WARNING: SPOILERS
The wait will soon be over for the millions of fans that are eagerly awaiting the final instalment of the Star Wars series. On May the 19th, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith will hit cinemas nationwide. Avid followers have built up to this penultimate moment and hopefully all of their questions will be answered---or so we hope! However, for those of you who cannot wait for the release of the film, then perhaps your unappeasable thirst for non-stop action, the diverse and twisted plot, evil darkness of the Dark Side and those all important lightsaber battles, will be satisfied after living the legend yourself in this epic game.
Long ago, long ago in a galaxy far, far away…
War! The Republic is crumbling under attacks by the ruthless Sith Lord, Count Dooku, there are heroes on both sides. Evil is everywhere.
In a stunning move, the fiendish droid leader, General Grievous, has swept into the Republic capital and kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate.
As the separatist droid army attempts to flee the besieged capital with their valuable hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a desperate mission to rescue the captive Chancellor…
And so the final struggle and battle in the Clone Wars begins. What lies ahead is unknown, as the Dark Side clouds all. Soon, not only the fate of Anakin Skywalker and the future of the force will come to pass but the way of the
Turning on the game, it loads and the displays appear. In the background is a picture of the volcanic planet of Mustafar where the episode will reach its climax and slowly rising in volume is the soundtrack used during Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-wan and Jar Jar Binks’ decent to the underwater Gungan city in episode I---music of mystery and wonder. It is at this moment that you know the game will encompass the same suspense and amazement that has been put into the film. The graphic design and option displays are all futuristic with a blue like hologram glow and surrounding metal frames and other such things incorporated into the technology of Star Wars. This might all sound nice but why is it important within a review of the game? Well, it is the simple fact that you can see from the off that it is not a title that has been rushed and shot out of the developer’s studio and straight into your console. Painstaking hours go into the design and every aspect of the game and this design does not disappoint in the least.
When you get into the main options of the game, there are two main modes of play. The first being single player and the other being multiplayer. However, the multiplayer is not just as simple as you might think; you can link up with eight other DS consoles to fight it out against one another in the ships featured within the game and also some old legends from the series such as the Millennium Falcon or Darth Vader’s Super Tie Fighter. Sadly though, it is not single cart play. What is the best part of the multiplayer area is being able to fly in skirmishes against three other bots. Fighting against different ships will unlock them for you to use and gives the game a lot more length and reason to stop you from becoming bored of it. Of course though, the main aspect is the single player mode.
You are given the choice to play as either Anakin or Obi-wan and follower their separate paths. Sometimes the two will intertwine and play through the same levels but the pair do have missions of their own that need to be taken care of. As per usual, you can choose the difficulty setting but you only have the choice of Padawan or Jedi first---you can unlock an extra hard setting known as ‘Master’ after you have completed the game in Jedi mode. Having chosen your Jedi and difficulty it is time to follow your destiny.
The 2D levels play in a similar way to those of world-renowned classics such as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe. They have an angled view to the design of the levels, allowing characters to walk not only left and right as with any other side-scrolling game but also up and down, giving it depth and space. This design works perfectly and the excellent detailed levels make sure that you never become too bored of the setting. It is within these 2D levels that most of the playing and storyline will take place. Based heavily on the cartoon series Clone Wars, aired on Toonami, avid fans will love and revel in this, enjoying the sprites and faces of well-known characters. These main levels are then broken up by 3D flight levels in some of the ship sections featured in the film---mostly of Anakin and Obi-wan’s fighters. Putting the full specs of the DS to the test, these levels come out well and also smoothly; from the detailed surroundings of Corrusant to the outer rims of the galaxy. This works well and is a nice change of pace, making the game far more enjoyable and varied.
As all wannabe Jedis know, your lightsaber is not the only weapon available to you but of course they get the job done when speed and finesse are needed. However, being strong and at one with the Force, means that you also have other skills and abilities. This game is not short of them. Both Anakin and Obi-wan have six different force moves that deplete a blue Force Health bar. There are two that the both of them share, Force push and pull, but that leaves them with four unique ones including the choke and life drain for Anakin and the Jedi mind trick and heal for Obi-wan to name a few. The power of the Force does not stop there, the pair of them then get a further four more ‘special’ Force moves that use up Anakin’s Rage bar or Obi-wan’s Light bar. These are used with a touch of the bottom screen for quick access and each one more powerful than its predecessor. At the end of each level, the game will score you bonus points on your performance within the levels in both speed and Jedi skills so you will have to master your skills as a Jedi and use those Force moves with precision and timing if you wish to rank high. In most Star Wars games, the Force moves can sometimes come across as dull and only put in there for the sake of a perk but they have done well within this game to make sure that you get enjoyment out of actually using them. For example, if there are the remains of a destroyed droid on the floor, you can use Force push or pull to fling them at your enemies and cause harm or you can simply tear them apart with a flick of your finger! Also, the basic attacks with your lightsaber are not just the basic whack, whack, whack from side to side as in most 2D side-scrolling games; there are varied melees, a range of horizontal and vertical attacks. Not only do you receive bonuses at the end of each level for both speed and Jedi skill but you are also given the option to upgrade your health, strength, or force meter by one level. After that, you then can use your accumulated points to spend on upgrading your six Force moves---giving them more strength and effect.
