Battle Royale
What's your take on Star Wars? Is
it a richly detailed modern parable whose universe just keeps getting bigger
and better with each new cinematic and videogame spinoff? Or is it like a
wheezing old relative who keeps trotting out the same old anecdotes but, due to
failing memory, these anecdotes differ slightly each time he splutters his way
through them?
If you're of the latter opinion
we would suggest you look elsewhere for your next PSP purchase. If on the other
hand Star Wars remains an intriguing and entertaining prospect, here's yet
another reason to get excited.
The Brothers Clone
The Battlefront series – there
have been five previous games on multiple platforms – enables players to take
part in key battles across the Star Wars universe and influence actual
conflicts from all six episodes of the long-running saga.
Elite Squadron features a substantial single-player campaign that follows the
trials and tribulations of a clone trooper called X2.
Elite Squadron (the third
Battlefront game on PSP) features a substantial single-player campaign that
follows the trials and tribulations of a clone trooper called X2. He was
originally tasked with destroying Jedi under Order 66 (stop us if you've heard
this one before) but decides to give up this unsavoury career and instead joins
the Rebellion. Unfortunately, while X2 follows a path of righteousness, his
clone brother, X1, takes a darker turn. This, as you could probably have predicted,
leads to an almighty confrontation.
Aeriel Assault
As with previous Battlefront
games, the action largely plays out in a third-person fashion, with
players getting stuck right into the
battling on foot and in various vehicles. The difference here is that for the
first time you can conduct your campaign over multiple arenas so you can go
from battling on foot to commandeering a vahicle and continuing in that way. Or
perhaps start off in a dogfight in space before landing and continuing the
assault onboard a starship itself.
Start off in a dogfight in space before landing and continuing the assault
onboard a starship itself.
Fans of the series will be
delighted by the inclusion of the Heroes and Villains mode first seen in
Battlefront II. This is just part of an impressive multi-player package that
delivers 16-player battles and in-depth stat tracking (mmm... stats). And who
wouldn't be over the moon at the prospect of playing the part of any number of
well-known Star Wars characters? These include Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader,
Boba Fett, Kit Fisto and Darth Maul as well as characters from previous Star
Wars games Renegade Squadron and The Force Unleashed.
There's also a breathtaking range
of customisation options available for added replay value. Players will be able
to build characters from the ground up assigning species, gender, appearance,
physical attributes, armour and weapon combinations as well as unlocking
additional weapons and objects that will add more versatility to their
capabilities in battle.
Far from being a disposable bit
of casual handheld gaming, Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is very much a
Star Wars game on a truly galactic scale. Who knows? Maybe even those whose
faith in the saga has lapsed might find the breadth of options here irresistible.
GAME's Verdict
- Meaty campaign mode
- Fight on foot, in vehicles and in
space
- Loads of characters
- Great multi-player options
- It's Star Wars, wahay!
Review by: Simon 'Boba Fatt'
Kirrane
Version Tested: PSP
Review Published: 11.11.09