Star Wars Republic Commando

"Hardly revolutionary, but rock-solid and intense."

Having never been a Star Wars fan, I've neverthless always noticed thequality of the games coming out have been getting better and better. From the crappy (Bounty Hunter or the ridiculous Twisted Metal ripoff Vehicular version) to the well done Knights of the old Republic and Jedi Outcast, fans and even passing interest people (like me) are getting a whole lot more bang for their buck.

Rpublic Commando is pretty much like the whole slew of Space-Marine games that have been coming out. No one can say Lucasarts doesn't know how to spot a cash cow. Halo, Metroid Prime influence can be seen rather clearly in this game, but never to the point a it being a rip-off. Nevertheless, despite it's lack of originality I can honestly say this game is worth your time and money, for its atmosphere and intensity is on par with the best of FPSes.

Gameplay:

The game's hype stems mostly from its 'unique tactical command interface' where unlike other squad based combat games, you can do anythingyou want with a push of a button as long as the contextual action is there. For example, a chest high pile of rocks will have a icon over it where if you press the command button, your squad mate automaticall takes up sniping position or grenading position, or he can slice a compuiter terminal, or they can blow open a locked door. Sound great? Well... not really. Read on.

The thing is, the game is extremely linear. There is always one way to do things. There is only ONE path through the game. You can't even flank enemies, as there aren't any side paths. If you do actually hav a chance to flank an enemy, rest assured it scripted that way. The is where the tactical command system reaches a brick wall. Because there is only one path through the game, the whole comman system seems extremely superfluous. It's unneccessary, and becomes gimmicky.

An example is the: At the end of the initial mission you have to assasinate an enemy officer running to his ship. You then have to find the sniping spot, press the command key to have your squad sniper stand there and shoot. You can't go down after him. You can't blast a grenade at him. It's the only thing to do. So the point is, why bother making me 'assign orders' when there's no alternative? You may just as well make it scripted or automatic. If there's a sniping position, why do I have to tell you to take it? Take it! if there's a turret unmanned and open, why don't use it to cover us instead of making me tell you to do so? Don't get me wrong, the command interface is very cool, and looks spectuacular (especiall the first time) It's never over the top. But the fact is, it's not like there's an alternative for me to give orders. Like instead of ordering a sniper over there, perhaps I can other them to flank an enemy by going around it while i cover them, Therefore the comman system seems gimmicky and not well thought through. it simply adds no tactical depth at all. Perhaps I would be MORE impressed if there wasnt an command interface, and the soldiers did everything by themselves. Then I'd be impressed at their "AI".But nevermind. As I said, despite its slightly superfluous nature, it's never a chore to do it (and it looks damn cool) and never really feels out of place.

The weapons are quite well done. Though I have to say this game has a unique and sensible idea by making you only have 1 pistol, 1 main gun and 1 extra. Yet at all times you're carting around a pistol, assault rifle, sniper rifle, grenade launcher and one extra weapon(picked up from the enemy, usually). The assault/sniper/grenade is actually all in one gun, which you modify by changing attachments. (e.g add a scope and barrel and different cartridge to the gun body to form a sniper, or remove it all and add a different cartridge and barel to form the assault rifle) This makes sense in the game, adding realism to the whole thing as it's simple something a high-tech soldier would have. I do have a small complaint about the assault rifle being weak, but it does the job, and after a while you get used to it.(if you wantto know, it probably takes a whole 10-15 shots to down a weak droid. Which is different from the modern warfare games today where 3-4 shots does the job). Further more it does add to the tension and the fire-fighting kind of element of the game where laser bolts rain upon you and the enemy. After a while it i't does grow on you.

The game's atmosphere of camaderie is extremely well done. Your team mates a lethal killing machines and they know this, and enjoy themselves whilst fighting. They're not arrogant but confident of their ability (one of them gets pissed when he forgot his kill count). Some have said the ties bewtween them are almost lieke the ninja turtles of years before. I agree, there' s that whole brotherly bond felt in thegame, with the badass grim person, the joker and cynical type, the smart but funny type and you, the no-nonsense driven leader. Their voices are very very well done and enjoyable banter is always heard. Check the message board for some memorable quotes. You can feel a lot of heart has been put into making this game feel like you're in a real squad, unlike other 'squad games'. 8/10 (9 if you don't mind the slightly contrived squad command system)

Graphics

While not half-life 2 standard, the game has excellent graphics. The enemies/ships are extremely detailed, have personality right down to the bugs having dripping goo on them. The art design is spectacular, especially for a sci-fi game filled with ships ships and more ships. The lightying is fantastic and appropiate. So are the floors and so on.. Your battle armour looks great.

There is a bit of glitch sometimes with animations. For example, a takedown melee animation is when your teammate lifts a poor sod up and shoves a vibrobalde into his jaw in a one hit kill. While this looks great on normal sized enemies, but I did see him lift a knee height bug-spider type one and that looked stupid because his hands were nowhere near the bug's body, and you saw the bug levitating in mid air while the soldier's blade sliced the air like half a metre in front of the bug, and the bug just died. It kind of ruined the whole effect. another is when the commandos take up position. you actually see them move up to the say, health point to absorb bacta ( basically health), and suddenly they 'pop' into the position for receiving bacta. It's like there's a missing frame of animation when they change from combat position to bacta-receiving position. Nevertheless it is not blatant and negligible overall. 9/10

Sound:

AH. This one is where I have absolutely no complaint. The music is taken straight out (and if I might say so, better than) a star wars movie, with complementary tribal beats during forest chases, or eerie chorals during dark sequences, or heavy rock-metal during spaceship fights. It's extremely well done, and fits the mood to a T. It's never obvious and feels just perfect. Sound effects are done very well, from the whine of a battle drone walking by, the slimelike footsteps of a lizard enemy, to the buzz of a wasp-like enemy(Geonosians as seen in ep II). The voice overs are great, have lots of energy and life in them. Your squad's voices are particularly well done and lifelike. 100%!

Replayability:
Very poor, I'm afraid. With a poorly done multiplayer, it's replaybility is already halved. Furthermore due to the scripted nature of the game as commented on earlier) you will noticed more and more discrepancies the more times you play through it. For example I played a mission where you're suddenly shut into an ambush and you're sweating as you try to find a way out. By the 3rd time you realize there's an exact trigger to the 'ambush', and I got out of it within seconds. Nevertheless if you enjoy the game as a game, you will have a great time the first couple times through. 6/10

I felt this game captured the look and feel of the star wars universe. Not through the lofty, clean view of a Jedi who participates in glamourous battles on the surface, but from the nittty gritty POV of a hardcore soldier who played and invisble but huge part in the war. my friend a hardcore Trekkie who detests star wars, adores this game, if that means anything to you. For anyone who wants a heart pounding, dramatic action game, look no further.

8/10 overall.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/10/05