Star Wars: Clone Wars -- better than I thought

[+kisrael]

I guess maybe seeing a TIVO'd set of the "Clone War" cartoons, I was motivated to go back to Clone Wars for PS2. Originally, I had only bought it because it was the only $50 PS2 game of any interest (besides GTA:VC) that I need to get a certain package deal at EB. Back when I got it, for some reason it just didn't click with me; I mean, I kind of like "Tank games", but this game just seemed confusing and difficult to control.

 

But now...I just finished it. It's actually an excellent game, maybe even on par with the latest Rogue Squadron game for GC. Actually, there are a lot of similarities, letting the player pilot speederbikes as well as scout-like walkers, as well as ground based combat. Though Clone Wars knew enough to keep the running around to a minimum, and using big force attacks and a lightsaber feels less Robotrony than using a blaster in Rebel Strike (an elegant weapon of a more civilized age, indeed)

 

Of course, Clone Wars has as disadvantage relative to any game set during the "original Trilogy", in that I inherently give more of a damn about X-wings and the like than the stuff that happened in the prequels. But I have to say, between the cartoons and this, I'm a lot more intrested than I was in the period and am more looking forward to the third film....which I woulda seen anyway, but still.

 

Clone Wars is a bit grittier than some other arcade-y Star Wars fighters. It has a cool "there are actually giant-ass armies" vibe to it, that only a few missions in the Rogue Squadron series got (esp. Rogue Leader's Battle of Endor.)

 

Music is good too...I like how the winning fanfare is the same one they use in the original arcade game. Other nice touches like the cool (if sometimes a little niggling) targetting and a very good variety of enemy types...not so many that they all seem the same, nor too few that they all seem the same, each one has different roles.

 

Oh, plus good difficulty--the Padawan level is challenging in spots, not too bad in most, and it has two increased difficulty levels that I heard are pretty tough. A good checkpoint system to boot.

 

Haven't done much with multiplayer.

 

Man...between Jet Set Radio Future and this, Xbox (I assume it's largely the same game) really knows how to pick their packins...

[Avid Fan]

I've been wanting to play this for a while. My brother is getting an X-box for christmas, and thats one of the games it comes with. I cant wait to give it a try. Its a 20 dollar title for GC and I'm gonna need some GC games after christmas, I dont think that Zelda disc will hold me over

[+kisrael]

I've been wanting to play this for a while. My brother is getting an X-box for christmas, and thats one of the games it comes with. I cant wait to give it a try. Its a 20 dollar title for GC and I'm gonna need some GC games after christmas, I dont think that Zelda disc will hold me over

I think the first GameCube Rogue Squadron game (Rogue Leader) is now in the $20 range, or at least used. Assuming you're a fan of the original series, I'd recommend that before/along with Clone War.

[liveinabin]

Yeah. Clone Wars is alright. It just won't keep your interest for very long. It's a 'finish once and sell' game. Some of the levels are great fun (anything involving the Gunships) and some are terrible (most of the 'on-foot- sections).

[+kisrael]

Yeah. Clone Wars is alright.  It just won't keep your interest for very long.  It's a 'finish once and sell' game.  Some of the levels are great fun (anything involving the Gunships) and some are terrible (most of the 'on-foot- sections).

yeah, 'on-foot' seems to be the curse of many a primarily-vehicle based Star Wars game.

 

I'm tempted to go back and try my hand at more of the challenges though.

[Avid Fan]

I only played the Rogue Squadron 1 demo for PC, but I remember that it F'ing rocked. How does the GCN graphics on Rogue Squadron compare to the original Rogue Squadron for PC. I've actually never even played a GCN, but I know I'm getting one in a week. They say the graphics are better than a PS2, which is good enough for me. But there are 7 year old games for PC that I think stand up even to the X-Box (Yes, I've played an X-box)

[shep]

Clone Wars wasnt bad, alittle rushed and short, but it gave me something to do over the holiday season last year....

[+kisrael]

I only played the Rogue Squadron 1 demo for PC, but I remember that it F'ing rocked. How does the GCN graphics on Rogue Squadron compare to the original Rogue Squadron for PC. I've actually never even played a GCN, but I know I'm getting one in a week. They say the graphics are better than a PS2, which is good enough for me. But there are 7 year old games for PC that I think stand up even to the X-Box (Yes, I've played an X-box)

I'm not sure if I saw Rogue Squadron for PC, but judging by some screenshots on IGN, they're very similar to the N64, but higher-rez. And GC Rogue was a very significant improvement over N64's. In particular, it's the first arcady Star Wars game I'd seen that can throw enough ships at you to give you that "There's too many of them!" sense the guy yells about before the Battle of Endor.

 

While Rogue Squadron 3 was a bit of a letdown (though not terrible) Rogue Squadron 2 ("Rogue Leader") was undeniabley brilliant, fun, and is now cheap. If you're getting a GC, and you're at all interested in Star Wars or "starfighter games", it's a must have.

