Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike (GameCube)

When flying a speeder bike through the forests of Endor the sensation of being there, and being there at great speed, is just phenomenal. Likewise, stomping around in a scout walker blowing up stormtroopers and getting Ewoks to set traps is just as exhilarating. Unfortunately a number of sections where you have to walk around on foot are fairly appalling, with some of the later platform based mission with Luke Skywalker being particularly risible.

In fact, in terms of the single-player mode Rebel Strike is a considerable step down from its predecessor in terms of enjoyment. So it's a relief then that the multi-player modes are so well stocked and enjoyable. There's a cooperative mode that allows you to replay every level from the GameCube's first Rogue Squadron game, but with a friend. Barrelling down a photo-realistic Death Star trench with a wingman is worth the price of admission alone and will have even the most cynical fan heaving with excitement--even more so when they find that there are a bunch of special deathmatch and capture-the-flag levels to play as well. Rebel Strike is very much a game of two halves, but if you can play it with a friend it's got a lot to offer. --David Jenkins

Now, the reason for this is bizarre. The 1st flight mission you are put into, revenge of the empire, takes place at the rebel base on yavin, and after you have got the rather extensive intro movie out of the way you are thrust into a gorgeous battle above the trees of Yavin, flack and ties everywhere. This lasts for about 2 minutes, as you have a completely simple objective, then resumes another long movie and you do the same thing again! Desperately wanting to break out and participate in this amazing game around you. It doesn't bode well for the rest of the game, and this theme continues...The best ever flight missions of any Star Wars game ever thrust under your nose and whipped away again, Factor 5 choosing to serve up ridiculous and AWFUL on foot missions instead.

Ah, those on foot missions, unless it's knights of the old republic, don't bother. These sections are perhaps the most dire attempts at a game I have ever seen. The characters move pathetically, it is impossibly easy to rush around in circles, blasting all enemies before you in an amusing fashion...It just seems that they were put in to show that Factor 5 are always on the ball, coming up with new things, they had...The flight sections are improved and are fantastic beyond belief...But by putting in these stupid on foot missions, and making too many Metal Gear Solid-esque long cut-scenes, this game becomes more average than expected.

Such a shame


(Not) The best sequel I've ever seen?   October 9, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Did anyone have great expectations from Factor 5 and Lucas Arts when they announced that Rebel Strike was in the making? I certainly did. Now it seems that they dropped the ball, and have considerably lowered the standards of the game. Excellent craft and backgrounds, definitely. It puts all other console graphics in the shade. But the game itself has been a bit of a let-down. The main reason, I reckon, was that with Rogue Leader, the levels all involved being able to star in the films, to really be there taking out the Death Star, to feel the thrill of knocking down a walker, and to sit back in pride after taking all that a Star Destroyer can chuck at you and live to tell the tale. Nearly every single level could relate to the films. But Rebel Strike went a bit too far and made up most of them, taking the familiarity and thrill away a little too much. The levels themselves are excellent, but in most of them you're too limited for available craft.

And why the on-foot sections? I reckon that in the Rogue Squadron series, you weren't ever mean to leave you're craft. It's no fun and involves no skill, as the gun aims automatically. On a game like Metroid Prime, lock-on is acceptable as you're doing so much other stuff at the same time. But in this, you just hammer A as you run in whichever direction you're supposed to go. True, taking control of an AT-AT and chicken walkers is great fun, but why bother walking?! It adds a lot of tedium to what should be an improvement to the old games, and frankly it's kind of a disappointment.

Multi-player? Now that's a different story. The game could be worth getting solely for it. There's nothing like going for the Death Star with a friend to guard your back. There are also endless availabilities for other types of VS gaming: Rampages, Tag and Defend, or simply take out your opponent.

All in all, it's still a good game, but if you don't have any Star Wars fans in the near vicinity, you're in for a pretty boring time walking around shooting stormtroopers.


The Force is Strong with this one   August 5, 2004
R. Hamilton
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Or Rogue Squadron III for those that have played these games since the first one appeared on the N64 about five years ago. For those people like myself that have suffered the many, and mostly extremely disappointing Star Wars games since the peak of X-Wing and Tie Fighter will find something to cheer here. Great graphics, great missions, loads of hidden bonus's and fantastic sound. For the first time in a Rogue Squadron game, you get to go outside of the confines of the ships and run around blasting Stormtroopers as well as blowing up AT-AT's a la The Empire Strikes Back. There is even a two-player game that allows you and a friend to fly co-operative missions on all of the levels from Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II. This is worth buying on it's own. You can even open up the original 3D Star Wars game from the early 1980's as well as it's little known Empire Strikes Back follow up which is a very nice touch. There are some minor grips. A couple of the levels are far too difficult to complete even without trying to attain one of the reward medals and some of the voice over actors sound nothing like the originals, but as I said, these are only minor. This is a great game and well worth purchasing. It is a shame that it is only on the Game Cube because it does deserve a much wider audience.