Review: Shadows of the Empire

A Gaming Flashback:

Shadows of the Empire.

And yes, spoilers ahead, if you haven't exited 1996...

To talk about Shadows of the Empire (or SOTE), released in 1996 on the Nintendo 64, it merits talking a little about the inception of this part of the Star Wars franchise.

As well as being another means for which to line George Lucas’ pockets with money before that goal reached its horrible zenith... 

...the story of Shadows of the Empire was created to bridge the gap between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And this was achieved in numerous ways, as well as this game, also released a year later for PC, the story was published as a novel by Steve Perry, which I highly recommend if not to read more of the brilliant antagonist, Prince Xizor, then for gaining a better perspective on the events of the story beyond what this game can deliver, despite some inconsistencies between game and novel. Comic books were also released chronicling the storyline, as well as an extensive line of merchandise, of which I still own a ridiculous amount.

So when I got my N64 for Christmas many, many years ago, I wasn’t immediately taken with the standard launch titles, Mario64 was fun, but couldn’t hold my interest in all honesty, the 64 was my first console, and even though we did have another gaming system akin to the Commodore 64 (the name escapes me though), my earliest memories of playing games before the N64, were of Commander Keen, Space Quest, Kings Quest, or Leisure Suit Larry (which was completely inappropriate considering how young I was at the time). But being a big Sci-Fi fan and a Star Wars fan I gravitated quickly towards SOTE, and it’s one of those games for which I’ll never want to part with not only for nostalgia’s sake, but because it remains one of the best Star Wars games out there.

You take on the role of Dash Rendar, who is much like Han Solo, a smuggler and occasional ally to the Rebellion though he has no real aspiration to join them against their struggle with the Empire. The story opens on Hoth just prior to the Rebel evacuation that’s about to come, as Rendar is delivering supplies to the Rebel base. However before long the Empire strikes, and you’re soon piloting a Snowspeeder in the obligatory-for-every-fucking-Star Wars game out there Battle of Hoth. After shooting down probe droids, AT-ST’s and stringing up the legs of AT-AT’s , the evacuation of Echo Base is winding down, you’re the last man left, and have to fight your way through the ridiculously expansive base to your ship The Outrider, co-piloted by your droid offsider Leebo who contacts you at various points in the game to outline objectives. And apart from waves of Snowtroopers, you’ll have to keep an eye out for friggin Wampas which are conveniently placed between you and power ups, meaning you’ll need to release them from their cages, or behind some cargo containers to get to the goods in your way. The good news is that they’ll be attacking any Snow troopers that get in their way also.

After escaping from the Hoth system the events of The Empire Strikes Back run their course, till you’re called upon by Princess Leia to assist in finding Han Solo and rescuing him after he’s frozen in Carbonite.

After discovering wreckage of assassin droid IG-88’s ship, you’ll be controlling Dash on the junkyard world of Ord Mandell. Riding from one train to another to reach IG, one of the amazing things about this level in particular, is the size and the attention to detail most notably, you’ll be seeing a downed AT-AT in one spot and a wrecked Imperial transport in another, but after you’ve dealt with the train guards and piloted the train you’re on through a barricaded facility where IG-88 is holed up, you’ll be facing a tough battle with a scary ass-motherfucker. It’s not enough that the final stage of this level is claustrophobic and inescapable, but IG sees fit to make some seriously freaky noises when attacking you:

SOTE has the dubious honour of being one game where I think I failed to beat any of the main bosses, pawning that responsibility off instead to my older brother at the time (that’s what they’re there for, right?). But after defeating IG-88 and interrogating him, you’ll learn Boba Fett is holed up in an Imperial base on the moon of Gall for repairs, where he has Han Solo in his cargo bay.

This is where the game does differ from the book, but with some creative thinking both events can sort of be joined up, regardless it’s a taxing level. Some have gotten it out in record times but those records could be no less than 9 minutes. If it’s your first time playing through, or the first for a long time, it will take much, much longer. But it’s still a highlight. Like Echo Base and Ord Mandell, the level size is huge (though deceptively, as I’m sure the high canyon walls mask the true scale), and it also gives you the Jetpack for which you’ll be making use of till the end of the game. But as well as that not only do you get to listen to the ridiculously cool ‘Departure of Boba Fett’ over and over again for the level, but you get to fight Fett (thankfully not voiced boringly by the otherwise bad-ass Temuera Morrison) and the Slave I in an effort to prevent him leaving with Solo.

Fett does escape with Imperial aid though, so the story changes pace as you are asked to watch over Luke Skywalker after a failed assassination attempt.

Finding Dash in Mos Eisley as Luke trains at Obi-Wan’s old crib in the Dune Sea, a conversation is overheard of which a swoop gang is planning on killing Skywalker for Jabba the Hutt. In another showing of the versatility of this FPS/3rdPS/Flight/Rail game, you’ll be piloting swoops (like hovering-motorbikes) through Mos Eisley and through the Beggars Canyon at high speed, looking to take out members of the gang before they reach their destination.

