Video Game Review: Star Wars the Clone Wars

Star Wars the Clone Wars

Graphics:	6
Controls:	7
Fun:	6
Story:	7.5
Sound:	8.5
Overall:	7

This game was made to rival Rouge Leader, taking it to a new level with more ground operated vehicles than flying ones. The fact is, this game doesn't have what Rouge Leader had. I felt this game was going to kick, putting you in a tank facing an army of battle droids. The thing is, this game falls short when trying to be a war game. The game does well in producing some fun elements, but the gameplay is just too simple to be satisfying. You just blow everything thing up as fast as you can. Even though this game has Rouge Leader beat when it comes to all out action, this missions were supposed to be a lot more intricate than Rouge Leader', but it mostly comes out as defending and escort missions. The ground levels are the best when you are in no vehicles, just you and you lightsaber. Simple as well, but fun. I gave the fun a just barely above average (5 is average) is because the game is way too short and you will have no desire to go back and play them over again. I beat the game in easy mode in less than two days. Multi-player stinks as well, unless you have four players. The only level that I found fun was the academy training where you and your buds compete with lightsabers to see who can kill the most droids and what not. The game would have been more fun if it was just battles like that. The graphics do not match those of Rouge Leader, or most any other game for Gamecube. The detail is quite extensive, but the animation is not very smooth, espeacialy during heated battles. The vehicle design is very detailed, but the environments seem unfinished, often very blocky and not very many solid details except for some water and glacier effects. The force is very strong in the sound. During your battles you will hear familiar music from all of the Star Wars movies, which is awsome. Every sound effect is featured from the movies. The voice acting is quite good, but as with the movie, the Anakin and the other Jedi struggle with showing any personality in their voices. The story follows the movies, and the clone wars (no duh!), some events from episode two, and the beginning of Anakin's turning to the dark side. The story never got interesting until the end, when the powerful ship, the Dark Reaper, is introduced. The other parts of the game are just tactical events of the clone wars. The controls are way too simple for my liking. It seems too easy to blow everyone up, when all you have to do is movie forward and shoot with the "A" button. Most games are hailed for their simple controls, but this is Star Wars with vehicles we are talking about. Is it worth the money to buy it? If you have read this review, you would know the answer already. Unless you want to play the same levels over and over again after just two days, by all means, take it. "A wasted oportunity, but a good rental." -Niloc

Archive note: The original publication day is unknown; this review existed by March 30, 2003.