***WARNING: This review contains spoilers***
A strange decision, to release the game before the movie. Obvious tactics to cash in on the hype, which should set alarm bells ringing. Fortunately for me, I waited and saw the movie before picking up my PS2 controller and guiding Obi-Wan and Anakin through the story: very fortunate for me indeed.
The thing that hits you most is the repetition. It is rather horrible to play through a game doing the same things over and over again, but it was countered by the Force points system. Here you can accumulate Force points and build them up until you become a master of the Force and have the use of Force stun/mind trick or Force lighting. Some levels also have you manning an enormous laser cannon to shoot down and blow up various obstacles and enemies, which, after briefly seeming fun and engaging, turns out to be boring and frustrating. The control system is easy to learn but pretty hard to master: you'll scratch your head trying to figure out how you did
that with your last button-mash, but the simple moves should see off most of your opponents if you get your approach right. The bosses are a bit of a different story, which can sometimes become annoying, but that's the point of learning the harder moves!
The first few levels are very repetitive and dull, but after a while the enemies become more varied and harder to kill, and the moves which you are able to execute become more fun. The game designers played a part in inventing some more ranks to the Seperatists and the Clone Army, which was quite interesting to see (and destroy). One of the best bits of the game is being able to take Anakin into the Jedi temple and tear it apart as the game goes to explore some other parts of the movie in more detail, whilst also having the gall to change some scenes, end major characters' lives differently and even have a cheeky “what if?“ end-level to the game! The co-operative multi-player mode is a pedestrian affair, which has had me reeling for a good few hours now after completing the measly 5 (rubbish) levels, although the vs. mode has some redeeming features—like being able to take control of Mace Windu, General Greivous and Count Dooku (although, sadly, no Yoda there is). It could hopefully pass for an alternative to Tekken on those nights you get all your drunken, horrible friends round.
In short, if you are a Star Wars fan (or indeed just taken in by all the hype and just MUST spend some spare cash on a game) then be cautious. I can’t see myself playing that much now I have it, but I am glad to have worked my way through it, and the small amount of joy I had whilst using Force lightning on some Padawan learners, plus meeting new characters and getting a deeper exploration of storylines, almost makes up for the money I spent on it. Almost.
Star Wars Episode III:
Revenge of the Sith is out now.
http://www.lucasarts.com/ep3/indexFlash.html
