Product description
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Cartridge and hard plastic collector case with reprint of
original case artwork - NO MANUAL - Front label is fully in tact.
Game cartridge is in good condition but may show normal signs of
age such as minor scratches, discoloration, or debris in creases.
All games are tested before being put into our inventory.
Review
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There was a moment when I first began playing Shadows of the
Empire when I actually believed I was a living, breathing
participant in the Star Wars universe. The game's glorious first
level (in which you take the controls of a snowspeeder in a
gallant attempt to destroy evil Imperial Walkers, droids, and
other machines on the ice planet of Hoth), is a flawlessly
executed piece of video gaming: clear mission objectives, silky
smooth controls, outstanding graphics, fantastic sound effects,
and a true sensation of flight. I stared at the screen in awe as
I made my first approach toward an Imperial Walker. Laser fire
screamed past my ship as I angled to connect a tow cable to a
Walker and wrap it tightly around its legs. And then it happened:
The lumbering monstrosity seized up, its legs buckled, and the
beast ced to the ground in a huge fireball. I felt like
jumping out of my chair and shouting to the world: "Yes! Yes!
This is what video games should be! This is what I've been
waiting for!"
Unfortunately, the remaining nine levels never even come close to
matching the quality of the first. And perhaps it is the game's
stunning first level that makes the rest of Shadows of the Empire
such a letdown.
On the Star Wars timeline, Shadows of the Empire takes place
during and after the events of The Empire Strikes Back. You play
the role of Dash Rendar, a mercenary for hire who decides to take
up the cause of the Rebellion. In a storyline that is never
particularly engaging (due in large part to the rendering of the
plot with still-life pictures and lines of text oddly reminiscent
of the 16-bit gaming era), Dash finds himself knee-deep in the
search for the frozen Han Solo, and in the company of Luke
Skywalker and Princess Leia. Dash's ultimate mission is to unseat
the Dark Prince Xizor, who is determined to murder Luke. While
playing Shadows of the Empire, you control Dash as he struggles
through ten levels of play, which encompass piloting a
snowspeeder, doing battle in the Outrider (a ship resembling the
Millennium Falcon), cruising on a speederbike, and running on
foot through several levels of Doom-style, first-person shooting.
On the surface, Shadows of the Empire looks like a sure winner.
But the game simply doesn't deliver the goods. It is difficult to
control Dash's movements. The Nintendo's analog controller, so
well-suited to Mario 64, does not perform well for the many
levels of first-person action. Because it's difficult to move in
a straight line, you constantly have to worry about falling off
ledges or small platforms. Combine this faulty movement feature
with the game's aggravating save system (like other LucasArts
games, save points are few and far between), and losing a life
from walking off a cliff becomes especially frustrating.
The camera angles are also a nagging problem. Four fixed views
are available, though none of them is fully satisfying. The
first-person view offers the best gameplay, but it limits your
field of view; the second-person behind view offers a better
view, but Dash's body squarely blocks your line of ; the
view from above has limited utility; and the view from in front
of Dash is a throwaway. Finally, beating the game's several
bosses ranges from difficult to nearly impossible, thanks in
large part to the game's auto-save system. Being forced to begin
a level from the beginning when a boss brings you down can turn
the game into a tiresome chore.
In all fairness, Shadows of the Empire certainly excels in some
areas. The game's ambiance is often remarkable; at times you
truly feel you are lurking in the bowels of the Empire's darkest
corners. Confronting lifelike Stormtroopers is a treat. The
graphics, while at times oddly sterile (monotone gray hallways
and endless sand-colored canyons abound), are still generally
convincing. Many of the sound effects, such as ships' engines,
laser fire, and explosions, are perfect. Moreover, the gameplay
is varied - few games offer flying, driving, swimming, and
first-person shooting all in one package.
If Shadows of the Empire had lived up to its first inspiring
level, it would certainly have been in the running for game of
the year. As it stands, the control, camera angles, and
frustrating save feature keep it from reaching its full
potential. Programming for the Nintendo 64 is reportedly a
daunting challenge, and perfecting the use of a true 3-D
environment and analog controller will certainly take some time.
Hopefully, the next Star Wars title for the Nintendo 64 will come
closer to what Shadows of the Empire aspires to be. --John Broady
--Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction
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