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By Andrew Harrison on November 19th, 2001
Introduction A long time ago in a galaxy far far away...
Lucas Arts and Factor 5 teamed up to make one of the best games for the Nintendo 64. Now, the dynamic duo has returned again to make one of the most addictive and visually stunning games out for the brand spanking new GameCube. So, strap in to that X-Wing, do you flight check, and may the Force be with you!Presentation As far as the presentation of the game, an excellent job has been done. From the creative menus with their video backgrounds to the controller layout, everything has been setup thoughtfully to give gamers the best experience possible. It is a breeze to set up your game and start playing as soon as you open the package. However, navigating the hangar is now done by a small rebel pilot whom you run around, and sometimes the craft you wish to fly is further than you want to run. Also, the roll toggle is the Z button, which can be quite the reach while boosting and firing at the same time. Then again, who needs rolls?Graphics & Sound If you are a lover of eye-candy, you will find it in spades here. The graphics in this game are near perfect, and massive textures and bump mapping abound. Everything looks real, and as you play, you will swear you are in the movie. This is the feel Lucas was going for, and they have achieved it. The graphics immerse you in the game so much, that despite a failed mission, you are compelled to try again just to watch the beautiful graphics. Trust me, they are addictive. I played the Star Destroyer mission several times just to look at that gorgeous vessel...then the turbo laser batteries hit me. Regardless, the graphics on this game are near flawless. Key word there being near, of course. There were instances that were a little quirky. For instance, should you be shot down and have your wingmen in formation, your craft plows into the ground or detonates in a gorgeous fireball and they continue flying. However, if there is an object in the way, they will often fly right through it. Last time I checked, Y-Wings were solid. Another instance is the water graphics. Very beautifully done, but occasionally not rendered correctly. If you hit just the right angle, the water dissapears. Also, occasionally there is some lag when flying the training mission, and I have yet to discover why. Lastly, the rope used to tie up the walkers is better than the original, but still less than compelling. Other than those minor faults, this game is graphically astounding. As far as sound, the game could not be better. Featuring the voice of Denis Lawson, the orignal Wedge Antilles, and other voice talents, the pilot chatter comes alive. The musical scores as directed by Chris Huelsbeck are true to the Star Wars univers, sounding great enough to make John Williams proud. No more synthesised sounds here, this is all real. The music is fun to listen to just by itself, but when paired with excited pilot chatter, screaming TIE-Fighters, zooming X-Wings, and burning lasers, the environment does not just draw you in, it completley swallows you whole. The game is just hard to put down!Gameplay Like the original, you are a pilot in the elite Rogue Squadron. Flying a variety of craft, you are your squad are the ones that are sent on missions that regular squadrons can not handle. You are the best pilots the rebellion has to offer. Playing either as Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles (depending on the mission) you fly a variety of missions, starting with the famous battle of the first Death Star. Besides piloting the usual fare of Rebel craft (X-Wings, Y-Wings, B-Wings, A-Wings, Snowspeeders) you will also have to use a variety of other starships. I will not reveal all these, as I would spoil the fun. Playing through the missions, you have to either destroy targets or defend an objective. Other times you may have to sneak below scanners to steal a ship or suddenly you find yourself in an ambush. The levels stay livley and varied to keep you interested. One last great thing that was added was space combat. Unfortunatley, (unlike the games X-Wing and TIE-Figher) it is quite easy to get disorented in space with the radar provided. What is necessary is the old double radar used in the older games. One sensor for the front and one for the rear. Regardless, an admiral job was done of giving a sense of altitude on the radar. On difficult missions, there is always something to make you want to try again. Unlike the original Rogue Squadron, where you could be so discouraged you would go do something else, here you keep playing for either graphics, sound, or just plain fun. There is always something there that compels you to go just a bit further. Who needs sleep, anyway? Lastly, there are ways to earn medals on levels, depending on your accuracy, kills, etc. These medals give you points which can in turn be used to buy bonus levels. Once bought, your credits are spent, so use them wisely. Or, take out your memory card and buy the level. :)Lasting Appeal This is where the game shines. The original was fun the first time through and had some appeal as far as gaining all the medals. However, there was not much else. This game is much more engrossing and the levels are much more interesting. How many times do you get to fly alongside a Star Destroyer? Like the original, beating a mission lets you use more craft on it, giving it an entirely different twist the next time a mission is played. For instance, I finished the Star Destroyer attack level in my B-Wing, played it four more times to enjoy the graphics, then decided to have fun. I hopped in an A-Wing and recreated the famous ramming sequence of Return of the Jedi, where the A-Wing plows into the command deck of the Super Star Destroyer. Fun times! It is things like this that make the game truly lasting, despite a lack of multiplayer. A garunteed good time!Conclusion With a game this gorgeous, it is no wonder people will be interested for a long time. Heck, if Lucas wanted to he could have made the game on graphics alone and people would still play. But, the did better and put careful thought into the whole game. This is truly one of the bets launch titles I have ever seen, and it is highly recommended. Star Wars lovers will get what they want, while the casual gamer will find something truly special, a game that wants to be good for you! |
