Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

"It seems so limited"

A launch game for the N64, which got a bad start, but is it really fun? After a while, no but its good to play for about 5 days.

Graphics-10
Very good graphics for a launch game. The backgrounds are amazing and should never be bashed. It makes the game get an 11 if I was allowed to grade that high but on GameFAQs.com you can't. Anyway, all the enemies look pretty good and they all look like they came from StarWars and not StarCars(they were ran over in that case Lol!). The only minor problem is that your character, Dash Rendar looks a little blocky, but that's a problem for great games like Goldeneye, too...

Sound-10
StarWars fans reunite(I'm not one)! You'll remember all your favorite StarWars tracks from the movies of the early 80's all in one game. They fit the levels as good as the movies. For example, the music in the first level, with the AT-ATs and stuff has the same music from one of the movies. If there wasn't a Star Wars theme in a level, it would make up for that with great music. It's unfortunate nobody talks in this game but I wouldn't expect them to, this is a launch game. The sound is responisive and sometimes, if you shoot a guy, they scream and fall off the cliff.

Control-7
It's not your average shooter control style. B is to shoot so make sure you learn how to do that. I would say the control of this game is similar to Super Mario 64 or any other platformer. The control is responsive, but a bit too tight.

Story-8
The story generally takes place between the Empire Strikes Back and ends toward the middle of Return of the Jedi. You don't play as Luke SkyWalker or any other main StarWars character. Instead, you play as this guy named Dash Rendar and you collect information about the Rebel Alliance and Empire. Easy to follow but a bit boring.

Gameplay-4
There are only about 10-12 levels so its pretty limited. Only about half of them are fun and the other half are too long, too hard, or too boring. The best level is probably the first level, where you fly around destroying AT-ATs and AT-STs and annoying probe droids. The second level is okay becuase the enemies are fun and has a cool boss. The 3rd level is a boring level where you just shoot asteriods. Another level is the train, which is long but has good music and good background. This boss is too cheap though. This other level I would consider a race. You ride these cool bikes and try to kill these Swoop Jockeys while going really fast. That's a cool level. This other level takes place in a sewer and is boring and the boss is too cheap. The second to last level has you finding your way around in a palace with good music and a good boss. A good level. This other level takes place on a couple of cliffs. Its fun becuase of the Wompas and you shoot people off the cliffs and you can get a jetpack. The worst level in the game is the Space Station level. Its boring, hard, dark, and has the worst music. There are so many glitches too. I got lots of cheap hits from enemies I couldnt even see. The worst part, was the room with the switches. That made me never play the game again...The last level, I'll discuss it later.
There aren't that much weopons in this game. Only about 7 or 8. There good for bosses but your laser gun should get the job done the quickest becuase it had infinite ammo. My favorite weopon is the Pulse cannon, which shoots so fast and sounds cool. I also like Seekers becuase they kill bosses quickly. The cheapest is those nuetraliziers. They destroy almost everything in sight.
The worse part of this game is that there is only single player mode. No multiplayer or anything. So if your not satisfied with the single player mode, dont play this game.

Difficulty-7
Lots of cheap hits can make you mad. There are 4 difficulty modes:

Easy-Takes as many hits as you want and still live

Normal-Be a little more careful

Hard-Now you can't just storm through rooms destroying everything in sight

Jedi-3 hits your dead. Its possible to win though.

On your way to that you collect challenge points.
Going through the levels require common sense and the Space Station Level is dumb with those switches...
A slightly challenging game...

Replay-8
A huge spoiler in this game makes you play the game again. I wont discuss it so it wont spoil anything but remember those challenge points? Learn their locations!

Buy or Rent?
One of the best rentals. This game is too short, boring, and limited to buy. Although, if you like it you can buy it.

Overall-7
Not an average.
A good rental game but it seems quite limited. Play if your a StarWars fan or are bored!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/19/01, Updated 07/15/03