Video Game Review: Star Wars: Republic Commando (Xbox)
Republic Commando
XBOX
First-person squad-based shooter
What's it about?
You are the leader of a four-man squad of Clone Commandos. You are the Navy SEALS of the Clone Army. You go in, you perform high-stress, high-difficulty missions, and you come out with a joke to tell your buddies.
When does it take place?
Part one takes place during the Battle of Geonosis (from Episode II). Part two about a year later, and part three literally moments before Episode III begins.
Well, is it fun?
Hell, yeah! It's a lot of fun. You get to take care of every enemy the Separatists can throw at you--battle droids, droidekas, super battle droids, Trandoshan slavers, etc. You've got a full arsenal of weapons, each with its own interesting results.
Is it deep?
Are any first-person shooters? Seriously, the squad element makes for a whole new level of gameplay. What's interesting is that you find yourself actually caring about Sev, Scorch, and Fixer, so when they go down in battle, you will want to save them.
What's the replay value?
Moderate. The problem is that the missions are pretty linear, as is the gameplay. For example, after I beat it, I went back to have some fun. I tried killing Sev, Scorch, and Fixer, but every time I took out two of them, the third took me out. While this is interesting, it's not really flexible.
What's the difficulty?
Easy. I played it on Easy difficulty the first time around and breezed through it in two days. Maybe I'm spoiled by the 30/40 hour plus games of KOTOR, but I was kinda expecting a longer game.
Overall?
It's fun to play, but doesn't offer too much in flexibility. Wookiee are thrown in at the end for some interesting switch-ups, but otherwise it's pretty linear. Still, shooter fans and Star Wars fans alike will find something to like here.
4 out of 5
XBOX
First-person squad-based shooter
What's it about?
You are the leader of a four-man squad of Clone Commandos. You are the Navy SEALS of the Clone Army. You go in, you perform high-stress, high-difficulty missions, and you come out with a joke to tell your buddies.
When does it take place?
Part one takes place during the Battle of Geonosis (from Episode II). Part two about a year later, and part three literally moments before Episode III begins.
Well, is it fun?
Hell, yeah! It's a lot of fun. You get to take care of every enemy the Separatists can throw at you--battle droids, droidekas, super battle droids, Trandoshan slavers, etc. You've got a full arsenal of weapons, each with its own interesting results.
Is it deep?
Are any first-person shooters? Seriously, the squad element makes for a whole new level of gameplay. What's interesting is that you find yourself actually caring about Sev, Scorch, and Fixer, so when they go down in battle, you will want to save them.
What's the replay value?
Moderate. The problem is that the missions are pretty linear, as is the gameplay. For example, after I beat it, I went back to have some fun. I tried killing Sev, Scorch, and Fixer, but every time I took out two of them, the third took me out. While this is interesting, it's not really flexible.
What's the difficulty?
Easy. I played it on Easy difficulty the first time around and breezed through it in two days. Maybe I'm spoiled by the 30/40 hour plus games of KOTOR, but I was kinda expecting a longer game.
Overall?
It's fun to play, but doesn't offer too much in flexibility. Wookiee are thrown in at the end for some interesting switch-ups, but otherwise it's pretty linear. Still, shooter fans and Star Wars fans alike will find something to like here.
4 out of 5
