Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (video game)

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Developer(s)	The Collective, Inc., Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher(s)	LucasArts, Ubisoft SA
Engine	Slayer
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Mobile Phone, Handheld TV game
Release date(s)	May 5, 2005 (2005-05-05)
Genre(s)	Science fiction
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T (PS2, Xbox), E10+ (GBA, NDS)

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith is the official LucasArts 2005 video game based on the movie of the same name. It centers around Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as the Clone Wars come to an end. It was released on May 5, 2005, for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Additionally, a version was made available for mobile phones on April 2, 2005.

Gameplay

The player controls Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the single player mode, reliving various scenes from the film through the game's missions. There are 17 levels, interlaced with over 12 minutes of footage from the movie. Enemies include droids, clone soldiers and Neimodian forces.

The game's combat system is heavily concentrated on lightsaber combat. Each of the playable characters (with the exception of the IG-100 Magnaguard) is equipped with at least one lightsaber. There are three basic attacks: Fast attacks which do the least amount of damage, Strong Attacks which do more damage but are slower to execute, and the slowest but strongest Critical Attacks. These attacks can be mixed to create combination attacks. Attacks can also be charged up for greater strength. One feature of the game is called a Saber Lock - a sequence in which the player's character clashes swords with an opponent. Other offensive maneuvers are also available, including grapples, jumps and flying kicks.

All playable characters in the game, with the exception of General Grievous and his Magnaguards, have an additional status bar of Force Energy (General Grievous has this bar, but utilizes it for his special, non-Force maneuvers).

Each ability, with the exception of the Force Dash, can be upgraded to more powerful levels. The game features an experience system, whereby the player's character can upgrade attacks and gain new ones as the player progresses through the game.

In addition to offensive techniques, defensive techniques are also available. The player's character automatically deflects a percentage of blaster bolts, but other shots and attacks must be manually deflected. Aside from saber combat and force powers, each character has a number of physical attacks that can be incorporated into combos. Nearly all characters have a kick which can instantly floor opponents. A number of characters also have the ability to punch their opponents.

The game environment is interactive, allowing, and in some cases requiring, the player to interact with the in-game environment, including moving and destroying objects with the lightsaber or force powers.^[1]

Additional missions

With the successful completion of certain missions in the single player campaign, bonus scenarios can be unlocked. Each scenario features a different character. General Grievous' Bodyguard (IG-100 series), General Grievous, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader each have scenarios.

In addition, there are four cooperative missions in which two players (or one play and a cpu) can work together to defeat enemies. The first few team up Anakin and Obi-Wan for a number of offensive encounters with the droid army, while the fourth has Jedi Master Cin Drallig and his favorite student, Serra Keto, come together to defeat the clone squadron bent on destroying the Jedi Temple. There is no bonus for completing these missions.

Multiplayer mode

The game also features a multiplayer duel mode, in which two players face off against each other. Players can choose Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Mace Windu, Cin Drallig, or Serra Keto. Darth Vader, and "Ben Kenobi", circa Episode IV can also be unlocked for this mode. If you are "Ben Kenobi" there is a move for surrendering , in which Ben holds up the lightsaber in a vertical manner, like in Star Wars IV: New Hope. This immediately kills you. Alternate versions of all the players (except Yoda who is only playable in one bonus level called "Size matters not.") are playable in multiplayer duel mode as well.

Each battle can be won with either the best of one, three or five rounds, depending on the options chosen. In addition, all characters have equal health and energy, with all status upgrades acquired by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi eliminated to balance the fight against the other opponents. However, all of the upgraded techniques and Force Powers are available and each of the other characters has special abilities and maneuvers.

In addition to the original costumes found throughout the Single Player campaign, each character has a different costume that is used when each player chooses the same character. Some of these costumes depict Sith versions of certain Jedi characters.

Plot

The game's plot largely mirrors the film upon which it is based. However, there are some key differences between the game and the film.

