Having been
released a week before the actual theatrical release, the console and portable
game versions of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith gave gamers
the opportunity to catch an advance peek at some key plot elements without
giving away too much. On the portable front, though, the Game Boy Advance and
Nintendo DS version might appear to be similar at first glance but it is this
Nintendo DS version, much like the Sith, that clearly stands out as the winner.
Having not just
liked but loved George Lucas’ third chapter of his prequels, I launched into the
Nintendo DS version with higher expectations than the console version that,
while not perfect, still provided hack-and-slash fun. I must add, here, though,
that the Game Boy Advance version of the game looks like the DS version
graphically and gameplay-wise, but it is missing an element that puts this one
on the very top – ship battles! In Ubisoft’s hands, this one even slightly
outshines the console version.
Revenge of
the Sith
begins with the choice between playing as Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin Skywalker,
both characters can upgrade their skills and Force powers the same way but both
are destined to follow different paths that will eventual lead to an unavoidable
confrontation between the master and the apprentice. Like the movie, the game’s
story leads to the corruption of the conflicted and angry Anakin and his
eventual fall from grace and resurrection as Darth Vader. It begins during a
rescue mission onboard the ship of General Grievous who has, with the help of
Count Dooku, kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. While there’s great battles
to be fought as Master Kenobi, it’s just far more satisfying to watch Skywalker
fall to the Dark Side.
The game’s
levels are separated in chapters that touch upon the movie’s most crucial
moments, mainly the events that lead Kenobi to face General Grievous for the
final time as well as Anakin’s need to believe that Supreme Chancellor
Palpatine’s true identity can save the Republic or his claim that he has the
insight that could keep someone Anakin loves from dying. The result is a 2D
side-scrolling Jedi action game where both Anakin and Obi-Wan use their
lightsabers and Force powers to survive each level.
Each character
comes complete with his own fighting style and Force powers that can be upgraded
at the end of a level by using the style points you earn to purchase the
upgrades. Both can thrust their lightsabers forward or backwards (for enemies
sneaking up behind you) and you can even block laser fire or the lightsaber
thrusts from your opponent. Yet there are specialty moves you can learn, such as
the downward thrust move that destroys or knocks down every enemy within the
thrust radius. You can even throw your lightsaber for when you want to keep your
distance from the tougher battle droids. Some of the moves are even assigned to
the lower touch screen where you can select from the Focus or Fury moves
available by tapping the image. Sure it’s not an innovative use of the touch
screen but the bad part is that it sometimes causes a distraction during the
middle of a heated battle.
As for the Force
powers, Anakin knows the same basics as Obi-Wan including Force Push and Pull
but each has knowledge of individual powers. For example, Obi-Wan has ability to
Heal, Speed (to slow down time), Shield (create a protective barrier) and Mind
Trick (to momentarily stun enemies). Anakin, on the other hand, has insight on
the darker powers such as Choke, Rage (to inflict more damage) and Absorb (Ani
can drain an enemy’s life bar to fill his own). Since you’ll face enemies that
are good at ganging up on you these Force powers certainly come in handy.
The game is also
pretty challenging and even in its medium difficulty setting it’s not a game
that is easy to zip through like the console version. Some battles, particularly
the duel between Obi-Wan, Anakin and Count Dooku, are pretty tough although the
attack pattern never changes. And unlike the Game Boy Advance version, this
version throws in 3D ship skirmishes to break up the 2D hack-and-slash. The
flight missions are surprisingly enjoyable bite-sized morsels during the game’s
main mode but Ubisoft was smart enough to include a Skirmish mode that can be
played with bots or with up to four friends (each with their own copy of the
game, of course). With a nice number of ships and maps, it’s certainly a mode
worth sharing with friends and the main reason you should definitely consider
the Nintendo DS version.
Visually
speaking, you won’t be able to tell the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance version
apart seeing as not only are the levels identical to each another but so are the
character models and environments. This is still a pretty-looking game with some
sharp pixels, flashy effects and colorful backgrounds. Really, what more can you
ask from a 2D side-scrolling action game? Where the game does change, as I
already mentioned, are during the ship battles. The 3D ships look great and so
do the explosions.
As for the
sound, the familiar George Lucas score from the recent trilogy makes up the
game’s tunes and that’s not bad seeing as the score is darn good in the first
place. With no voice work the score sets the mood just right during cutscenes
and it never becomes tiresome. The sound effects are the same way and believe me
when I say that you’ll be hearing a lot of saber sounds and droids falling to
pieces when you plow through them.
Star Wars
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
on the Nintendo DS offers more
bang for your extra ten bucks and is clearly the best portable Star Wars game
thus far. Its hack-and-slash Jedi action is just a bit repetitive but still fun
enough to be satisfying and there’s even fighter ship action that can be shared
with friends. In short, the Force is with the Sith and it feels wickedly
satisfying. If you’re a fan of all things Star Wars, you might want to consider
this one.
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Gameplay: 7.5
The
hack-and-slash battles are decent fun, albeit a bit repetitive. The character
upgrades and Force powers help things and taking control of a fighter ship
breaks up the lightsaber battles. Playing as Obi-Wan is good fun but its so much
more fun being oh-so bad as Anakin.
Graphics: 7.3
Despite the
GBA visuals, the character models and the environments look pretty good in this
game. There are a great number of visual effects that get so much better during
the 3D ship battles.
Sound: 8.5
The soundtrack
is nicely handled here and it plays well enough through the Nintendo DS
speakers. It’s mainly John Williams’s great score but it’s never wearisome to
hear. There’s even some good lightsaber, laser and explosion sounds true to the
movies.
Difficulty:
Medium
You’ll often
be up against three or more droids or clone troopers at once but they’re nothing
compared to the tank-like machines that you’ll face. Some lightsaber duels, like
the one against Count Dooku, are pretty tough but each opponent has attack
patterns that are easy to memorize.
Concept: 7.5
There’s a good
number of missions to play through and you can always go back to play as Kenobi
when you’re finished being bad. It’s too bad the touch screen isn’t utilized
creatively but at least the Nintendo DS has a bigger screen ratio than the GBA
and the ship battles rule.
Multiplayer:
8.7
Up to four
players can take each another out in 3D dogfights that are the highlight of the
game. It’s fun going up against friends and since there are different types of
ships to pick from (including the Millennium Falcon, Boba Fett’s Slave I and
even the classic Tie Fighter) you can’t go wrong with an all-out skirmish.
Overall: 7.7
The Force was
not with past 2D action games centered on the Star Wars prequels, but Revenge
of the Sith for the Nintendo DS is fun enough to satisfy the need for
portable hack-and-slash. While it plays like the GBA version, the DS gets good
multiplayer action worth the purchase price alone.
