Introduction
Despite what I may have said in my review for LucasArts' "Escape from Monkey Island", Star Wars: Rogue Squadron wasn't a bad game. It just didn't feel like something I wanted to play for a long time, and that I could get excited about. Realistically speaking, my favorite feature of Rogue Squadron was to be able to play the game using Sam's police cruiser…Very cool.
Factor 5, a German development house that has given us both X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and Rogue Squadron, now delivers upon us "Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo". What amounts to be basically the Rogue Squadron game for Episode I turns out to be better in some points, and worse in others. Now, before anyone says otherwise, I liked every game in the X-Wing series, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter included, so I have nothing against Factor 5.
 Trade Federation Scum! They stole my head and replaced it with a four-way sign!
Let's not draw incorrect inclusions, of course. Battle for Naboo is a console port, specifically from the Nintendo 64. Battle for Naboo is designed to be an arcade game, and not an Episode I rendition of the X-Wing series. If you're looking for a space simulation akin to the extraordinary X-Wing series, then you're not going to want to spend too much longer reading this review. If you're looking for a good button-mashing shooter, though, then this will likely fit the bill.
With that in mind, does Battle for Naboo satisfy? Yes and no, unfortunately. Battle for Naboo chronicles the adventures of Captain Kael and the Naboo rookie Lieutenant Sykes as they fight for freedom against the Trade Federation. The plotline of the game basically covers what happens among the villagers and citizens on the front lines of the fight against the Trade Federation, and their efforts to repel the invasion.
You start the game out in a Flash Speeder zipping through the streets of Naboo's capital city as you attempt to flee and regroup the forces of Naboo after the Trade Federation has just taken control of the palace. Your orders are given to escape the city and defend the citizens as best as possible, but without picking fights. From there, you and Captain Kael start travelling across Naboo on STAP Fighters looking for support to assist in pushing back the Trade Federation's invasion, and later actually making tactical strikes against the Federation.
>> Graphics/Sound
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