"Great graphically but no real new gameplay"

The Star Wars franchise has always been a popular topic for video games and there has probably been a Star Wars based game in every genre. And of course the Gamecube, just like any other console, is fertile ground for some license based games. And a flight and fight style of platform is the perfect opportunity to show off some of the more recognizable of the Staw Wars spacecraft. It is a very good presentation and worth checking out. Now to get down to details.

Story - 7/10 - Not a really integral part of the game but also does not hinder it. The progression from mission to mission mirrors many of the events of the Star Wars movies while adding on more of the tactical aspects of the same scenarios. The Death Star trench run is in there. The battle on Hoth is present. The mission objectives make sense in relation to the story which helps it blend together better. These types of games really require no story other than ''eliminate the enemy'' to be fun but it is nice to have the Star Wars universe and characters integrated in a space shooter. Nothing overly special here but it does the job.

Gameplay - 8/10 - Nothing really new here unfortunately. If you have played the original Rogue Squadron before you'll know exactly what to expect from this game. Same basic controls just a new controller. The flight of your spacecraft is quite smooth and enables you to accurately gun down targets while avoiding incoming enemy fire. The acceleration/deceleration tends to leave a bit to be desired, but over all the controls are very solid. You have choice of a few different weapons or spaceships for a specific mission with additional craft unlockable which encourages you to go back and replay old missions with new fighters. The same general medal winning system is in place from the N64 version where you retry complete missions trying to meet certain additional optional mission parameters. An extensive training mission will help you learn if you haven't yet played. While the gameplay is really nothing original if you have played the past Rogue Squadron it is still great and requires some quick thinking and reflexes. (And yes, you do get to rope AT-ATs on Hoth.)

Audio - 7/10 - I seem to view the audio as one of the least important aspects of a game as it tends to be blocked out by all the action unless there is some exceptional quality to the sound effects or music. The audio is nothing too incredibly special here but it does feature decent amounts of audio clips and soundtrack excerpts from the movies. The music is what you would expect from a Star Wars title and I believe it can even be delivered in Dolby Surround Sound. The stereo effects are useful and help you locate the direction of an enemy and how close they are, even if they are out of your field of vision. The cutscenes have plenty of character dialog and the mission briefings are read to you. All the sounds are perfectly fitting and the interaction with your wingmen as you give them various commands is executed well. Overall the audio is nice but nothing too grabbing aside from the screams of a dying comrade or RD-D2 commenting on your good shot.

Video - 9/10 - This is what the game is all about. You have a brand new console and want to show your friends what it can do. There are plenty of DVD quality video clips from the films thrown about and the menus are all well animated while maintaining their functionality. Graphically the game is very well done. The explosion effects look quite realistic and when you blow up something like a shield generator flaming shrapnel will fly all over leaving smoking trails and bouncing along the surface. The ships while usually small and quick have much detail in them and the crashes are perfect. You can even damage a TIE fighter sending it spiraling out into space leaving a very familiar death scream. You can even cause collisions between enemy craft in which the damaged crafts soar out of control to die on a mountainside. The environmental effects are good and there is no slow down even when literally 1000s of destroyable asteroids are tumbling about all over and you and your wingmen are soaring amongst them. The game can keep track of literally 100s of enemy ships, turrets, troops, and ground units. Very impressive display, and if a launch title can pull this off imagine what is in store of GCN owners in the future.

Overall - 7/10 All in all a great game but it may not be anything but a rental for those who aren't a fan of the subject or genre. It does have a good replayability to it as the medals and secret codes will have you going back for more. The graphics more than make up for the lack of original gameplay and will be perfect for those who haven't already played the N64 version to death. Definitely worth the money but if you are on a limited budget you might be better off buying a game a little more exclusive to your new console.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/21/01, Updated 11/21/01