Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

"This Game Demands that you play like a Jedi..."

I generally was going to buy this game for the Starship battles, and I was iffy on the issue of the main game being a GBA port, but I found out that the main game is just as great if not addictive.

-Graphics: This is where the game takes a huge hit due to the fact that it is a port of the GBA game, but it recovers with the spectacular Starship dogfights, the explosions look awesome and yes I know that the textures seem bad up close, but the fast frame rate makes everything run smoothly. The main game is just as smooth, which is good because I heard the GBA version had some slow-down problems. All in all it still looks great, though it doesn't use the DS' abilities to the max, but the flying levels redeems it a little.

-Sound: The sound is perfect, I kept my ears open to any new scores by John Williams (I think the main menu music is new), they have everything from the "Imperial March" music to the "Duel of Fates", the sound effects are high quality as well, the ships in the Flying missions have their own recognizable blaster sounds (I was able to recognize the X-wing's blasters before i saw it)...alas there is no voice acting other than some screams and grunts, but I guess it's best when you have so many languages to choose from in the beginning.

-Controls: The controls in both the single-player and multiplayer are very fun and easy to use, as you progress through the single-player the controls get more difficult and complex, such as buying new force powers and trying to apply to them to your tactics, as well as the enemies become harder. There is little use of the touch screen in the game but the shortcuts in the single-player help out alot, then having to perform a combination...while in the multiplayer you can use it to focus where your shields protect your ship (i.e. you can throw all of the power to the back shields if you're being chased)

-Gameplay: The game rewards you with points according to the amount of Force powers,and tactics used on the level which you can use to build your character's stats as well as buy new Force powers. You can play as Obi-wan or Anakin so you get to taste both sides of the force. Unlike many Hack-n-Slash games this one requires you to focus on the environment around you as well as setting up tactics, as the enemies fill the screen you constantly need to know when to block, jump, slash, force push . Both Obi-wan and Anakin play differently from one another, ex: Obi-wan can heal himself and has a small number of lives, while Anakin has 5 lives, requiring Obi-wan to focus on blocking and jumping while recovering. (The Gameplay in the Multiplayer is discussed in the Multiplayer Heading)

-Multiplayer: This is the best aspect in the game, it's what separates this game from the GBA title, you can fight against friends, sorry no single-cart :(, or you can fight with bots... there is a lock on missile targeting computer, as well as a setup to control the ship's shield generators... the levels are pretty big and the controls are customizable. There are many unlockable ships such as the X-wing and Slave 1...

Highlights in the Game:

-Fighting the Han Solo bot and destroying him, only to find out that he respawned right behind you, the next thing that happens is your Lock-on alarm goes off, you end up trying to evade the missile(s) performing a barrel-roll and using your boost while focusing you shields to the rear of the ship and screaming your head off in the process...(he'll get you with his blasters in the end)

-Force Chocking a Padawan who dared to hit the mighty Lord Vader...

-Tripping the Female Jedi and while they are helpless on the ground perform two consecutive down slashes, the first one they'll block it while laying down but the second one is performed with two hands...(A true definition Darth Vader's evil power)
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This game is addictive and fun, in my book it would grab a 9.5 to a 10, Here are the reasons for my grading:

-I took off a point due to the fact that the Single-player is ripped from the GBA (the only thing saving it from more points being taken off are the flying missions)

-Minus .5 for the controls in the Single-Player missions...they fail to use the X and Y buttons.

-And Minus .5 for the price of the game...it's pretty steep for something that ripped off the GBA title...(though the Multiplayer makes up for it...Again!)

Therefore it gets the grade of= 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/09/05