Well, what have we here? It looks like a full-length version of the opening Shadows of the Empire level. Or more accurately, the game Shadows would have liked to have been (no offense, fps fans).

If you remember the feeling you received taking down your first AT-AT in SOTE, (or, for the more daring, the rush of banking a turn between a walkers legs), then you're not going to be disappointed with this game. Admittedly, a Star Wars fan is going to enjoy this more than anyone else, but I doubt you'll be disappointed if you don't dig the holy Trinity.

Now the gameplay, which is notoriously slippery to nail down, is present in abundant supply. Your first few runs through a mission are sheer adrenaline [aka epinephrine] (particularly the Battle above Taloraan, that one still makes me sweat). While the excitement does tend to run out on some of the missions, the desire to achieve a gold medal is usually enough to keep you coming back for more. And believe me, you will be coming back, because the gold is no easy task. I beat all of the initial 16 levels over a month ago, and I'm still trying to get a gold on the Raid on Sullust.

The control is very tight, and each ship handles well (if different). The arcade-like feel is an excellent approach, not only allowing you to jump right in, but also letting you develop finesse with experience. My only real complaints are that getting a vehicle to roll is slower than I would like, adding time you can't waste to turning around for another run before the gun emplacements lock on. I was also disappointed that there was only one control scheme that set the guns to the Z-trigger button, and the one that does is a dummied-down method that eliminates port and starboard braking in the speeder. That may not seem like much, but taking out an AT-AT is a LOT easier when you can brake hard to one side.

Playing as a member of Rogue Squadron is incredibly exhilirating, but ultimately gets old over time due to the rather unvaried missions. Here's the clincher, though, the replay value is bolstered by acquiring medals, but for many American gamers, this isn't the priority. If you just want to beat this game and don't care for the hidden stuff unlocked by better medals, you can breeze through it in an evening. When considering innovation, let's be honest here, not only have we seen this before, but Rogue Squadron is essentially 16+ variations on the first level of SOTE. Not that it's disappointing, obviously not, but we definitely have seen this before. Ultimately, this is a great game with some excellent hidden extras and a well executed design. Definitely a recommended purchase.

Overall: 8.5