The system, mechanics, style, animation and technique used are excellent. You might think this is shaping up to be an awesome game. Well, you are right! It is an awesome game and then some! Because it does not stop there---you have been spoilt with a separately designed lightsaber duel battling system. Some of the levels in the game are simply that, a face off between the well-known characters of the film. Taking away the 3D-like movement, you can only move from left to right but it is because of this that it works so well. Unlike within the main levels, where you can move everywhere and slash at will, (if you wish to) within the duels you cannot. It is a system that works brilliantly and gives the duels superb flow and realism. Your enemy has a range of attacks, each have a little action before he performs them. It is by these little signs that you are to react upon and defend yourself, leaving them open to attack and retaliation. You can strike back with your own lightsaber attacks but also all of your Force moves that you have too. The enemy attacks consist of a couple of horizontal attacks, an upward and downward attack and then their own Force moves. Though when you block during the main levels you merely hold the lightsaber down in front of you, within the duels it becomes much more and you will have to direct the lightsaber up, down or in front of you in order to stay alive. Usually, in most 3D Star Wars titles, you come to a dramatic duel, lets say like the final battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-wan and Darth Maul. Your adrenaline is racing and you cannot wait to attack but when you do, the characters merge together, their lightsabers swinging frantically in a blur of light and edgy polygons. It is because of this that those duels that should make the game a true Star Wars title, otherwise destroys it and takes away the realism and flow of a normal duel. The system used in this have to be the best way a lightsaber duelling system has been presented and it would be excellent to see this used and adapted into future 3D titles.
Jumping into the cockpit of the ships within the Star Wars films is everyone’s dream and that dream is lived in this game. Although, due to the capabilities of the DS, the 3D graphics are not superb and rich as they would be on a Gamecube, PS2 or Xbox, they are still clear and well presented. The ships look like ships, not asteroids. It is disappointing though that most of the flight levels, few as they are, are very basic in terms of what you have to do. You will usually be required to shoot down sparse enemy fighters or race your way through the busy streets of Corrusant. It is an area of the game that faults it badly and a lot more time and thought could have been put into it to take advantage of the 3D capabilities of the DS and make the experience a lot more bracing. In terms of control, the D-pad is very responsive and gives you full control of the ship and its steering. With laser fire and also lock on missiles, each of the ships are locked and loaded and ready for action. You will find yourself excited with this levels but more so with the skirmish and multiplayer face offs.
With the sound specs of the DS, the well-known soundtracks of the series are played beautifully through the tiny little speakers, drawing you in with the operatic style and amazement that makes the films into the epics they are just as much as the visuals do. John Williams, the composer for all of the films within the series, is an absolute genius and visionary when it comes to music and it is because of the wonderful and fantastic music that he made for the films, that we are able to have such astonishing music with the games based on them. At times when there are a group of battle droids coming towards you, you will hear the march of the trade federation in the background as it then rises when the action kicks up pace and you begin to cut through them. Also, what Star Wars experience could be without the voom…vooooom…viiing…vooom of lightsabers or the rapid blast of laser fire not to mention the robot sounds of the droids and crackling electricity of the Dark Side. The experience would just not be complete without them and all of the sound effects are here in, well, full effect.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith DS is an excellent and well-presented title. Though there are some little areas that could have been paid more attention, such as the flight levels, it does not feel like the usual rushed game that had to be completed in time for the film. It does not feel cheap or half-hearted and a lot of detail and attention has been given to it. Playing in the style of retro side-scrolling titles such as Streets of Rage and Golden Axe, coupled with excellent and clear animation, battle system and stupendous soundtrack and sound effects, this is the perfect showcase for an adventure film to game formula. You will be hooked on it, playing it for hours and hours, wanting to collect all of the bonuses and attain those perfect Jedi scores, fly and fight in space skirmishes and live the epic over and over. If you want to play a superb Star Wars title than you need look no further than this. In more ways than one it is even better than its brother PS2 and Xbox versions.
May the Force be with you…
Tobias Rowe
