This is the first game I can remember that gives you a targeting computer.
There are a couple of new features introduced in Rogue Leader as well. I had a bit of a problem reading depth - it is easy enough to find the red dot, but since this is space, the enemy could either be below you or above you so you have to be alive from all angles. Often things are moving so fast you really don't have time even to look at your radar but it is nice when you are trying to locate a single enemy. You have fully functional radar which will help you position your craft and locate enemy targets. One of my biggest complaints with Starfighter was the lack of radar. The game gets pretty darn difficult and just making it to the end can be a chore, so it was nice to be able to continue with the game and come back later to complete the medals. One nice touch is the fact that you can complete a mission, not score a medal and still move on to the next mission. The medals give you points toward unlocking secrets in the game. Based off your scores in these categories, you are awarded medals. Upon successful completion of each mission, you are presented with a scoring summary screen that displays your mission time, enemies destroyed, shot accuracy, friendlies lost, lives lost and your targeting computer efficiency. And this is just the first mission!īeing mission-based like its predecessors, Rogue Leader also follows the same reward system. Finally, once you have cleared the TIEs, you make the trench run completed by dropping a proton torpedo down the exhaust shaft and blowing up the Death Star. Once this is accomplished, waves of TIE fighters attack you. Your first objective is to destroy all the laser towers that are providing surface-to-air fire. An example of a reenactment is the first mission you undertake (aside from the training mission). Some of the missions are a reenactment of famous scenes from the movies and others are missions designed specifically for the game. Once the objective is explained, you resume control of your craft and you are off to try to complete the mission. Upon completion of one objective, you will receive a radio transmission, often accompanied by a cutscene explaining your next objective. You will receive objectives on the fly throughout the mission. Much like the previous titles, Rogue Leader is a mission-based game.
You can really see bits and pieces of the previous games and how they have evolved into the masterpiece you will be playing on your GameCube. What this means is that LucasArts has had a lot of practice in honing their skills before creating Rogue Leader. There were also a couple of space combat games for the N64 that were widely regarded as being among the better games on the system. The most recent example of this is Starfighter for PlayStation 2. Everything from fighting to a first person shooter has been done, but the titles that have received the most praise are the flying/space combat games. Over the years, there have been a number of different Star Wars-based games released. All your favorite ships are in the game, and now the Rebel Alliance is counting on you to fight off the evil that has infected the galaxy and to show that you have what it takes to be the hero of the Rebellion. You will have the opportunity to play as Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles and recreate a number of memorable scenes from the Star Wars trilogy along with other random missions. Sometimes this can be dangerous because it leaves a lot of room for disappointment, but somehow I knew this game would not disappoint.įor those of you who have been living under a rock, Rogue Leader is the premiere launch title for the Nintendo GameCube. It was kind of like your first kiss the more time that passed, the more I built the game up in my mind. That being said, this game had a lot to live up to in my eyes. I was blown away by the incredible graphics, gameplay, sound, atmosphere and, most of all, the fact that the game was going to be a GameCube launch title. I fell in love with this game at first sight and have been counting down the minutes until launch ever since. 'Game of the show' from the 2001 E3 expo has finally arrived, and none too soon.
The event: The 2001 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).