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A long time ago, well actually a few years back, Lucas Arts and Factor 5 made a game for the N64 called Star Wars Rouge Squadron. It was a great game and all, but it didn't follow the movie much and that left many Star Wars fans disappointed. Then, Lucas Arts and Factor 5 teamed up again and made Battle for Naboo, a game that was in the time of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. That game, in my opinion, was pure crap due to its horrible balance between the ship stats. The Naboo fighter had its stats full while the other ships had all disadvantages. Then I thought, "What's the point of choosing another ship?" Also, the enemy AI was so stupid; I thought my neighbor's damn baby was smarter at times. None of the Lucas Arts games were completely based on the movies. Now after 20 years, they finally made a game that let you relive the greatest Star Wars moments. Move over for Star Wars Rouge Leader: Rouge Squadron II. This is one of the best console Star Wars games I've seen in years.
Information:
" Return to the classic universe of the Star Wars trilogy movies
" Play as Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles
" Fly in third-person view or view the action from inside the cockpits of the crafts
" 10 regular missions plus a few bonus ones
" A great training course based on Tatooine that lets you practice your skills
" Unlock several secret levels, ships and modes of play by winning medals
" Beautiful graphics include detailed ship and object models, lighting effects, extensive geometry and advanced texture effects
" DVD-like extras including a behind-the-scenes footage
" Cool cut-scenes from the movies in the menus
" Single-player game
" Be the leader of two ships and tell them what to do
" Unique "Targeting Computer" feature.
" NO JAR JAR BINKS!
Gameplay
Rouge Leader is bigger, badder and much better than its N64 predecessor, Rouge Squadron. Known to be its sequel, Rouge Leader is based entirely on the movies, unlike Rouge Squadron. It features great dog fight battles (The Battle of Endor will make you drool) and missions based on search and rescue, seek and destroy and much more. The play mechanics are quite similar to those of Rouge Squadron. While the controller for the Gamecube is much different than the N64's, the controls are still faintly recognizable. Due to the lack of buttons on the Gamecube controller, Factor 5 had to get rid of a few specials that were in Rouge Squadron like linking weapons with how much blasters you want at one time, infinite minor speed boast, the second special for each ship and my personal favorite, the free camera mode that made the game feel very much like a movie. Surprisingly, this doesn't affect the gameplay of Rouge Leader that much. People that played the N64 version will totally forget the extra things Rouge Leader didn't have. Unlike that crappy Battle for Naboo, every ship in Rouge leader is perfectly balanced. Each ship has its own unique characteristics that can take advantage of a certain level. Want blinding speed? The A-wing will let you dodge lasers with ease and get to certain places within seconds. There is a price to pay however; couple of shots from enemy lasers or a single missile hit will destroy you. The Y-Wing can take more damage than a rock...and is as fast as one. The X-Wing is obviously the all rounder with balance in every stat in the middle and a cute R2-D2 that fixes your damages on board. The new B-Wing, that I've been dying to fly when I saw it in Episode 6: Return of the Jedi, actually made it and can close its wings to fly faster like the X-Wing. The retarded Air-speeder made it too and sucks as much as it did in the old game. Of course, you'll find many new and interesting ships you can fly. No spoilers so read on.
Players either control Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles throughout the 10 standard and bonus levels that are pulled out straight from the films. The beginning levels are extremely easy thanks to the new "Targeting Computer" feature which points out where the enemies are in your cockpit view. Of course, the side effect is using this more will decease the chances of you getting a new medal, so it takes a Jedi to complete a mission with no targeting computer. The control setup, in my opinion, is extremely well suited for a game like this. Players use the analog to move the ship freely in any direction-up, down, left and right. Flight control has overall seen significant improvements. One can, using the L trigger, easily turn a vehicle around and the digital-click of the R trigger functions first as a speed increase and then a full blown, wings-down boost depending on how hard it is pressed. It's a simplified scheme that works well and takes full advantage of the Gamecube controller. Also, there is a strategic element to shoot your lasers. Holding down the A button fires a continuous stream of weak bursts of lasers, while waiting for your lasers to charge will shoot all your laser barrels at once, thus, making it stronger and having the ability to kill TIE fighters in one hit, but it would require better aiming. Experienced players will find this technique perfect for gaining gold medals. The B-Button fires your secondary weapon and now a cool feature is added whenever you shoot it. You can now see the smoke coming behind the missile which make it look very realistic instead of a gay little line that comes behind the missile in Rouge Squadron and Battle for Naboo. The X-button puts on your targeting computer and the Y-Button puts you in cockpit view. The D-Pad is the button that you tell your wingmen what to do. And finally, the C stick changes your view behind the ship. You can even look around your cockpit with this feature. Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the Z button because of its horrible placement. It lets you roll your ship so you can dodge enemy fire that way to. The only complaint I have for the camera is that it is sometimes impossible to kill a TIE fighter when there is one behind your back because it automatically switches to the chase view of the enemy that's shooting you. Thankfully, this can be turned off.
