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RSS feedsEvery saga has a beginning ... And unless you've been hiding inside an asteroid for the last few months, you'll have heard that a new Star Wars film is taking cinemas by storm. Based on events before the original trilogy, The Phantom Menace is the first in a series of prequels that detail the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker. To coincide with the release, and make even more cash for creator George Lucas, LucasArts has launched two new games that allow you to join in the action.
Loosely following the plot of the film, The Phantom Menace is an arcade adventure that initially casts you as the young Obi-wan Kenobi. Following your mentor Qui-Gon Jinn, a Jedi master, the idea is to help negotiate the peaceful end to a trade blockade around the planet Naboo. Of course, achieving this straight away wouldn't make for much of a game, and so before long you're waving a lightsaber at a horde of deadly battle droids.
Fight your way past these (you can pull off some spectacular moves) and it's off to the swamps for a swim, followed by a trek through a forest with more droids in hot pursuit. You'll also run into the overly-animated Jar Jar Binks, a Gungan from an underwater city far below the planet's surface. Make friends with him and your aquatic adventures continue as he leads you into the depths of Otoh Gunga.
Later points in the game cast you in the roles of Qui-Gon Jinn, the Captain of the Royal Guards and even the Queen herself. You'll travel to other worlds including Tatooine, and meet up with other major characters including C-3PO, Anakin and the dreaded Darth Maul.
Graphically Phantom certainly captures the essence of the film, and there are clips at the beginning to get you in the mood. Cut scenes that ape the film are also used throughout to maintain the atmosphere. Characters are detailed, and the animation is good - although not up to Industrial Light & Magic standards. Sounds and music from the film are also used, with the ignition and swish of the lightsaber being a particularly satisfying noise.
Gameplay is a mixed bag. While it's great to take on the role of Jedi, deflect lasers and use The Force, the action can be somewhat repetitive.
LucasArts has also fixed the viewpoint at an awkward angle, which prevents you from seeing too far into the distance. But there's enough adventure to keep most gamers hooked and plenty of secrets to be discovered.
Star Wars fans who fancy themselves as Jedi masters in the making will find that The Force is strong with this one. Just don't play it before you've seen the film!
- £39.99 (inc VAT)
- Activision: 01268 531 222
STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 - THE PHANTOM Menace
Overall ***
Minimum requirements: 200MHz Pentium, Windows 95/98, 32Mb of RAM, 4Mb PCI or AGP Direct 3D Graphics Accelerator, 16-bit sound card, 4x CD-ROM, keyboard, DirectX6.1.
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