"Rogue Leader has arrived! But has Factor 5 delivered the definitive Star Wars experience we've all been waiting for?"

Rogue Leader has arrived! But has Factor 5 delivered the definitive Star Wars experience we've all been waiting for?

There was never any doubt Rogue Leader was going to be something special, ever since the first footage strutted its stuff at SpaceWorld 2000. As the swarm of high-polygon X-Wings came swooping past the screen, along with the menacing Death Star looming far in the distance, you could almost swear that it was footage taken directly from the movie. From there on it quickly secured a position as one of GameCube's most hotly-anticipated titles, perhaps only matched by the likes of Super Smash Bros. Melee. Well, the wait is finally over; and, as that first tantalising footage suggested, Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader really is testimony to GameCube's awesome power; and if there's any game that is proof that you can get huge results from GameCube's developer friendly hardware, in a relatively short space of time, then Rogue Leader would certainly have to be it.

Gameplay

Any game that has received as much hype as Rogue Leader, it's always a grave concern that gameplay, and the all important 'fun-factor', may have been subjects of neglect when compared to the lavish visuals. Rogue Leader - fortunately - plays exceptionally well. Like its Nintendo 64 predecessor, Rogue Leader places you in the pilot's seat as Luke Skywalker, and requires you to complete a variety of objective-based missions; most of which are based upon the first three films in Star Wars saga. Ranging from escorting and protecting alliance ships, to high-adrenaline dog-fights - Rogue Leader offers more than enough action to please even the most hardcore Star Wars fanatic.

Suitably kicking off with the Death Star Attack, Rogue Leader immediately delivers an unparalleled representation of the Star Wars universe ever seen in a videogame. Everything is spot-on - from the pyrotechnic exhibition of laser-fire emanating from the surface of the Death Star, to Obi Wan's ''Use the force Luke'', as you prepare to launch a torpedo missile down the exhaust shaft during your trench run. But however undeniably jaw-dropping the Death Star Attack mission is, Rogue Leader is merely giving you a taste of things to come. It's only when you reach later levels, such as the Battle of Endor, when literally hundreds of TIEs are screaming overhead, that you really begin to appreciate GameCube's polygon-pushing power, and Factor 5's programming prowess.

As in Rogue Squadron, you are encouraged to earn bronze, silver and gold medals, through matching certain mission criteria - whether it be completing a mission under a specified time limit, or how efficient your shot accuracy is. Once you have collected enough, through extensive play, it's possible to unlock hidden goodies, such as five additional missions and some rather nifty DVD-esque 'making of' and 'audio commentary' featurettes.

Taking to the controls for the first time can be a laborious, and sometimes frustrating process, before you feel comfortable with the game mechanics. It's not a game that you came simply pick-up and expect results from the first few minutes of play - it's a title that begs your input, and, in return, will reward you greatly.

Rogue Leader is by no means an easy feat. The learning curve is something of an enigma. While the first few missions can be beaten with the minimum of effort, you'll find yourself, without any prior warning, being thrown into the deep-end, leading to some truly tear-jerking moments. Although I have come to expect this from Factor 5 - Rogue Squadron's difficulty level was up and down like a seesaw - it would have been nice to have been eased into the game a little more gently. Having said that, missions are well thought out, true to the their movie counterpart, and ultimately, fun.

Controlled with the analogue stick, the multiple craft on offer in Rogue Leader are on the whole very responsive, if perhaps a little sticky at times - apparent when you're on the tail of an imperial fighter, and the game's engine won't allow you to turn in the direction you prescribe. Instead it almost seems to be pulling you along of its own accord, as if there's some kind of magnetism between your and the enemy's craft. The left shoulder trigger is used for a quick speed boost - useful in those sticky situations when five or so TIEs are on your tail - while the R trigger activates your craft's brakes, and the D-Pad is again utilised to give order's to you wing-men.

Possibly the only slight criticism I have with the control system would be that the you have to keep the Y button held down in order to use the Targeting Computer, sometimes forcing you to hold the controller in an unethical way in order to shoot with the A button and use other functions on the controller simultaneously. But this is a minor criticism in an otherwise well thought-out control scheme.

Graphics

Rogue Leader is, simply put, a graphical masterpiece. From the ludicrously detailed high-polygon craft, to such intricacies as the bump-mapped sand dunes of Totooine, Rogue Leader is quite possibly one of the finest looking videogames I have ever seen. Each craft, surface and object is beautifully and accurately lit, and textures are clean, crisp and largely blur-free thanks to GameCube's powerful graphical hardware capabilities. In fact, Factor 5 has utilised to great effect practically every graphical effect in GameCube extensive library - including bump-mapping, real-time lighting, volumetric fog - making Rogue Leader stand out like a shiny penny amongst the competition, and even makes many of GameCube's first-party offerings pale in comparison.

Rogue Leader's menu screens have also been given the same high level of polish as the in-game visuals, and are by far some of the most stylish I have seen in a long time. As you navigate your way through the options, DVD-quality scenes from the original trilogy play silently in the background, while selecting a mode will cause superbly detailed sections of craft to open and close as the next screen is revealed. The consistently high standard of presentation throughout Rogue Leader is astonishing.

Factor 5 has also gone to the trouble of including a progressive-scan option in Rogue Leader for high-end HDTV televisions. If you are lucky enough to have a progressive-scan compatible television, you will benefit greatly from this feature, as most noticeable on-screen flicker and blemishes, that may be apparent through a conventional TV, are completely eradicated.

While Rogue Leader mostly runs at a steady 60fps throughout, there are times when the frame-rate can drop considerably. What's striking, though, is that it drops at the most bizarre times. It's not so common, as you'd expect, on the more polygon-heavy missions, but on levels such as the Tatooine Training level - which is hardly pushing the GameCube - where at times the game begins to crawl at snail's pace. But this occurs on rare occasions, and can easily be overlooked by the more forgiving gamer. Minor frame-rate inconsistencies aside, Rogue Leader is by far GameCube's most visually impressive game yet.

Sound

Although not regarded by many as the most important aspect in a game's vitae, sound is incredibly important in creating atmosphere, and adds tremendously to the overall impact of a game - something Factor 5 has lovingly paid great attention to in Rogue Leader. Including audio ripped straight from the films, and original orchestral scores composed by Factor 5's talented musicians, it all blends seamlessly together to create the most pleasing aural feast. Equally impressive is the way the music changes during missions to suit the action - gradually building-up as things become more frantic, and, more likely than not, your pulse-rate will reflect this dynamic effect.

Voice-acting provided by the original Wedge Antilles, Denis Lawson, and dialogue excerpts culled directly from the from the trilogy are accurately played-back during play. The icing on the cake, however, is the inclusion of Dolby Laboratories' new fangled Dolby Pro Logic II technology, which, with the correct set-up, provides incredible 5-channel surround sound.

Conclusion

Rogue Leader is a superbly enjoyable title for fans of the movies, and gamers alike. From beginning to end, no other Star Wars title currently on the market delivers such an authentic and consistent realisation of the Star Wars universe. Perhaps with a little extra development time, Factor 5 could have ironed out some of the minor faults; but as it stands, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is intense, gripping, and utterly gorgeous action all the way. Worth investigating.

Rating: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/25/02, Updated 01/25/02