Star Wars Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire

"Much better than the first Rebel Assault"

To me, the original Star Wars Rebel Assault was not too appealing. It had its good parts, but other then that, it didn’t particularly catch my attention. So when Rebel Assault 2 came out, I didn’t flock down to my local computer store. I didn’t think it would be much better than the original Rebel Assault. But as soon as I started playing it, I knew I was wrong. Rebel Assault 2 has improved much for its prequal. The gameplay, graphics and sound is has all improved much. But best of all, this game is a lot more fun than the original, making this a must have game.

The story of the game is advanced through 15 levels, each with their own unique challenge. The same engine as the original Rebel Assault is used in this game. Most levels are in first person perspective, and your character is flying a star fighter of some type. However, there is a lot more variety in this game in comparison with the original Rebel Assault. A lot more levels have the camera outside the ship, giving the player a good view of the surrounding area. There are also a greater variety of ships from the movie in this game. Shooting is done in the exact same manner as the original Rebel Assault. A crosshair is used for targeting. In most levels, only the crosshair can be moved. This can make shooting really difficult since your ship has a preplanned course. There is no dodging enemy fire in any way. This makes the challenge a bit high, since you have to spot targets and blow them up rather quickly. Some enemy fighters can be really aggressive, putting an even bigger pressure on the player to blow them up quicker. Moving the crosshair is a tedious task, putting an even bigger strain on the challenge. The only recommended controller for this game is a joystick, and not just any joystick. It has to be a really good one. Otherwise, the crosshair is extremely difficult to move. However, what makes shooting easier, just like in Rebel Assault, is that the targets are brought to your attention by a green box around it. This is a great feature, which allows you to know where the shootable targets are. Another major improvement is that you can redo levels you have already done with your saved games. You can select any levels you have already played by just selecting it in a menu in your saved game. No need for passwords. Just save your game.

The graphics is without a doubt a step up from the previous Rebel Assault. First of all, the graphics aren’t as pixled as the last game. All the ships look a lot more realistic, with a much finer detail than the ships seen in the original Rebel Assault. Also, the graphics run a whole lot smoother. There is a better mix of colors. The audio is also a step up. The sounds are much clearer then they were in the original Rebel Assault. All of the laser fire from the ship sounds much closer to how they sound like in the movie. Also, the sound of your other pilots makes you feel like you are actually in a starfighter listening to them talking to you. The music really does put you in a mood for blowing enemy ships up. It will pump you up and get you ready for a fight.

The fun factor is quite high, much higher then it was in the first Rebel Assault. That is mainly because the story is much better planned out. It is a lot more enjoyable. The replay value has not improved that much. There are no new things after completing it once.

Overall, this is a great game. It has improved much since the original Rebel Assault. This is defiantly a must get, even if you’re not a Star Wars fan.

FINAL RANKINGS:
Gameplay:8
Challenge:8
Controlls:8
Graphics:9
Audio:9
Fun Factor:8
Replay Value:5
Overall:8

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/11/00, Updated 08/11/00