Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

This is an average game. I really had high hopes for this game. Every mission is the same thing over and over. To complete a mission, all you do is run around playing baseball with droids, push or "force push" a switch, and fulfill your objectives, which in some stages there is a boss.

However, this game also has its good sides. For example, for the ones that hate Jar Jar, you can kill him, but the mission comes to an end. Another good thing is the Duel of the Fates video that was packed with the game.

I hope the next two Episode I games, Power Battles and the Obi-Wan first-person adventure game, makes up for all the errors from The Phantom Menace.

I'd just like to say that the movie was lacking in all departments, acting etc. But i'm not writing about the movie, i'm gonna tell all of you about the rather excellent game that is the tie-in to the movie.

As all gamers should know, tie-ins are usually a cheap cash in to try to squeeze more money out of the franchise. Not in this case, oh no, what we have here is an awesome game which restored my faith in the star wars galaxy.

First off, a good game isn't a good game if it isn't addictive. This game is seriously addictive. I could saber my way through hoards of robots all day long. It never gets boring, not once. Even after seven years.

Secondly, the music is beautiful, fast paced and wondrously conducted. You begin to feel like a Jedi, be it a small one, and whether you like it or not, you'll end up with a huge smile stretching from ear to ear.

And thirdly, the freedom you are given is immense. There is no set way to complete your mission. You don't have to dive into in straight away, instead you annoy all the gungans with hilarious results, or you can murder innocent children for calling you "a monster". It's priceless.

By now, this game should be available for less than five pounds. Do yourself a favour, go out and buy this game. You will never look back.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, may the force be with you.

i haven't finished playing this great game yet, but i can see already that it's one of the best ever. I love the way it follows the original story so well, and then adds all kinds of other interesting things about it. The voice characterization is great and i love it when you can choose to give different answers. Some parts of the game were truly hard to get through, the second level especially drived me crazy. I personally found the third level to be quite easy. In the fourth level you have to fight a whole lot of battle droids by yourself, which was kind of hard, but it's easy once you understand the right method (tip: for those who can't get past this part, just try and avoid those droids. Just run as fast as you can, you'll lose a lot less strength than if you try and fight them). I'm currently busy on the fifth level. I am at the point where the queen is waiting for me to find a way to open that big gate. I thought the solution to that part was to bring that little droid to where it says "ÿou need a red key pass to use this console", but it wasn't. I'm really stuck there. If someone is willing to help me, mail me at unicorno@planet.nl.

As usual, somebody tried to make a game from a movie that didn't have enough gaming material.

The usual results?

A game that follows the movie in certain places, but adds so much other stuff that makes you wonder if it came from the movie. Also, it doesn't tie in with the movie or other Star Wars games based around The Phantom Menace. For instance, on the final level, you play as Queen Amidala. You must take Captain Panaka to capture the viceroy and, of course, win the battle and save the world. But in the game Battle for Naboo, Captain Panaka enlisted the aid of Gavyn Sykes and his battle cruiser to destroy one of the Trade Federation's hover tanks. This never happens in the game Phantom Menace.

A lot of things from Phantom Menace the game are entirely new. In fact, almost all of it is, such as rescuing Jar Jar Binks from the Gungans, or fighting off some ugly guy to recover Anakin's stolen podracing pieces minutes before the race begins. Possibly one of the most frustrating parts of the game is attempting to trade various items in order to get parts for Anakin's pod racer. Or spending a whole fifteen minutes trying to get back up to the fight with Darth Maul could possibly be one of the most frustrating parts.

Also, the acting is terrible. Some of the voices are totally absurd in comparison to their counterpart actors in the movie. Possibly the worst is Darth Maul. He never says a word in the movie, yet in the game he brags to Obi-Wan Kenobi about killing Qui-Gon Jinn.

The music is pretty good, as it all was taken from John Williams composition in the movie.

All in all, play this game only if you really liked The Phantom Menace and feel the need to play as the characters. I wouldn't really suggest playing it before you've seen the movie, as the storyline and plot is all thrown in rather quickly.

I haven't played that much games for the last 4 years cause they've all been "too much". But Star Wars Phantom Menace got me going again... I felt like a Jedi when I ran around in the worlds of George Lucas... I played constantly for a few days until I finished the game and killed Darth Maul. Hope Episode 2 comes soon... the movie wasn't all that great... but the game is a masterpiece.