Some scenes and battles from the film are extended in the game. In the game, more of the Jedi are slaughtered during Order 66, because you play as Anakin, exterminating Knights and Padawan alike. The first Jedi to die at the Temple are the guards by the door, whom Vader Force chokes so he can pass through.

The following events were expanded for the game:

• The search for the Chancellor on the battleship.
• The search for General Grievous on Utapau
• Obi-Wan Kenobi's final confrontation with Grievous
• Anakin Skywalker's betrayal of Mace Windu (After finishing this mission, Anakin gains the ability to use Force Lightning, an ability he is unable to use in the movie because he doesn't have any hands.)
• Darth Vader's destruction of the Jedi Temple
• Obi-Wan's escape from Utapau
• Darth Vader's pursuit and assassination of the Separatist Leadership on Mustafar
• Obi-Wan Kenobi's and Yoda's infiltration of the compromised Jedi Temple

The game also differs from the film in other ways. The game shows Jocasta Nu's death sequence. Nu is killed when Vader orders her to provide access to the signal beacon, and she resists. She ignites her saber only to be lifted into the air by a Force Grip. Vader then ignites his lightsaber and pulls her towards it, impaling her and killing her instantly.

In the film, Padmé Amidala is a main driving force of Anakin's turn to the dark side, yet the game almost completely omits her. She is mentioned only once, near the end, when during combat in the Control Room, Anakin shouts to Obi-Wan: "You turned Padmé against me" (though, depending on how the final confrontation is played, the line may or may not be said).

The game also excludes battles featured in the film. No space combat scenario is available and Mace Windu's duel with Chancellor Palpatine, Yoda's escape from Kashyyyk and Yoda's confrontation with Palpatine were also omitted.

When Obi Wan and Anakin encounter Count Dooku on General Grievous's ship, Dooku says to Obi Wan and Anakin "Just because there are two of you, do not assume you have the advantage." The line was omitted from the film's final release and isn't included in any of the DVD's special features.

Alternate Ending

In another break from the film's plot, the video game also features an alternate ending. In the final level of the game, titled "The Ultimate Revenge of the Sith", the player is given the opportunity to play as Vader and the chance to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi. After slaying his former master, Anakin returns to Darth Sidious and obtains a new Sith lightsaber. Acting quickly, Vader kills his new master and declares himself ruler of the galaxy.

Development and other versions

The game was aided in development by Nick Gillard, the stunt coordinator and lightsaber fight trainer for The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. In fact, Nick Gillard's own character from the movie, Cin Drallig, appears in the game as a boss. Also to get an idea of, and to perfect his moves, Hayden Christensen helped the developers on the character of Anakin.

The Nintendo DS version is a port of the GBA version, with the exception of shooting sections and the touch-screen controls which are not included in the GBA version. The alternate ending was removed from the DS and GBA versions as well.

A Nintendo Gamecube version was planned, but cancelled for unknown reasons.

Reception

Most versions of the game received mixed reviews by the media. For example, IGN rated the PS2 version poorly, stating, "(Star Wars Episode III:) Revenge of the Sith is the path to the dark side. It leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering,"^[2] while GameSpot rated it fair,^[3] and GameSpy rated it as "good,".^[4] X-Play gave it a 3/5.

Cast

The Revenge of the Sith game utilized much of the cast of the 2003 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars. Additionally, stock footage of the actors from the films appeared in many of the game's cinematics. Alethea McGrath reprised her role as Jocasta Nu from Attack of the Clones, while Matthew Wood reprised his role of General Grievous from the film.

References

1. ^ http://guides.ign.com/guides/678085/index.html
2. ^ "IGN's Review". http://ps2.ign.com/articles/610/610501p1.html. Retrieved 2007-06-13. 
3. ^ "GameSpot's review". http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/starwarsepisodeiii/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review. Retrieved 2007-06-13. 
4. ^ "GameSpy's Review". http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/star-wars-episode-iii/. Retrieved 2007-06-13. 

External links

• Star Wars Games wikia
• Official site