Gateway II: Homeworld
Description official descriptions
A huge, strangely shaped object was spotted just outside the orbit of Pluto. Scientists dub this object "The Artifact", assuming it to be a spaceship possibly connected to the mysterious alien race, the Heechee, who have disappeared without a trace, leaving only ships with cryptic destinations behind. Meanwhile, a terrorist sect is planning to use The Artifact to lure in the Assassins, an alien community bent on destroying other species. Eventually, a sole explorer reaches the enigmatic ship, only to discover traces of former Gateway prospectors . This leads him to believe that something might be malfunctioning at the very core of the Heechee civilization.
Gateway II: Homeworld is a sequel to Gateway. It is the last adventure game by Legend Entertainment to use text-based input, after Companions of Xanth introduced a purely graphical engine. Its interface is identical to that of Eric the Unready: while most commands can be either typed in or selected from a list combining verbs and available objects, conversations with characters are handled by choosing pre-set topics and displayed on separate screens. The game also features some animated cutscenes.
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Credits (DOS version)
19 People · View all
| Producer | |
| Based on Hugo and Nebula award-winning Heechee Saga by | |
| Design and Implementation of Part I: Escape | |
| Design and Implementation of Part II: The Artifact | |
| Design and Implementation of Part III: Rescue | |
| Design and Implementation of Part IV: Homeworld | |
| Additional Design | |
| Computer Illustration | |
| Special Cinematic Effects and Animation | |
| Music Composition | |
| AdLib Transcription | |
| System Architecture | |
| System Programming | |
| [ full credits ] | |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 81% (based on 10 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 26 ratings with 5 reviews)
Puzzles preferred to plot in this sequel
The Good
Atmospheric, thought provoking sci-fi adventure. Beautifully designed, carefully constructed, and hard to fault. And, as you travel across the universe, you get to meet the alien race (the Heechee) that are introduced in the first Gateway adventure.
The Bad
However when you compare it to the original Gateway it's not as strong. (But then the original Gateway is one of the all-time great adventure games.) I think its because it's longer. This means although you get more game for your money, and more puzzles and gameplay, the plot tends to ramble in places, and the dialogue is sometimes a bit long and irrelevant.
The Bottom Line
You'll have trouble tracking down the first Gateway. I think there were more Gateway 2 published. Certainly they come up on e-bay regularly, and it's a game thats definitely worth playing.
DOS · by jossiejojo (37) · 2005
This game proves it is possible to repeat succsess, even in the gaming world!
The Good
As the first game; this sequel also has a superior atmosphere, good story (which seems to be a bit inspired by several other sci-fi novels such as A.C. Clarke's Rama - which is good), excellent artworks, and also being much longer then the original game.
The plot:
A huge alien starship enters the outskirths of the Sol-system, howering just outside the orbit of Pluto - as if its waiting for something.. or someone...
You, continuing your role from the original game, are contacted by the Earth's government, to brief the ambassador that are to pilot a nuclear-driven scoutship to rendezvous with this huge craft. However, an obscure religious sect calling themselves "The Pheonix" has put a prize on your head, and further yet, they plan to take control of the scoutship to make their own rendezvous with the artifact - beliving it to be of Assasin origin (the alien species called "The Assasins" where the main enemy in the original game), in an attempt to allert that species as to mankinds existance - and in effects threatening all life on planet Earth...
So starts a new and amazing journey, filled with unexpected plot-twists, hard puzzles, sci-fi ideas an dreams, and mind-boggling concepts.
The Bad
Having replayed the game 5 times, I've yet to find anything bad in it...
The Bottom Line
Yup, it really is possible to not only repeat succsess, but even to make the successor bether then the original game!
As I have said before: today's gaming companies clearly have a lot to learn from these classics.
DOS · by Stargazer (99) · 2003
A great sequel to a great game. Now that IS rare!
The Good
Most of the things I mentioned about the prequel also feel at home here, too. The storyline is good and the 'being there' factor is a strong one.
The Bad
The same things as with the prequel apply here.. that is, the graphics and the musics are good but not great.. but as I stated before this game isn't a gfx blast.
The Bottom Line
A great, compelling sequel to a great, compelling game. And that doesn't happen too often.
DOS · by RmM (68) · 1999
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information about Gateway 2 - covers, credits, walkthroughs and a transcription of the handbook that was included with the game
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by RmM.
Additional contributors: Jeanne, formercontrib.
Game added October 22, 1999. Last modified January 19, 2024.