Gameplay: 2/2
Sound: 2/2
Graphics: 2/2
Story: 2/2
Room for improvement: .5/1
Tilt/las
User Rating: 9.5 | Star Wars: Episode I Battle for Naboo N64
The first thing that we noticed as my brother and I fired up this game on our N64 was the graphics - beautiful mountain scenery with the gorgeous shine of the N1's in full 3d with enough polygons to make it look real....We were blown away. This is the power of the N64 at its finest, maintaining 30-60 fps even when dozens of craft are onscreen. Orchestrated star wars music and crisp laser blasts complement the drawn out roar of the engines, and digital surround sound showcases the Doppler effect as excellent voice acting crackles over the com-link. The superb presentation is consistent throughout the game. On the gameplay side of things, the controls and missions of rogue squadron are shaken up with ground levels that manage to fit into the design flawlessly. This game excels where Rebel Strike fails. It's a formula that's been used before, but perfected with the inclusion of fun terrestrial combat that keeps the fast pace of the series alive. At a time when star wars games were strictly following the plot of the movies and focusing on cannon characters, such as The Phantom Menace, Jedi Power Battles, and even Episode 1 Racer (to some extent), Battle for Naboo dares to be different. The story revolves around Gavin Sykes, a fresh character who plays the heroic rebel defending a civil population against all odds. Revenge, treachery, tragedy, heroism.....All that's missing is a girl to fight for. The game hints at new developments in episode two in bonus missions, which are unlocked by phenomenal performance in each level. The base game has room for improvement, however - particularly in it's lack of a multiplayer component. Most of the missions are flown with a wingman, and having a second player take control of these pilots for some cooperative action would have been much appreciated. Although the game's story seems crafted for cooperative missions, it is likely that this feature was canned to release before the gamecube launched. The single-player campaign is more than enjoyable enough to warrant a purchase without the missing feature, however. The time period of the game is also a disappointment - perhaps focusing on the Thrawn trilogy or the New Jedi Order era would have had a greater appeal than yet another episode I game. Under the limitations of the period, though, this is as good a game as any could hope for. Battle for Naboo is crammed full of extras that encourage multiple play-throughs. Medals are awarded for excellent performance, and earning these awards in each level unlocks bonus missions. New craft liberated in later missions are available for earlier levels the second time around. There are also a long list of hidden extras such as a music and art gallery, and even a bonus mission where you can pilot an AT-ST accessible through passcodes. Battle for Naboo is an excellent arcade shooter that is still enjoyable 8 years after purchase. On the PC market, there are virtually no competitors aside from Rogue Squadron and Starfighter, and of these only this game manages to incorporate intense ground assault missions. While the presentation is definitely not as startling as it was in 2001, this is one gem that is more than worth your while if you missed it the first time around.
