PS2 Game Review: Star Wars Starfighter

LucasArts' reputation for quality games has been under question during the past few years. Ever since the highly successful debut of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, LucasArts has been rapidly churning out low quality titles based on this popular franchise. With Starfighter, however, LucasArts has redeemed itself and created a fun game that immerses the player into the experience of flying in real Star Wars battles.
Fans of X-Wing, TIE Fighter, Colony Wars, Freespace, Starfox and Rogue Squadron will be instantly familiar with Starfighter's gameplay. The environment is free-roaming, meaning you are able to fly in any direction whenever you choose, instead of being restricted to follow a predetermined linear path. Missions take place in three locations: outer space, over open plains and inside tight canyon areas. The ship controls are always the same regardless of the location, however the flying style and tactics used will vary, because land-based missions often have different types of enemies than outer space missions, such as tanks and battle droids. Steering is controlled by the left analog pad, and rolling is controlled by the right.

You can pull off some fancy stunts in battle that will help you avoid enemy fire and dodge obstacles such as canyon walls. Two viewing options are available: inside of the cockpit and outside of the ship in a 3rd person view. Objectives are fairly standard for flight combat games, such as defending a large frigate, destroying an enemy capital ship and wiping out enemy fighters. Starfighter's main story consists of 14 missions with three types of ships. It follows the story of three pilots during the events of Episode 1, portrayed in CG cutscenes between missions. By accomplishing bonus objectives you earn medals which unlock special features such as Darth Maul's ship, extra missions and two player modes. Although some would consider Starfighter to be short, it is a fun game with high replayability and plenty of bonuses to unlock.

Starfighter's graphics are stunning. While the nebulae and planet backgrounds in the space battles are impressive, the land-based and canyon missions are breathtaking. Detailed textures and high polygon counts were used on the smooth, rolling hills and rocky crags of the terrain. The ship models are also good, although the texture details tend to be slightly blurry when at close range, but it is not usually a problem since the action moves so quickly. Beautiful lighting effects and explosions enhance the already polished look of Starfighter. Do something as simple as shoot down an enemy fighter and you will see a beautiful explosion followed by chunks of shrapnel and smoke sailing through the air. Every new level in Starfighter seems even more amazing than the last. The later levels containing a hazardous volcanic factory, vast rolling plains and gorgeous waterfalls accompanied by amazing atmospherical lighting effects must be seen to be believed. LucasArts has effectively used the visual power of the PS2 to go beyond the normal standard in games. In some situations it looks as if you are directing the battle scenes of a real Star Wars movie.

The music in Starfighter has been lifted directly from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace soundtrack. While John Williams' music is excellent, the game does not contain any new scores. Having the same music makes the Star Wars experience more immersive, however. Sound effects too, are standard Star Wars fare. LucasArts took audio a step further by adding more sound effects to the standard assortment. The pilots' voice acting is top-notch quality for a game, enhancing the suspension of disbelief and immersing the player further into the Star Wars experience. Allied pilots will scream at you for help, happily offer assistance when requested and yell victory cries when they shoot down enemies. Enemy fighters will taunt your pilot too, particularly the dangerous mercenary leader. The combination of familiar sound and music create an experience that is unmistakably Star Wars. Starfighter is an excellent game that has a polished, complete feel to it. LucasArts has spent extra time to fine-tune the quality of this game into something special. Starfighter is a great addition to the rapidly expanding PS2 game library.

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