3. Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II
Release Date: Nov. 9, 2001
Platform: GameCube (exclusive)
Buy here: GameStop ($2.99)
Personally I think Rogue Squadron II is the best Star Wars console space sim on the market.
Originally released for Nintendo’s GameCube, this particular dogfighter is pretty much everything you’d ever want in a space sim: enthralling ship-to-ship combat across iconic battles in the series canon, a huge assortment of ships, and challenging gameplay.
This game had it all: amazingly fluid maneuverability across seven different ships including A-Wings, B-Wings, Y-Wings, X-Wings, the t-16 Skyhopper and even the legendary Millennium Falcon.
From the laser-filled trenches of the Death Star to the nebulous orange glow of Bespin, LucasArts let players jump into the cockpit of the renown Rogue Squadron to tackle the most high-priority missions in the war itself. The GameCube’s controller was incredibly well suited for the game, and controls were outstanding, with everything pretty much being where it should be.
Dogfighting was utter chaos. Space battles in this game were as close as we ever got to those epic wide-scale laser battles featured in the films. There was so much happening all around you that it really pulled you into the atmosphere, especially if you stayed in the cockpit view.
Although I’ve enjoyed a lot of my time with this game, I do have to say it’s quite tedious and challenging. Those protect missions can be downright brutal, and Prisoners of the Maw still haunts me to this day. The Battle of Hoth was a joy to relive, and all in all this game serves as one of the most faithful titles in the Star Wars games library.
2. Battlefront 2
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2005
Platform: PS2, PSP, Xbox, PC
Buy Here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/6060/ ($2.99)
Battlefront 2 is one of the most memorable wide-scale games of conquest around, and fits perfectly within its own specific niche in the Star Wars games library. Where some games took place only in the skies or telling personal stories of famous Jedis, this series tackled the everyday rigors that soldiers faced in the galactic war.
Although the original Battlefront had a number of awesome mechanics–up to 64 players in online battles, flyable ships on planetside missions, great AI and it had Bespin–the sequel carved out its own refinements including more diverse game modes, space combat and a more dynamic story mode.
Plus Battlefront 2 has playable hero characters, including Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.
The combat was incredibly addictive and fun, featuring a mix of third-person and first-person shooter elements. It was quite enjoyable being able to respawn as soldier fodder and blast away baddies over and over, using a variety of weapons and tactics to your advantage.
Battlefront 2 takes players on a branching military campaign across both sides of the war–Republic and Empire–that traverses many key points of the galaxy. Players get to visit many planets including Dagobah, Tattooine, Hoth, Chewie’s homeworld of Kashyyk, Naboo and Kamino as they vie for dominance in a ruthless series of skirmishes and battles.
Sadly we won’t ever be able to play those epic 32-man Battlefront 2 online sessions, thanks to GameSpy yanking its servers, but its sprawling story mode is still available. And you can always start up a LAN session with some friends.
1. Knights of the Old Republic
Release Date: July 15, 2003
Platform: Xbox, PC
Buy Here: Steam ($2.99)
Knights of the Old Republic merges the realms of open-world RPG’s, d20-style tabletop games, and the winding mysticism of Star Wars.
For the first time players were treated to a massively fleshed out role-playing experience that was tailored to their own specific choices and preferences, with BioWare flexing their RPG mastery at full tilt. The game is a profoundly personal experience that delves deep into the universe’s expansive canon, touching on histories and events beyond the films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBjxiUVJsu4
One of the most memorable elements of KotoR was it’s combat system. Rather than traditional J-RPG style or even real-time combat, this game featured a unique round-based system based on “rolls” of a dice. This framework was built using Dungeons and Dragons style rulesets.
The RPG mechanics are incredibly profound, featuring a massive amount of content that culminates in hundred-hour long playthroughs.
Players can build and customize their very own Jedi with a webwork of dynamic skills based on Dark and Light sides, a huge assortment of weapons that match different proficiency skillsets, and a winding story arc that unfolds with eye-opening surprises.
Ultimately Knights of the Old Republic stands as one of the most memorable Star Wars games of all time, and serves as a major testament to the universe’s depth and significance in the sci-fi realm.