Upon saving Skywalker, Luke tells Dash he’s learnt of the location of the plans for the Second Death Star, aboard the Imperial Freighter Suprosa (yes we know many Bothans died for us to know Mon Mothma, you patronising bitch).

'Blah, blah. blah-blah-blah, Bothans, guilt trip, mope-mope-mope...'

Intercepting the frieghter Dash must make his way through the bowels of the ship till meeting up with another impossible (to me) boss in the Loader Droid, and upon destroying the droid, the plans are collected.

By this stage Leia has learnt that Xizor has been responsible for conspiring with the Emperor by allowing the Death Star plans to fall into Rebel hands, and had a contract put on Luke’s head. She’s then held captive, and holy shit you’ll be taking on two more ridiculous boss fights in the sewer underneath Xizor’s palace, and inside the palace itself on Coruscant. The first being a giant goddamn Dianoga, which you’ll get to after navigating the labyrinthine sewer system. And the second being the Gladiator droid, I’d say the penultimate boss battle in the game as it’s the second-last level, but it may as well be the final boss fight of all for you’ll find the final (awesome) level a breeze in comparison. After infiltrating Xizor’s palace you’ll need to plant explosives to prevent Xizor from reaching his skyhook in orbit from the safety of his palace, but after mowing down his personal army and exploring the depths of his palace, you’ll be faced with the toughest adversary yet:

The fucking Gladiator Droid. Which you think you’ve killed but only slowed down, as you continue to inflict damage it will only separate into smaller, more lethal pieces till you’ve obviously used the force and found the means to destroy it.

And from then on you’ll be flying on route to the Skyhook in space, after taking down members of Xizor’s fleet from the gun turrets in The Outrider, you’ll get the chance to fly the ship itself in a sweet space battle around the sky hook involving X-Wings, TIE-Fighters, a goddamn Star Destroyer (which no matter how many times you shoot it, it’s health wont waver), and the skyhook itself, which needs destroying.

Aside from story and level design, another standout is the soundtrack, I’ve already mentioned one theme you’ll hear in one of the levels, but not only will you be hearing more tunes from A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back through the course of the game, but other, original works which you’d think as well were the works on John Williams, but surprisingly, he did not score some of the original material, but the music you hear for places like Xizor’s Palace, or Mos Eisley/Beggars Canyon was composed by Joel McNeely, and performed by The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, adding to the quality of the production.

As to the gameplay, though you wont be wielding any other weapons bar your blaster, you’ll be picking up plenty of upgrades like flamethrowers, rapid firing pulse rounds, homing missiles and the equivalent to a near nuclear device which will destroy all but the toughest (fucking) Gladiator droids with relative ease. Being able to play in Third or First Person was a great way to appeal to those who preferred FPS’, but I enjoy 3rd Person Perspective instead, and having the levels cleverly broken up into flight levels, then on foot, at intervals ensured it never got stagnant having to play on-foot missions over and over again, or vice versa. The enemy AI, no it’s not anything to brag about, but this game was developed a very long time ago, so most Stormtroopers or Xizor guards will simply approach and shoot you with no through of retreat or taking cover. Occasionally you will also have to take down remote guns or flying sentry drones, but the auto-aim feature makes short work of them.

The Boss fights though do make up for the lack of goon AI. Taking down the first AT-ST was a big challenge for me and you’d be running out of places to hide from it on that level compared to the second time you face one on foot in Gall. The loader droid will have you cramped for space as it shoots its friggin’ arms at you to inflict damage, and you’ll need to make the use of your jet pack to fly in and out of the water when battling the Dianoga at the end of the sewer level, being mindful of your oxygen levels in the process.

The opportunity is there to unlock an extended ending after gaining enough challenge points which are scattered throughout each level as either highlighted asteroids to be shot or floating, silver Rebellion logos to be collected.

The controls were never an issue, the revolutionary N64 controller made full use of all buttons making Dash easy to guide through all levels, and piloting was a breeze (but I always had trouble with the speed of the Swoops).

And the levels all offer something different, visually and in terms of how you approach guiding Dash through them, though Echo Base and Gall are quite similar in that you’ll have to tip toe around numerous chasms and cliff-faces. But aside from that every other level offers a different environment, different accompanying music, the enemies you’ll need to take out range from Wampas to hired thugs, Stormtroopers, Xizor’s personal guard as well as that asshole droid from the Special Edition of A New Hope that bops the flying droid on the head as Obi-Wan and Luke enter Mos Eisley:

Standout levels would be Echo Base for the sheer size, Ord Mandell for size and visuals as well as the challenge of jumping from train to train, Gall for length, Xizor’s Palace for the wonderful music, and the final Skyhook level.

Is there value for replayability? If you’re a big fan of this franchise I say yes, I say do what I’ve done, keep a hold of your N64 (I think I’ve managed to collect 3 somehow) and always have a copy of this game and a memory card on hand, so you can bring it out of the box or cupboard and play it at least once every few years. Even if you’re not a Star Wars fan you probably will still enjoy the challenge of this game even though you may only run through it once.

For me though it will still remain one of my favorites.

I give it 8/10 Asshole worker droids