WWW.SILICON-FUSION.COM

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:       15th April 2002: Star Wars: Obi-Wan  Draw upon all your Jedi training, force powers and lightsaber skills to defeat the worst scum and villainy in the galaxy! Posted by John Grothier - Xbox - UK and Europe With the new Star Wars film creeping ever nearer - the ridiculous sounding "Attack of the Clones", LucusArts have surprisingly released yet another Episode One title, Star Wars: Obi-Wan. I must say that I am concerned that the Episode II film may be a bit of a let down, after the disappointment that was The Phantom Menace. But I did see a new trailer the other day, and I am pleased to report that Jar Jar Binks was nowhere to be seen - so there is a new hope after all. Star Wars: Obi-Wan is set in the weeks prior to the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Players take on the role of Obi-Wan, and lead him through five chapters that take the young Jedi from the never-ending cityscapes of Coruscant, through to Theed, the capital city of occupied Naboo. Obi-Wan is played in third person perspective, and allows the Xbox generated Ewan McGregor fantastic freedom of movement, some incredible lightsaber battles, and the opportunity to use some really stunning force powers. If you have played Halo, or even Max Payne on the Xbox, you know of the machines fantastic graphical power. So Star Wars: Obi-Wan did seem a bit of a disappointment when I first booted up the game. The character animations are blocky, the camera is a little sluggish, and the textures reminded me of the N64 days. I realise that all games can't look as good as Halo, but a lot more work really could have been put in to make this game look sweeter and play smoother. The concept behind Star Wars: Obi-Wan is a good one, but the finished product looks rushed and incomplete. As you will find from just about all of the levels, there is hardly anything or anyone within the game. Starting on Coruscant, the city planet, you find yourself wandering around huge empty rooms and indistinguishable corridors actually looking forward to being attacked, just for some variety. Perhaps all the inhabitants have decided to take a 'Sunday Drive' by flying above the city, whatever the reason, the levels in Obi-Wan are noticeably bland in comparison with most games of this genre. Young Obi-Wan wields one of the coolest of all weapons of all time, the lightsaber. Use the right thumbstick to swing the lightsaber at your foes, and by pulling back on the stick, the Jedi can deflect laser fire back onto his enemies. Using the force is Star Wars: Obi-Wan's saving grace. In fact if this was not Star Wars, I think my review would be a lot harsher. But any game that allows lightsaber duels, and also use force powers to push away your enemies or to pull rifles or blasters out of their hands, has a head start in my book. In fact the more you play Obi-Wan, the more you will enjoy it. If only they had worked a bit more on the graphics and framerate, this could have been a classic. The graphics in Star Wars: Obi-Wan really don't look like they are pushing the power of the Xbox, but the framerate suggests otherwise. I do find it quite amazing that you can be in a big empty room engaging just one or two enemies, and the camera struggles noticeably. The wonderful worlds of Star Wars look more blocky than beautiful, but there are rare moments when things look they way they should. The sound in Obi-Wan is fantastic in places; with John Williams score booming out and the effect of the lightsaber is particularly satisfying, but the voice acting for Obi-Wan himself is appalling. They must have hired the actor from the 'Dick-Van Dyke' school of acting, his rendition of the Scottish accent is even worse than Professor Mel Gibson's effort in Bravehart. Overall Star Wars: Obi-Wan is an enjoyable enough romp through the Star Wars universe, but if LucusArts had worked on the project for a little bit longer, it really could have been something very special indeed. I can't help but think of what Master Yoda might say - "Do or do not, there is no try" - I'll warrant. John Grothier             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  The power of the Jedi is in your hands- force push, pull, throw and jump your way through dangerous situations and extend your abilities with Jedi agility and saber throws.ìéPoor graphics and a sluggesh camera spoil the fun slightly, but this is Star Wars!  Related Games:  Star Wars: Obi-Wan for Xbox  10  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
		Go Back To Main Page        Go To Top Of Page