Star Wars Republic Commando

Every time a new Star Wars film comes out, I say to myself, "This [action sequence] would make for a great videogame." Then Star Wars Starfighter came out – it was good, but not great. Then Clone Wars came out – again, it's a good game, but not great. The next time my brain started to go to that "if only this were a videogame" place, I stopped myself before anticipation could be raised. Star Wars could make for a lot of great, must-play games, but the outcome is usually less rewarding than the concept we get excited about.

The bad luck streak ends with Star Wars Republic Commando. A well-designed first-person shooter with excellent levels, exciting missions, and several basic squad-based tactics, Republic Commando puts you in the shoes of a highly-skilled clone of Jango Fett. You control one and influence the others (not with Jedi mind tricks unfortunately). Referred to as Clonetroopers, these clones are a lot more intelligent than Attack of the Clones may have had you believe. And they're more fun to control than a barrel of Wookiees.

Starting at the end of Episode II, your mission begins with the republic commandos' (Clonetroopers) journey to Geonosis. Droids and alien bugs guard the parameter, dreaming of the day when they can sink their teeth into fresh clone flesh. Fighting makes up the bulk of the game. You have differing mission objectives, but you're a commando. It wouldn't be right if you spent your life serving humans by fixing broken ships. Isn't that what the droids are supposed to be doing?

“We’re ready for the Clone Wars. Are you?”

In every room and down nearly every corridor is a droid or some other adversary determined to terminate your mission. Interestingly, as easy as it is to die, it's possible to revive all three of your teammates. If you die, it's possible for them to revive you. The only time a Clonetrooper can't be revived is if you fall off a cliff (something that not even Senator Palpatine can survive), or if you and all of your teammates have been killed.

The first reaction to this feature might be one of skepticism and raised eyebrows, but it makes the game so much more intense. As battle droids and super battle droids zero in their targets (you and your teammates), you move as fast as you can, trying to stay covered while hoping to be able to revive your teammates. In some cases you can draw the enemies away from the area, luring them into a trap. When the area's clear you can return, revive your comrades and move forward. You don't always get this luxury. Ammo isn't always plentiful. There won't always be a republic gunship to save the day.

Instead of health packs, republic commandos use health terminals. I don't remember anything like this in the movies, but it appears that Clonetroopers never die, they just lose energy that must be replenished in order to continue functioning. Stormtroopers were never this reliable. It kind of makes you wonder why Darth Vader chose to go with them instead of a Grand Army of the Republic. We'll know on May 19th.

 
Do as you’re told! Disable it already!

The best thing about Republic Commando is the same thing that we praise when talking about Halo 2: the controls. They're so smooth, so polished. It's not like you're controlling a first-person shooter, it's more akin to a simulator that reacts perfectly to your every move. PC gamers might complain that the character movement is slower than many of the frantic, PC-exclusive titles, but the action is no less severe. It's no less intense or any less rewarding. If Bungie were to make a Star Wars game, its single-player mode would be very close to what LucasArts has created.

Squad commands are brief, reliable, and easy to execute. The D-pad is normally your weapon change function, but hold down the A button and it will allow you to give orders. The three standard maneuvers are: form up (follow the captain); secure area (stay within the area and fight all enemies); and search and destroy (aggressively pursue the objective and kill all enemies). You can also tell your teammates to focus their attention on one particular enemy. Icons appear whenever a specific action needs to be taken (example: you must blow up a few boulders to get to the next area). Press the A button while aiming at the icon and one of your teammates will do whatever is required. The same is true for health terminals.

Stormtroopers were never this sophisticated.

If there ever was a Star Wars shooter that was a must-own, this is it. Republic Commando combines the greatness of a high-quality first-person shooter with the coolness, greatness and overall Forcefulness of the Star Wars saga.

Gameplay: 9.0
Star Wars Republic Commando is no clone. It stars four clones, that's true. But the polished gameplay, the incredible environments (many of which were taken from the films), and the intricate dialogue between Clonetroopers is not something you experience everyday, not even from other Star Wars games. I'd like to give a big hand and an even bigger thanks to the programmers, testers, and everyone else who took the time to make the controls as perfect as they could possibly be. You'll want to thank them too the minute you feel The Force of Republic Commando.

Graphics: 9.0
Spectacular-looking environments from Episodes II and III. Every character, every animation, every background, etc., was superbly designed. The black and white "low light" visor effect is an awesome alternative to the green screen that's normally used for night vision goggles.

More impressive than all of that is when a scripted, real-time event occurs. Star Wars fans will go nuts for these.

Sound: 8.5
The music of the Saga; the voice-overs of Clonetroopers. Your ears won't be overwhelmed with amazement, but they won't go unsatisfied by the sounds of a galaxy far, far away.

Difficulty: Medium
Less challenging than Halo, and not nearly as difficult as other top-tier squad-based shooters, Republic Commando is a grand action game that was designed for all to enjoy. Everyone will beat it – only the pros will master it.

Concept: 8.5
(Opens cook book) Let's see, the recipe calls for lots of action, beautiful graphics, squad-based elements that don't take a century to learn, and control mechanics that are extremely polished. Hmmm, I don't know if I have all the right ingredients...

"Here, take this." (I'm handed a copy of Star Wars Republic Commando.)

Wow, this is incredible! It's got every listed ingredient! Thank you mysterious game-giving wizard!

"Anytime."

Multiplayer: 8.0
Split-screen multiplayer for four; online and system link for up to 20! Multiplayer environments look amazing and are pretty expansive. The combat isn't as varied or as intense as Halo (did you really expect it to be?), but it's still an entertaining way to share the fun with a friend (or 19 of them!).

Overall: 8.8
Although Star Wars Republic Commando's story centers on four key Clonetroopers, the whole galaxy is at war. You never know when you might see a droid flyer crash into a mountain, or see a republic gunship come to your rescue when the mission goes awry. While you're intently focused on your goals, many things happen that you have no control over. There are many sights (like the Death Star-type ships the Geonosians use) that you might not even notice. It's these elements, the great controls and non-stop droid blasting that make this one of the best Star Wars shooters ever made. It truly feels like a part of the Star Wars universe, and is a great way to stay strong with The Force until Episode III arrives.