For a game that was released back in 2001 a few months after the PlayStation 2 was launched to the rest of the world, Star Wars: Starfighter was one of the first Star Wars games to be released on that system. With Star Wars Episode I being a success in cinemas back in 1999 Starfighter takes places around the same time as the movie based on the battle of Naboo where the Trade Federation invades the planet. Following the story of three pilots prior to and during the invasion of Naboo; Naboo Starfighter pilot Rhys Dallows, mercenary Vana Sage and Freeorin pirate Nym.
Straight away you could tell that this feels like a pilot simulation game which was a clever idea to see in a Star Wars game the only other time we've seen games like this piloting a fighter is only in arcades, Star Wars: Starfighter plays pretty well it could have been a good launch title if it was released around the same time as the PlayStation 2. You have two choices on playing this game either in first-person mode make it feel like you are piloting a fighter but if you play it in third-person mode it still can be a fun either way, using the analog sticks to fly around but the controls can feel a little awkward at first but are easily ignored after clearing the first mission. R2 is to boost, L2 to use brake, Triangle to target opponents near you, R1 to use sniper view, Circle to use Secondary weapon and of course either using L1 or X to fire primary weapons.
For a game that was released in 2001 it holds up today and shows Star Wars fans how far the franchise has come when it comes to jumping on to the next-gen consoles. The graphics and visuals look detailed at the time making it look similar to Episode I but the camera angle can really be fiddly and can feel a little cramped especially when it comes to tight corners and areas when it comes to mountains and missions and planets. The space missions can be fun as well but the whole game can give you a little headache if you keep flying around using the analog sticks but it does feel like a good pilot simulation game at the same time which is pretty clever for something coming out of LucasArts.
Another thing that makes Starfighter enjoyable is that you get the classic Star Wars soundtrack which was composed by John Williams hearing Duel of the Fates does fit in really well in Starfighter. Once you've beaten the main campaign depending on what difficulty you play it on you can easily unlock two player after clearing the game first time. But you can easily finish the main campaign within a day which can feel a little short for a Star Wars game, it does offer replay value and challenges through each of the missions which can unlock extra content.
If you can handle the odd glitches and bad camera angles during gameplay its worth having a look into if you're a Star Wars fan and wanting a decent space battle game its worth the play-through plus cheap to pick up for the PlayStation 2. It might not be the best shooter-pilot game but it'll remain as that forgotten title but it pretty much falls under the average which has its good and bad moments.