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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       25th March 2001: Star Wars: Starfighter  Film to game conversions never seem to work well, but has Starfighter bucked the trend? Posted by John Grothier - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe I first saw Star Wars at the impressionable age of eight. I was blown away by the scale of it all, the huge worlds it created. Never before had I been so immersed in a film. The sequel was even better, with that memorable sequence with the 'Walkers' on Hoth. No one had ever seen anything quite like that before. When I saw Jedi I was amazed at the enormity of the space battles. The battle of Endor is still today one of my favourite pieces of cinema. So ever since then I wanted to be a part of that crusade. My only hope was a computer game. Today it arrived. After years of waiting for a decent Star Wars game LucasArts have released a truly fantastic game. Star Wars: Starfighter is set around the Episode I film, The Phantom Menace. That aside it still is a remarkable game. Spread over 14 levels set on three planets and in space, it follows the paths of three characters. Rhys Dallows is the Luke Skywalker of the piece, Nym an alien Han Solo/ Chewbacca type and Vana Sage is the token girl. Each has their own ship, which for once are all very different from each other. Rhys has an N-1 Starfighter as seen in Episode I. It comes with the standard laser cannons and proton torpedoes. It is elegant and practical. Nym has a 'Millennium Falcon' type ship. The Havoc is a huge bomber that can drop energy bombs on ground targets. It also has a turret, which automatically fires at targets when they get in range. Vanas starfighter 'The Guardian Mantis' is a sleek and fast ship that has stealth capabilities and can disable targets with ease. Each ship has its own 'Astrodroid', (that's an R2 unit to you and me), which burbles to you throughout the mission and repairs systems as and when they get damaged. You also hear how the battle is progressing from the other pilots. Like 'Wing Commander' you can issue orders to your wingmen using the D-pad. They can be ordered to attack and defend targets and also help you out if thing get a bit hectic. The control system in Starfighter is complex but ultimately rewarding. Using both analogue sticks for movement takes a bit of getting used to, but after a while it becomes second nature. The triangle and square buttons are used for targeting, leaving the cross and circle ones for primary and secondary weapons. L1 also can be used for firing lasers and the L2 operates airbrakes while the R2 button is used for thrusters. One of the cleverest features in Starfighter is the use of a 'Sniper mode'. Press and hold R1 and you can zoom in on a target for devastating accuracy. The graphics in Starfighter are truly next generation, never before has a game looked this good. The FMV and real time cut scenes blend in seamlessly with the game play. The frame rate is very fast and never really drops significantly, even when there are thirty or forty ships on the screen. Sometimes when planetside it gets a bit choppy, but it never really spoils the effect. The sound, as you would expect, is excellent. Mr Williams' soundtrack booms out with music mostly from the Episode I, but you will recognise music from the original trilogy. Voice acting is superb; with chatter from your wingmen and the beeps from your R2 unit it really draws you into the action. This has to be the best PAL release seen on the PS2 so far. Despite not having a 60htz mode it still fills the entire screen, not a black bar to be seen! Activision have done a brilliant job in releasing this game just weeks after its American debut. Other publisher's take note; Do or do not. There is no try. It just goes to show there is no reason why we should have to wait months for our games. I cannot recommend this game highly enough. Buy it, it will be a day long remembered. Star Wars: Starfighter is a true masterpiece, if you are a fan of the films or enjoy space combat this is for you. LucasArts have really given us all a new hope. John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  At last a Star Wars game we can be proud if. Fantastic graphics, sound and superb game play make this a must have title.With fourteen missions and more ships and levels to unlock, you will be coming back even after you have finished the game.LucasArts have brought Star Wars gaming heaven to the galaxy...  Related Games:  Star Wars: Starfighter for PlayStation 2  5  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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