Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

"A well designed and balanced action game. A must-buy for any Star Wars fan."

Star Wars Episode III is a great game that will be enjoyed by all but the most cynical people. In case you just came to earth, Star Wars are probably the most popular movies on the planet and this game is based on the newest chapter of the tale. You play as Obi-One Kenobi or the ill-fated Anakin Skywalker through several missions that follow the movie. You will encounter many of the villains from the movie and use your Jedi Skills and Force powers to succeed.

GRAPHICS 7/10: At first glance, the graphics look blocky and unpolished. However, the game is well animated with little to no slowdown and things never look unidentifiable. The combat is free flowing and really recreates the feel of the Star Wars movies. Action flows from cinematic sequences to the action sequences very smoothly and makes the game engaging and entertaining to both play and watch. The full motion footage from the movie looks good but not great. Some blocks are present and it could have been better. All that aside, the game has slightly above average graphics that are saved by good animation and gameplay. The character animation is true to the movies and your Jedi moves look fantastic. The faces are done pretty well and you can tell who is who even from afar. The backgrounds are straight out of the Star Wars movies and you are allowed to interact with them fairly often. The graphics are probably the only bad thing about this game. However, they still manage to get the job done and will not disappoint you.

MUSIC/SOUND 7/10: The sound is average and what you would expect from a Star Wars game. You hear the main theme often and some samples from the many movies. It includes the themes from the original trilogy for those hardcore fans. One interesting thing was the inclusion of some of the music from Star Wars: Knights of the Republic $ Sith Lords. The music overall is great as you would expect from John Williams and makes the game all the more fun to play. The soundeffects are straight out of the movies. You get all the lightsaber sounds and blaster fire effects you could ever want. The voices are not those of the original actors but sound true to the characters. The characters are almost constantly talking throughout the game so expect to hear critical info while playing. Obi-One and Anakin have plenty of one-liners with which to dispatch foes with, but don't worry. It doesn't really get to the point of annoying you. This game has a solid sound effect and music department. The music and effects fit the game perfectly and only add to the experience.

GAMEPLAY 9/10: This is where the game begins to shine. The graphics and Sound are nothing impressive but the gameplay is rewarding and addicting. This game really went for the Jedi simulation and delivers 100%. Your lightsaber moves are what you would expect. Add easy to use force powers and you got a winning combination. You can use the Force to pick up objects in the background and throw them at enemies. You can throw enemies into objects or off ledges, Force Shock them, throw your lightsaber at them, or do a "Killer Move" that finishes them off in style. These killer finishes also earn you extra experience points that can be use to upgrade your Force powers or fighting abilities. This RPG aspect only adds to the fun this game has to offer. Your Jedi goes from "powerful Jedi" to "Death dealing Jedi Master." If there is anything wrong with the gameplay, it has to be those stupid enemies shooting at you from off screen. You usually get shot without warning from unseen enemies and get robbed of precious life. The lightsaber combat against other Jedi is kind of confusing. I wouldn't say the combat is precise, I think it was probably left sloppy on purpose. They meant it to be balanced, so that experienced players would not just breeze by all the enemies they encounter. In effect the game sometimes gets kind of difficult. You'll play a section it will be easy, then replay it and get killed quickly. At least, the game does not suffer from stupid AI and offers a fresh challenge every time. The gameplay is solid and is what made this game stand above all the other games. The controls require practice but can be picked up easily. Your level objectives are usually, kill an enemy, slash open doors, or destroy generators. Overall, this game's gameplay is great and is what truly makes the game shine.

FUNFACTOR 10/10: With some shortcomings, this games was still a lot of fun. You get to be two of the best Jedi, in Star Wars history. Great combat and a good storyline keep the game interesting. The Experience system makes you keep coming back. Finally, you also get a multiplayer mode that can be cooperative or versus. In both modes, you can pick duelists from the story mode, all of which have their own set of moves and styles. For example, you could have Count Doku and Yoda team up for a survival mode in the Jedi Archives level. You also unlock secret missions and concept art from the movie. This bonus is pretty appealing since you can appreciate the art behind the game. Moreover, the game itself is also a great experience and will fulfill any Jedi Star Wars fantasy you may have. The game simply comes together very well and delivers a lot of fun quickly and effortlessly.

OVERALL 8/10: While I wouldn't say this game changed my life, it is a solid buy for any Star Wars fan. The average graphics and music do not detract from great gameplay and funfactor. For those of you that don't want movie spoilers, you may want to wait till you see the movie because this game hits all the major plot points. The whole game is well designed and simulates Jedi combat better than most Star Wars games. This game is great and should be considered by everyone.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/07/05