Star Wars: Battle for Naboo Q&A

By Staff, GameSpotPosted Jan 30, 2001 6:40 pm PT

We talk to the designers at LucasArts about the PC version of Battle for Naboo.

In 1998, LucasArts and Factor 5 released Rogue Squadron, a first- and third-person flying shooter set in the classic Star Wars universe. The game appeared on both PC and Nintendo 64 platforms, and it received critical acclaim for its relatively simple yet highly addictive gameplay. Late last year, LucasArts and Factor 5 teamed up again to release Episode I Battle for Naboo, a Nintendo 64 flying shooter built on the same gameplay design of the successful Rogue Squadron. The game puts you in the cockpit of a number of Episode I vehicles, including some that weren't featured in the movie, as you do battle with the Trade Federation to protect your home planet of Naboo. Recently, LucasArts announced that it would be bringing the game onto the PC. We took that opportunity to sit down with Brett Tosti, the project leader on the PC version of Battle for Naboo, and discuss the game in more detail.

We've got 13 movies of the PC version of Star Wars: Battle for Naboo in action. Click in the image to watch them all.

GameSpot: In Rogue Squadron, players assume the role of Luke Skywalker. Who will they play in Battle for Naboo?

Brett Tosti: In Battle for Naboo, you play a character named Gavyn Sykes, a member of Naboo's volunteer Royal Security Forces based in the city of Theed. The security force is the equivalent of a local police force, and they are not really equipped to deal with an invasion army. You and your commander are initially caught off guard by the invasion, and you must flee the city of Theed to regroup before the droid army completely takes over the city. Gavyn Sykes is idealistic and brave, and he spent much of his youth flying local transports before joining the Royal Security Forces. Whether driving a Flash speeder or piloting a Naboo starfighter, Sykes is efficient and resourceful, ready to defend his commander, his wingmen, and the citizens of Naboo.

GS: Does the game take place during the actual events of Episode I?

BT: Yes, the events in this game take place during the same time frame as Episode I. Battle for Naboo begins when the Trade Federation invades the planet Naboo and concludes when (and if) the player succeeds in helping to liberate the planet. After watching the movie, it struck me that a great story could be told about what took place on Naboo while the queen was away. During the movie, we hear that the people of Naboo are starving and suffering and that the Trade Federation is doing evil things, but we don't ever see those atrocities. In Battle for Naboo, you see firsthand what the greedy Neimoidians are doing to the people and planet of Naboo. As a resistance fighter, it's your job to help the people--and whenever possible, stop the Trade Federation.

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GS: How many vehicles will players be able to control in the game?

BT: Battle for Naboo features seven different vehicles (plus three bonus vehicles).

GS: Which one is your favorite?

BT: The heavy STAP is my favorite vehicle to drive because it is very quick and maneuverable. However, the N-1 Naboo starfighter is still my favorite vehicle for mass destruction. And the N-1 is particularly lethal and fun to fly once you have obtained some of the power-ups.

GS: Are there any vehicles that you've included in the game that weren't featured in the actual movie?

BT: Five of the seven vehicles are not featured in the movie. The new vehicles include a heavy STAP, which is mix between the STAP and the AATs from the film. The player drives the heavy STAP in the farmland just outside of Theed and on another later level. The player can also steal and then pilot the enemy's Trade Federation gunboat. Another new vehicle is the Naboo police cruiser. The police cruiser is basically a heavily armored but less maneuverable version of the N-1 starfighter. You fly the police cruiser and N-1 over a variety of landscapes on Naboo, including swamps, rolling hills, tundra, and mountain regions, to name a few. Finally, the players will also get the opportunity to fly a Naboo bomber armed with a single laser cannon and plasma bombs.

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1 Comments

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jakeboudville
Posted Sep 21, 2006 5:47 pm PT

kinda impressive
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Star Wars: Battle for Naboo Demo
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