Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II

"Visit Hoth just one more time."

I have to say this right now- this game is the sole reason I bought the GameCube at launch. Star Wars: Rogue Leader (Rogue Squadron II) is Factor 5's follow-up to one of the best games to grace the Nintendo 64 and the one finest Star Wars games ever crafted. Now the question that begs to be answered: does this sequel live up to the lofty heights of it predecessor?

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... These are the most famous words to ever open one of the greatest tales told and so begins the latest chapter in the epic Star Wars saga. Rogue Leader follows the adventures of the infamous Rogue Squadron, the best of the best among the pilots of the Rebellion. In this 'sequel', you assume the roles of Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles as they take up the struggle against the Empire during A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Not only will participate in the Battle of Yavin, the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor, you also experience the missions in between that led up to these monumental conflicts.

Rogue Leader really shows the graphic potential of the GameCube. Each of the game's ships (from the lowly A-Wing to the mighty Star Destroyer) are perfectly modeled complete with details that'll make you weep. Ever ship has 'personality'- scorch marks from laser fire; replaced panels that give the ship a repaired look; discoloration from wear- it's all designed to make the the starfighters look like they've actually been used. The backgrounds and terrains are equally as incredible- with missions that take place in space filled with planets, debris and nebulas, as well as missions that have you skimming the surface of the Death Star, oceans, deserts and icy fields. All you need to do is look at the game in motion for about ten seconds and you'll fall in love. The scary thing? Factor 5 said they only used about 65% of the GameCube's full power...

Of course, since it's a Star Wars game, you know what to expect in the sound department- all the classic John Williams tunes, famous lines from the movies and familiar engine noise mixed with laser fire. With the power of the GameCube, all this is presented to the player with crystal clear quality and perfection. Not content with the standard, Factor 5 went above and beyond the call of duty to fully immerse gamers in the Star Wars universe. Not only will you hear music specifically scored for this game (a remix of the original Rogue Squadron score) and all new lines from Dennis Lawson (Wedge from the movies), you'll hear it in Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound. We're talking digital movie quality stuff here folks. Is there a dark side to be found here? Well, it all depends on how particular you are about the delivery of Lando's lines in the Battle of Endor O_o

All Factor 5 had to do was make sure your craft flew in the direction you wanted and the weapons destroyed what they were supposed to, that's it. Do you think they could do something that simple? Of course not! And thank the Force for small favors. This game controls more perfectly than I ever thought possible, allowing you to do just about any crazy-ass stunt you can imagine within the confines of physics. All the controls you've grown accustom to are present, slightly refined, and ready for action. New additions include a targeting computer (which highlights key targets and enemies) and a command pad (lifted straight from Starfighter on the PS2). Basically, what you've got here is the best damn control set-up ever crafted for this genre.

After reading everything else I've written about Rogue Leader, I don't think I need to tell who truly top-notch the design of this game is. For instance: the menus, though simple in design, feature various clips from the movie that increase in number with the more medals you get. Each menu selection is accompanied by the 'wipe' of the S-Foils from either a B-Wing or X-Wing. There are a few inside joke sprinkled through-out the game as well- remember the car from Rogue Squadron? Well it's back as debris in one mission. Have you ever wanted to see a squad of dancing Stormtroopers? Just watch the intro and you have your wish. It scares me to think of what they guys might next unleash on the GameCube now that they have experience under their belts. And to think, this game was crafted in under a year...

If you've played either of Factor 5's previous Star Wars games, then you already know they love secrets. Rogue Leader continues the tradition with five stages to unlock (including two that let you play as Darth Vader), five ships to unlock (did someone mention the Slave I?), audio commentary, a documentary, an 'Ace' mode (complete with a new set of medals to acquire) and much, much more. Who knows what else may lurk within the depths of this game, but I'm sure time will reveal many more secrets- remember the Naboo Fighter in Rogue Squadron?

Let me get straight to the point: It doesn't matter if your a Star Wars fan or not, this is the best 3D shump you're ever likely to encounter on the GameCube so don't hesitate to buy this classic immediately!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/10/09

Game Release: Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II (US, 11/09/01)