Star Wars: The Clone Wars (GC)
By Susie Vee

Another Star Wars movie begets another Star Wars game. It’s a tale as old as the Empire itself. Fortunately for gamers, however, the last few years of Star Wars games have been almost universally excellent (Rogue Leader, Jedi Knight II) with only a few clunkers (Jedi Power Battles, The Phantom Menace).

The Clone Wars picks up right at the end of Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and follows the events that transpire after the end of the film. Based on the same basic game mechanics as the Starfighter series, most gamers will find The Clone Wars to be familiar territory, both graphically and control-wise.

This time around, you play as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan and Mace Windu --certainly a stellar cast if there ever was one. Besides the usual low-flying vehicles, you’ll also get to pilot hovertanks, which have a delightfully fluid hovercraft-like feel to them. In another break from the previous games in this genre, several levels take you out of the cockpit and let you run around, lightsaber in hand, slicing up battle droids as you go.

These levels are a welcome addition to the game, but the mechanics are almost identical to those of the giant vehicles, making for a somewhat awkward experience. It almost feels as if you’re piloting a tiny Mace Windu vehicle, instead of running around in our favorite Jedi’s shoes.

But these levels are few and far between. You’ll spend most of your time behind the wheel, so to speak, in a variety of Star Wars planets, including the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. The game is fast-paced and fun, with the only drawbacks being occasionally unclear objectives and a lack of a save-anywhere function, especially frustrating on some of the harder levels.

Graphically, The Clone Wars is a step down from the brilliant Rogue Leader, also for the GameCube, but still sports impressive lighting effects and detailed scenery.

If you’re familiar with the Starfighter/Rogue series, you know what this game is all about. If you’re in the mood to blast through giant Episode II inspired battles, you’ll love The Clone Wars. If the previous entries weren’t your speed, then you probably won’t be swayed by this one. While we have yet to see a Star Wars game with a female protagonist, The Clone Wars is a still a blast, and may be our only chance to wield the Force through a digital Samuel L. Jackson.

SCORE: 6.5