Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds

"One of the best war/sims ever."

This game has everything that you want in a combat simulator, and it's Star Wars. Even if it were average for a sim game, I would still be satisfied. But the use of the Age of Empire engine makes this game an instant classic. The standard play is exceptional, but when you add in the Jedi/Sith features it takes the game over the top. If you are a fan of Star Wars or C%C, AOE, Starcraft, or any other war sim, than I strongly suggest that you check this A+ out.
The graphics in this game match that of any other in its genre. The buildings resemble those from Phantom Menace and provide a unique environment. The individual characters are easily identified, and the military units seem to be very accurate. The combat sequences contain multi-colored lasers and entertaining destructive sequences.
The gameplay is similar to Age of Empires, as it runs on the same game engine, but it also has many advanced features. The use of Jedi and Sith allies gives this game an interesting twist, especially for fans of the movies. The acquired attributes from Jedi/Sith alliances are invaluable and provide for a real Star Wars feel for gamers. The availability of options at progressing tech levels is abundant, but not overwhelming. I find that most of the games of this type provide too many options, too often. The choices in this game are plentiful, but not as ridiculous as many other games prove to be. There are always new strategies to try, but each choice is not completely exclusive to other courses of action.
The best part of the game is the sound and music. Anything less would be acceptable, but the high performance of sound effects, along with actual soundtrack music, makes this game complete. As you spend countless hours building up your various factions, you will find yourself engaged by the exciting audio support. If I broke down my score further, the sound and music would have the highest ratings, followed by gameplay. This is no slight to the graphics or replayability, it is just that good.
Finishing off, I would just like to say that anyone that owns a computer, and considers themselves to be a Star Wars fan, should feel obligated to own this game. And anyone who just likes combat-sims should give this outstanding game a try. It really is that great.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/18/01, Updated 12/18/01