago. On level four and enjoying every minute of it!

[@ErvinK13]

When i played this game i salvaged almost every single enemy vessel with exception of fighters throughout the single player. It took many reloads to do so but that last mission its safe to say my fleet engulfed that joke of a sphere defense thing. This was the best game ever.

[@Sirradal]

That's a spectacular story! Wish they would make a movie for it.

[@Ratchet11243]

I almost cried the first time i played through to the cutscene where the planet gets burned, the music is soo nerve tingling!