Star Wars Starfighter

Overall: B+
Violence: C+
Sexual Content: A
Language: A
Drugs/Alcohol: A

Platform reviewed: Sony PlayStation 2
Publisher: LucasArts
ESRB rating: T

Courage. Skill. Honor. Do you have what it takes to go up against the dreaded Trade Federation? Would your associates describe you as the Han Solo laugh-in-the-face-of-danger type, or one of those chocolate soldiers that melt when things get hot? (You know... like Jar Jar Binks). If you don't have an answer, LucasArts will help--all you have to do is pack up those midi-chlorians, hitch a ride to a nearby Playstation 2, and enlist as a Starfighter. Oh, and one other thing... May the force be with you (you're going to need it).

Three Heroes. One Enemy. All Action. Based on a storyline that runs parallel to Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, this single-player action/adventure revolves around three new characters who each have personal vendettas against the Trade Federation: Rhys Dallows is a rookie fighter pilot from Naboo who hopes to free his home world from the grasp of its oppressors; Vana Sage is a mercenary employed, and soon to be double-crossed, by the Federation; and Nym, the Feeorin pirate whose base is attacked by Federation minions in search of technology he "borrowed." The story develops over the course of 14 missions, which take place in deep space or on various planet surfaces; contain a series of primary (mandatory) and secondary (optional) objectives; and can be played in easy, medium, or hard mode.

Your first challenge comes in the form of a training exercise as you are assigned the identity of young Rhys. With ace pilot and respected tutor Essara Till on your wing, your task is to maneuver an elegant N-1 Starfighter through the canyons of Naboo at breakneck speed while destroying mines, training droids, and holographic fighters. (Although this level is presented as a test of your, er, Rhys's combat capabilities--its main purpose is to allow players an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the game's controller functions). A successful performance on the proving grounds rewards us with a brief movie that provides updates on plot developments, thereby setting the stage for the next mission (this scenario is repeated at the completion of each level).

After taking part in an escort operation for Queen Amidala's royal starship (which quickly turns into a dogfight), the next two levels are played as Vana Sage in her aptly titled spacecraft--the extremely agile Guardian Mantis. These missions include a deep space battle readiness test that leads to Vana being betrayed by her employers, and the chance discovery of a Federation droid factory on the planet Eos (allowing her to exact some revenge). We then assume the identity of Nym, and have the privilege of piloting his heavily armed tank-like Havoc fighter in some low-altitude strafing and bombing runs. As the saga continues, our cast of unlikely heroes--initially strangers to each other--are drawn together by fate (or was it the force?) and form an alliance to do battle with their common foe, sending them hurtling toward a conclusion that features a shootout at the Trade Federation corral (along with a few bonus missions that allow for some two-player action).

Game developers have paid so much attention to details I couldn't help but do a little sightseeing along the way, which often caused me a great deal of trouble--not to mention extensive damage to my starfighter--especially when speeding through the canyons of Naboo, experiencing my first trip into space, and participating in sorties on the planet Lok. Add to this the John Williams score, context specific radio headset chatter, laser fire, explosions, and service droid feedback--and you could be excused for thinking you were actually part of a Star Wars movie. (Parents should also note that, in the levels I played, depictions of violence were similar to those portrayed in previous Star Wars episodes--minus the light-saber duels).

Some may be saddened to learn that Jar Jar Binks has no part in the storyline, but perhaps their spirits will be lifted by the following revelation taken from a starwars.com interview with Starfighter Project Director Daron Stinnett: "A favorite LucasArts tradition carried on by Star Wars Starfighter is the joy of the Easter egg hunt. Little gags and secrets that programmers tuck into the levels of their games, many Easter eggs are scattered among the huge environments of [this game]. 'Let's see...,' says Stinnett with a mischievous smile, 'there's a battle droid and a couple of his buddies somewhere, and they're having a little cookout barbeque with a grill. They're having some drinks and cooking up some burgers. Oh, and there's a good one with Jar Jar. He's not the one being barbequed, but I probably shouldn't tell you where he is. It's very funny.'"

And for those who are disappointed at Jar Jar's inclusion... we can always hope the force is on our side in Episode II.

Jim Fleming

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