 

Rogue Squadron 3 ("Rebel Strike") was...eh, ok. The missions on foot were terrible, but riding the speeder bike and scout walker were both fun, and there were some very decent fighter missions. Plus, if you have a gaming buddy, it has every mission from Rogue Squadron 2, but in 2 player mode only. But 3 is still expensive; get 2, and if you love it, think about 3.

[Gregory DG]

Anyone watching the latest episodes? I've seen up to episode 17 now. They're pretty good, but they don't have the same impact as the first 10 episodes (because they were new.)

 

Darn Lucas for not making it a half-hour show...

 

Spoiler:

 

In Episode 17, is that Yavin 4 that Anakin lands on? Of course the lightsabre fight begins right as the episode ends.... Sigh...

[shep]

I have only seen one of the Clone Wars eps. Im just going to wait until they are on DVD.

[liveinabin]

I've got them on my HD. For some reason, episode 16 just wont play from the Star Wars site. Wierd. Ah well, their site is buggy at the best of times and they've handily omitted to give any technical problems email contact address. Dumb asses.

 

I like the newer episodes though, episode 17 is great. It's really getting moving now.

[Gregory DG]

I like the newer episodes though, episode 17 is great.  It's really getting moving now.

Heh, now that it's practically over it "gets moving!"

 

I've read that the last episode is double length.

[liveinabin]

When I've got them all, I'm going to edit them into one continous movie. They don't really work as shorts.

[Dan Iacovelli]

this was posted in another topic but: all the episodes can be found on cartoon network's website Star wars:clone wars site

 

and it does look like it goes fastyer then the first 11 chapters (I just watched chapter. 16 looks verry good)

[+kisrael]

this was posted in another topic but: all the episodes can be found on cartoon network's website Star wars:clone wars site

The minigames on that site are worth checking out.

[Dan Iacovelli]

this was posted in another topic but: all the episodes can be found on cartoon network's website Star wars:clone wars site

The minigames on that site are worth checking out.

 

I played one of them they are good to play

[Jasoco]

We rented the Cube version of Clone Wars a while ago. I didn't play. My brother did. But I am tempted to get the dual disc version because I'm after Tetris Worlds. So I may have to give this one a try eventually.

[figgler]

I have this for Cube and dig it a lot. Considering it's value priced, well worth checking out. Gamplay is fast and fun and the cinemas (which I generally can live without) are pretty cool as well

[Avid Fan]

I just bought this game the other day for 15 bucks new. This game rocks. People shouldn't compare this to Rogue Squadron, its just not fair. My brother told me this game sucked (he got it w/ his x-box) but I love it. Except, every single SW game with speeder bikes, I get stuck on the speeder bike level (Rebel Assault 2, Rebel Strike, ROTJ Arcade)

[Shannon]

Rogue 3 has all of the 2 levels with co-op play? Sounds fun.

 

3 is selling for $30 btw which is not half-bad.

 

Yeah clone wars is pretty amazing graphically. Bounty Hunter is not half bad if you can get past the bugs and crappy camera system.

[Avid Fan]

I absolutely loved Bounty Hunter. I hope they make a sequal which takes place in the original trilogy era, with Boba Fett this time around. Bounty Hunter kicks ass

[Gregory DG]

The final chapter of Clone Wars is up at CartoonNetwork.com. Man, that Grievous is a bad mofo. Guess we'll have to wait until Episode III to see Anakin and/or Obi-Wan take him out (assuming they do.)

 

One thing I caught at the end. Yoda says something that might indicate the title for Episode III....

 

The Coming Storm? Or maybe it was The Gathering Storm? Either way, I hope that's not the title!

[figgler]

We're getting a bit out of the video game realm here, but Star Wars kicks ass, so hey why not.

 

I highly doubt that that'll be the new title. Did you catch the rerun of the Simpsons last night? In mocking the Phantom Menace they had renamed it the Gathering Storm. Of course you never know what George will come up with

 

BTW - Bounty Hunter does rule. Especially if you are right into SW lore and such. The detail and the characters etc are like crack to a hardcore SW geek

[+kisrael]

Oh, btw, thanks to whoever mentioned that all 20 cartoons are up; i *really* enjoyed them.

 

Heh, I wonder if something like the Clone Wars game could work with Cel-da style graphics in the spirit of these cartoons??

 

I really enjoyed the vehicle and character design, except for the fact that not only did the bad guys have "knights" with lances...which I'd be willing to accept, but they were met by clone troopers on speederbikes. ok. But also with lances?? C'mon, they shoulda just been firing pistols. (Also their bikes front seemed to have the deisgn from their helmets...it wasn't cool when Samus Aran's ship in Metroid looked like her helmet, and it's not cool now.)

 

That Seismic Tank was da bomb, though.

[figgler]

Heh, I wonder if something like the Clone Wars game could work with Cel-da style graphics in the spirit of these cartoons?

 

I'd kick a dying old lady for a game like that. I wonder how popular the cartoons are outisde the SW community... if there is enough demand, I'm Lucasarts can churn one out, despite their downward spiral