Soapbox features allow our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random things they’re mulling over. Today, Jim celebrates Revenge of the Fifth with the return of DS…
You feel it, don’t you? A disturbance in the Force. On Coruscant, Darth Sidious called for Order 66 to be carried out, but perhaps more urgently, I finally found the opportunity to wax lyrical about the Star Wars prequels. It’s happening, people. Inner strap.
If yesterday (May 4) was Star Wars Day, then that makes today (Revenge of the Fifth) perfect – and, let’s admit it, only one — opportunity to talk about Volume III, the best Star Wars Movie. Yes, I said it.
Now, I’m all for the Republic, because democracySo I won’t hold it against you if you don’t feel the same way (hell, you wouldn’t be alone), but the point I have to take a stand on is about all things related to Revenge of the Sith The DS game, such a sweet combination that almost 20 years on, I still have the completely objective opinion that it might just be the pinnacle of all Star Wars games.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, there were as many movie tie-in games as there were Anakin’s midi-chlorians. It seems like in the GBA and DS era, no major movie could hit theaters without a rushed 2D platformer accompanying it. They were just a dime a dozen and have been long lost in the (rough, coarse and nasty) sands of time. But not Revenge of the Sith. Now here’s an example of linking done right.
Released on both the Game Boy Advance and DS, this Ubisoft Montpellier-led project is a 2D belt-scrolling game. generally follows the same narrative theme as the 2005 film. There was also a 3D action version released elsewhere, but those aren’t the consoles you’re looking for. For systems that concern us at Nintendo Life, you choose to play as Obi-Wan or Anakin and work your way through 13 levels of beat-em-up, lightsaber-swinging action. There are some minibosses sprinkled in there, and the dual-screen version even comes with some 3D battle scenes.
Thinking about it before this Star Wars weekend, I started to worry that perhaps this was as standard as all other relationships at the time. Could it be that my rose-tinted nostalgia for the game was born from my unabashed love for the movie? It’s a very real possibility and can only be tested after a period of intense scientific research (buying a copy online and staying up all night playing it to the end).
The results are in and this Padawan is right on the money. The game still slaps.
This may look like your standard Poodoo job from the outside, but underneath it has a surprising amount of depth. The controls are clear and responsive, the combat is surprisingly deep with plenty of special attacks learned along the way, and there’s a neat ability upgrade menu at the end of each level – a menu will certainly inspire the question ‘But is this an RPG? ‘-cause headaches if it were released today.
My surprise at how the game plays is one thing, but its looks bring me even more joy. Because of Qui-Gon’s beard, I didn’t anticipate how well the cartoon aesthetic would hold up! The sprites look amazing – something that cannot be said about the game 3D PS2/Xbox 360 clone — and every swing of the lightsaber is so full of personality that it puts some modern animation to shame. When can I actually play this content on my OLED screen?
As I breezed through the Anakin storyline, memories of my first playthrough came flooding back. The tank can only be defeated by deflecting Trooper attacks on it, additional bonuses are hidden in destructible parts of the level, my inability to pilot any Which ship has the Y-axis controls reversed (yes, me sure Still haven’t struggled with that one…).
The only thing missing is the absence of the game’s excellent multiplayer – an outgrowth of playing a 20-year-old DS game one evening as an adult, I suppose. It’s no surprise that I watched this replay as if I were a young boy again, but it made me long for 3D dogfights with my friends. Single-player flights are still fraught with danger, but nothing makes your palms sweat like the threat of transferring your DS to someone else if you die, to comply with the rules of a homemade winner’s tournament stay. Well, I used to actually plan my gaming nights.
The Obi-Wan side of things is… well, pretty much the same, with some obvious story tweaks to fit the film’s plot. But those are still two stories! Changes might just include ‘Do I fight General Grevious or Mace Windu?’ but it’s OK. It’s more than Star Wars. And Star Wars is good!
Look, the prequels have their problems, even I can accept that, but this tie-in isn’t one of them. If you’re a fan of the character arcs and their climactic lightsaber duels, then a DS throwback like this will welcome you with open arms. Conversely, if the cheesy dialogue and wooden acting make you long for a world without Jar-Jar, a good retelling like this might be enough to make you see the film’s merits .
I’m not saying blockbusters will return (although I would buy one Sand Dunes: Part Two beat them in a snap), but if you’re only going to play one game it should be this one. To this day, Revenge of the Sith on the DS is a (far) Must game.
Have you ever played this? Can you try picking it up now? Let us know in the comments.