The Attack on the Death Star is somewhat of a dream come true for many fans as it perfectly re-creates the experience from the film. But there are of course many other areas to explore and battle through, each just as appealing. The Ison Corridor Ambush, a lavish setting that details the Rebel trip from the Death Star to Hoth, is a completely original locale that sees gamers flying both X-Wings an A-Wing against a legion of TIE fighters in a fight to protect a friendly convoy. The snowy Battle of Hoth enables gamers to hover speeders against a group of AT-STs before they destroy the Rebel base -- and it's a joy to play. Gamers can also fight against huge Star Destroyers in space, war over a beautiful ocean on Kothlis, sneak by Imperial forces under a thick fog, relive the Battle of Endor -- and much, much more!
There is something I have to say about this game. It is not east to say it because it might be disappointing. Rouge Leader is a short game. There, I said it. Advanced players should be able to finish it within five hours. If you're an average gamer, it might take you double the time. Before you get ready to die, let me tell you what features will make you play this game some more. There are several secret missions to unlock, crafts to uncover, and special features to seek out. These goodies can only be ascertained by the most dedicated; the ones who go after the bronze, silver and gold medals in the game. And let me tell you now, that task is much more challenging and complicated. I've playing this game for a month and I only have two gold medals and the rest are bronze and silver.
Graphics
Superb, Awesome, Excellent, Brilliant, Better-than-dumbass-Xbox, sexy, da bomb-- Choose your favorite. The reason why this game is the best of the Gamecube launch is because of the graphics and how they re-create the Star Wars Universe. Now, the president of Nintendo can stand up to Bill Gates and yell, "Kiss my ass!" That's right, Rouge Leader shows the true power of the Gamecube and can rival those of the X-Box. Polygons have been pushed to the millions to display even better models than the movies. While most of the game runs at 60 frames per second, there are some levels where it runs at 30. Sudden frame rate drops will be seen, especially in those huge dogfights, or those Y-wing bombers, but this really shows the beauty of Rouge Leader. Level design is very well done and the ground and sky textures look great. In the Razor Rendezvous level, you get to destroy a Star Destroyer that is almost 100 times bigger than you are! You can even see the little details on the solders faces in the Battle of Hoth. Lighting effects are very well done as well. In the first level when I was in the trench, I shot a laser down the entire long trench. The walls and the floor lit up as the laser few past them. This is not your old N64; I have never seen a Star Wars game so far with graphics as beautiful as Rouge Leader.
Sound
What do you think? This is a Star Wars game. I hate to say this but even Battle for Naboo had ok sound. All the music is ripped out of the movies at the same events. When the ships close in the planet of Endor, you are certain to say, "Oh yeah, I remember this!" The Orchestrated music is brilliant and Factor 5's MIDI contributions usually blend into the mix. The music is different in every area of the game and fits that area perfectly. For example, during the trench run, the music changes so that players will feel that Luke is ready to fire his pair of Proton Torpedoes in the unprotected hole of the death star. Characters of the game sound great as well. When Darth Vader closes in on your ship in the trench run after a tough fight with the first TIES, he calls out, "The Force is strong with this one". Players will find it hard not to hold in a smile as he shoots 20 lasers at you at a time. The original Wedge Antilles actor is back with speeches he never said in the movies. While Luke's speeches are quite brief, he will talk a bit more than you think.
Conclusion
All in all, this game is great weather you like Star Wars or not. Definitely stands out from the other Gamecube launch games and will be remembered throughout the lifespan of Gamecube. If you are buying a Gamecube and you leave this game out, you are a dumbass.
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