E3 2003 – First Look
For those who would wish to travel the path
of the Jedi, hope awaits … also danger, evil and puzzlement.
Jedi Knights: Jedi Academy, a LucasArts
Entertainment release for the PC and Xbox and set for a Fall release, takes
young Jedi warriors on the path to embracing the force, gaining in power and
accomplishing the tasks.
Players are invited, as students of Luke
Skywalker’s Jedi Academy, to learn the ways of the force, and to continue the
rich and honored tradition. The game features three tiers of missions and
players must complete 80 percent of a tier in order to gain the reward of adding
a force power. You can also customize your fighting stances, form the classic
single blade to dual wield and the dual-blade, favored by Darth Maul.
Other features include customizable
characters, single and multiplayer (cooperative) gameplay, the ability to build
and customize your light saber, cameos by legendary Star Wars characters, new
vehicles, and the opportunity to visit familiar worlds in the Star Wars
universe.
The character animation of this game is
superb, and very realistic. But the eye candy does not just stop there. Rich
environments, dynamic lighting and the incredible options package drives the
game along.
This game might certainly not be the
definitive Star Wars game, and there are some retreads in terms of action and
adventure, but the overall look and feel of the game will definitely add to the
Star Wars universe and feed the cravings of Star Wars fans.
Title: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel
Strike
Publisher: LucasArts
Preview (not hands on)
Relive the greatest moments in Star Wars
history with Rebel Strike
You’ve seen the movie, and maybe you think
you can do it much better than those who fought the battles. Now is your chance
to find out.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
is a collective of the greatest moments in Star Wars history (Episodes 4-6 in
the time of Luke Skywalker). The Lucas Arts release, demonstrated at E3 in Los
Angeles and scheduled for a Fall 2003 release, does something much more valuable
for the industry, however, that simply provide players with the chance to play
out some of the best battles the universe has know. It really shows off the
power of the GameCube and actually utilizes the graphics capability of the unit
to its fullest.
Dynamic lighting, reflections and shadow
detail, combined with fluid animations and cutscenes to render a game where the
lines sometimes blur between actual motion picture footage and the game footage.
Walkers are attacking the rebel collective on
the ice world and Luke Skywalker and his squad counter; walkers are on the moon
of Endor, and Chewie uses one of their own machines to fight back; Princess Leia
is being held on the Death Star and only a trio of hardy adventurers (Luke, Hans
and Chewie) can rescue her.
The gameplay is extremely linear. The only
way you can succeed is by walking the same path as detailed in the movie. But
this is an amazing opportunity to visit old friends and get involved in the
battles.
The environments of the game are incredible
and well detailed. The player interface is simple enough to give novices the
opportunity to jump in and play, while providing challenge for the veteran
gamer.
This game does not tread any new ground in
the Star Wars universe. In fact, this is quite familiar territory, but given the
opportunity to delve into the historical and favorite moments of the genre, and
to have them so well rendered … well, it is an opportunity few Star Wars fans
will likely pass up.
