April 23^rd, 2003 (12:00am) - The latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly is supposed to give us the first look at Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, just like how EGM gave us the very first look at the GameCube launch title Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader. However, the Ziff Davis subsidiary, Gamers.com has given the public its first look and details on Rebel Strike.

Those hoping for a full fledge sequel are in for a disappointment. Rogue Squadron III will feature the same battles and locales as the first; of course a few new ones are expected as well. But the difference between the sequel and the original is found where it counts the most, and that is in the gameplay. Now, in Rebel Strike, a co-operative 2 player mode is featured as well as the ability to exit your spacecraft and pursue to accomplish missions on foot. Do you remember that scene from the Empire Strikes Back when Luke’s Snowspeeder went down, and to destroy an AT-AT he used his grappling hook to throw a bomb into the belly of the walker? Well, you can now do that in Rebel Strike. Also, from what we have been shown so far, you can also ride the Speeder Bikes from the woodland scene on Endor from The Return of the Jedi, and also ride those loveable Taun Tauns.

Click here for screens

As for the visuals, most expected another amazing visual feat by Factor 5, but from what is seen there aren’t any drastic changes from the GameCube launch title. But, to this day Rogue Squadron II is still the most technically amazing GameCube game, only rivaled by Metroid Prime and Star Fox Adventures. However, Rebel Strike might push the envelope even further because in one screen there are approximately 50 different types of Imperial Craft onscreen; now that is some crazy shit!

Some of you might be pissed about Rebel Strike possibly being the same game again, and I have to admit so was I at first. But the once dead Star Wars fan within me has surfaced