- About this item Travel to 8 diverse environments from Geonosis to the Wookiee home planet of Kashyyyk in 14 deadly missions Innovative squad combat utilizing intuitive and accessible smart squad command system featuring squad markers and stances Challenging combat with incredible enemies - Super Battle Droids, Droidekas, Geonosian Warriors and Elites, Trandoshan Slavers and Mercenaries Access more than 12 weapons from the Star Wars films -- from a standard DC-17 to the Trandoshan Slaver and Geonosian Elite Beam Weapon Multiplayer action with up to 16 players - deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the .
Product description
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Star Wars Republic Commando makes you a part of the
Empire, as you fight for the Dark Side. Lead a highly-trained
3-man squad deep behind enemy lines. Take on the most brutal
enemies with the deadly weapons at your disposal - pit them to
good use and prove to the Galaxy why they should fear a Republic
Commando.
Review
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Over the years, we have sliced through Imperial forces with
twirling lightsabers, given in to the tantalizing power of the
Dark Side, and destroyed the Death Star more times than George
Lucas has worn his favorite flannel. With a setting that Tom
Clancy wouldn't mind endorsing, Republic Commando emerges as a
great departure for Star Wars gaming, and a breath of fresh air
that fans have been dreaming of since they first watched a
squadron of storm troopers obliterate a hess crew aboard the
Tantive IV blockade runner.
There are no backdoor drafts in the Republic. Born of the
genetic stock of the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter, you were
created with the specific intent of serving your people through
bloodshed and war. Your appearance is identical to that of your
brethren, who number in the millions, but your physical prowess
has been heightened far beyond theirs. You are the best of the
best. You are one of the Clone Trooper elite. Assigned as the
leader of an upper echelon Republic Commando division, you must
lead your squad to victory in the face of unyielding adversity.
As you unload countless rounds into a Separatist onslaught, you
can send your sharpshooter to a sniper point, tell your hacker to
open a door, and order your weapons expert to light up the droid
forces with a well a placed Thermal Detonator. The on-the-fly
squad control may sound fairly complex, but the system that
LucasArts has developed couldn't be easier to use. With this
said, you won't have complete control over the actions of your
cohorts. Outside of simple commands like "form up" and "attack
this target," you can only send them to areas that are assigned
to specific tasks such as sniping or hacking – all with the click
of a button. If you take on too much damage and go down, you can
even signal to a teammate to revive you with a quick
resuscitation. Thanks to impressive AI, you never really have to
worry about your troops doing something stupid. The only flak you
can send their way is for being too cowardly when an enemy is
clearly not paying attention to them, and for not being able to
recognize the greatest threat on the battlefield unless you point
it out to them.
Although the controls fit as comfortably as Master Chief's
glove, the targeting system is too demanding of precision,
especially when you are required to unload dozens of rounds into
certain enemy types. If you don't have armor-breaking rounds, a
Super Battle Droid can be just as annoying as the new dance
number in Return of the Jedi. Airborne foes are also quite
difficult to tag at a successful rate.
While not a sure-fire marksman, Republic Commando still has
enough kick in its firepower to knock you off of your feet. From
explosive scripted events on the battlefield to harrowing battles
that are almost too intense to comprehend, each mission is filled
with relentless excitement and moments that you'll cherish for a
lifetime. Whether you watch a Wookiee physically dismantle a
Super Battle Droid or hold your breath as you rely on your troops
to provide over a minute of cover fire as you hack a security
terminal, Republic Commando seamlessly blends breathtaking
spectacles with uniquely styled and highly contagious gameplay.
The sound (sans the metal during the end credits) is remarkable
as well.
At the same time, however, you can't help but criticize the game
for its limited number of enemy types (I seriously felt like I
destroyed at least 10,000 Battle Droids), noticeably absent story
breaks, and lackluster multiplayer deathmatching. Furthermore,
why didn't LucasArts do online co-op? It's a perfect fit.
It does tie into the upcoming Revenge of the Sith movie, but the
Episode III content is more of a lightsaber tease than anything.
General Grievous is literally in the game for two seconds, and
just as you are about to join the pivotal battle of Kashyyyk, the
game comes to an end, basically saying, "This looks awesome,
doesn't it? Buy a ticket to the movie and you'll see how it
unfolds."
No lightsabers? No problem. A Star Wars game without Jedi may
seem like a Jar Jar-sized disaster, but I don't think even Master
Yoda could dodge a nicely placed sniper by this incredible
Republic Commando unit.
Concept:
Suit up as an elite commando and pulverize Battle Droids as you
bark out orders to your Power Ranger-colored squad
Graphics:
There are few visuals more satisfying than the vibrant green
splattering of Geonosian blood on your visor
Sound:
Why do clones have different voices? And what's with the cheesy
hair metal at the end? If John Williams hears this, batons will
be shoved in uncomfortable places
Playability:
Targeting with the DC-17m is a bit suspect, but the squad
commands work well, and the weapon selection is balanced nicely
Entertainment:
Has the uncanny ability to rock your world and make you cry like
a baby at the same time
Replay:
Moderate
Rated: 8.25 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
Issue: March 2005
2nd Opinion:
While there are some recognizable technical issues that mar the
glossy sheen of Republic Commando, they are only noticeable
because everything else has been done with such finesse. Painting
Star Wars in a dark and gritty light results in visuals that are
both believable and deeply involving. The action sprung to life
around me, and the squad mechanic was one of the most enjoyable
and flexible I have yet encountered, even if the ally AI was
occasionally frustrating. With only a few different enemy types,
there really should have been more variety in their tactics,
which brings the otherwise gripping combat down a notch in my
mind. The voicework and visceral Foley sound effects are
uniformly fantastic, and the Episode III score had me chomping at
the bit for the big May release. The ending induced in me near
physical pain, as it brought me right to the brink of something
I'm not going to see until after the opening text scroll of the
movie. Regardless, this is a unique take on that most beloved of
fictional universes, and true fans would be remiss not to play it
in its entirety. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Wookiees in
battle are indeed ridiculously sweet.
Rated: 8.75 out of 10
Editor: Matt Miller
( /exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AN45D/ )
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