Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Review

by Scott Alan Marriott

If Super Mario 64 was the bait that lured millions of gamers into purchasing the Nintendo 64, it was the promise of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire that made them stick by their machine even despite the lack of software. Before this game made its debut, the 64-bit system had a total of six titles on the shelves. So it was hoped that the "quality over quantity" attitude expressed by Nintendo would mean the game was well worth the wait.

One look at the picture on the back of the system's box helped ease the pain of having nothing new to play. After all, the chance to pilot a Snowspeeder in the middle of a 3D Hoth was something that would not be lost on the Star Wars faithful. While scenes of tripping up AT-ATs played in their heads, little was known about the rest of the game, other than it would adopt several different methods of play.

When it finally came out on December 3, 1996 gamers immediately flocked to it, partly because each new cartridge was a crumb to a starving population, and partly to see if it lived up to expectations. The first level certainly didn't disappoint. Players could skim above Hoth's snowy surface to shoot at Probe Droids, AT-ATs and AT-STs. Laser blasts sounded exactly like those from the Star Wars movies, and being able to fly underneath the legs of a stomping Imperial walker was a beautiful thing to behold.

Subsequent levels lost their luster for those expecting to relive other classic scenes, however. Of course, the issue involved Shadows of the Empire having no real ties to the trilogy, other than a story that happens along the same time frame. That means Luke, Han, Chewie or Darth Vader aren't available as playable characters, although Dash is as close to Han Solo as you can get without the black leather vest and holster. So after the amazing first level, which really puts you into the action like no other Star Wars game before it, we suffer a slight letdown.

The game is primarily played from a third-person perspective from behind Dash Rendar, so the following level involves exploring Echo Base armed only with a laser blaster. This is fine except for one thing: there's not much to shoot at. Despite some sharp Snowtroopers and Wampas here and there, enemies are mysteriously absent.

The shooting sequences are also rather boring, probably due to the less involving third-person perspective. This means there's no aiming required as you press the button a few times to take care of the few threats (who are about as intelligent as a frozen Tauntaun). The level ends up being a hunt for switches so you can continue moving through the base to reach the final boss character.

Things pick up a little during the Outrider stage, where you control the gun turrets to shoot down TIE Fighters like the scene in Star Wars where Luke takes aim from inside the Millennium Falcon: "Try not to get too cocky, kid." Although this sequence offers some fun, it is little more than a point-and-click exercise similar to those found in the Star Wars: Rebel Assault CD-ROM games. You can't fly the ship, so you're just along for the ride.

After this little trip into outer space, players are once again controlling Dash on the ground. Most of the action here involves jumping and ducking to avoid getting knocked off a moving train. While there are a few enemies to blast, the focus is more on knowing when to jump from car to car. The level concludes with a battle against the formidable IG-88 atop an enormous pile of trash.

The other levels range from fun (the fast-moving Swoop Bike) to annoying (the foggy Gall Spaceport which relies on jumping from rock platform to rock platform before culminating in an extremely difficult encounter with Boba Fett). While none of the levels really match the enjoyment factor of the first (well, except maybe the last), the game still has enough going for it to make you want to finish each scene. If nothing else, the different styles of gameplay break up the monotony.

Still, the game should have been better. The most disappointing aspect is the third-person levels, which make up the bulk of the game. Had LucasArts attempted a first-person shooter closer to their Star Wars: Dark Forces on the PC, the result would have been something more deserving of the Force. Fans of Star Wars will still want to check this game out if only to get a taste for the opening and ending sequences (the only two flying segments in the game), but the rest ends up being passable entertainment that doesn't really deserve a permanent spot in your library.