Customer Reviews

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shadows of the Empire is a very fun, engaging game, but it does have its share of problems. It has amazingly high-res graphics for when it came out, with pretty good but not great animations. Basically following the life of Dash Rendar during the whole Shadows of the Empire story, this game fills in the plot in the same way the Phantom Menace game was meant to with that movie.

On easy mode, this game is unbelievably simple, but on any of the other three difficulty levels it is near impossible after the first 4 levels. However, it is neat that there are so many different game engines. There is the 1st/3rd person engine which graphics put Jedi Knight to shame, and you can switch to 3 or 5 different camera angles to help with those difficult jumps and leaps. There is in the gunwell mode where the ship is on autopilot and you just aim and shoot (a la rebel assault), there is flight-sim mode where you control the ship, and there is a swoop racing level. All of these are well implemented and it provides an amazing level of variety to the gameplay.

Also, the graphics are simply superb in all details, and the levels are broken up into segments so they don't seem to stretch on forever. And one of the biggest plusses is that we get to hear what all of those SOTE character' voices sound like.

I'm surprised that this game wasn't more popular, as it is a much better game than the similar The Phantom Menace, and its replayability level is pretty high. I'd recommend getting this one.

So my computer can't do the fog effects. The remaining graphics are stunning and the stereo sound is superb. The challange level is very good and the gameplay very entertaining. But above all, this is Star Wars at its very best. It has some Dark Forces, some Rebel Assault, and some Rogue Squadron all on one CD-ROM. For its price, you cannot beat the value.

I'm on a Star Wars review kick for some reason, even though I'm not that big of a Star Wars fan.

Even so, at the time, I purchased this title after being bored by all the other games on the market. Shadows offered something a bit different than the aging Dark Forces series. It once again placed you in the Star Wars galaxy, filled with monsters, space ships and of course, the Galactic Empire.

The thing that made this game enjoyable was the detail given to the graphics. According to an online interview some 12 years ago the render and game engine in large was still the same as that used to make the Jedi Knight titles, but one clearly sees that the renderer had been given limitations to accomodate smoother gameplay on home systems that simply weren't that robust. At $1500 a unit, PCs at the time were not cheap, and the good folks who made this game realized that. So even though you can't see far, your Dash Rendar character is detailed as are all the maps and characters. In addition the movement is very smooth. Playing this game on an old PC is like playing the latest title on a PS3 or Wii. It's that good in terms of graphics.

The maps are equally impressive, and because of the reworked graphics engine truly huge and massive maps were able to compliment this game. Most notably is the magnetic train ride. A level that is huge in scope (if somewhat physically limiting), and that takes you literally for a ride in a very impressive CGI Star Wars reality.

Other maps and gameplay are all equally immersive and fun. But the thing that drives this game is the story and the incredible John Williams' score augmented by Joe McNeely's orchestrations.

All in all a fun ride of a game. It'll probably feel dated by everything else that's out there, but if you can find yourself a cheap copy, then give it a chance.

The graphics were very good, they supported sized upto 1440x900. There was a mix of flying / shooting and a first person shooter. Too bad I can not play this games anymore. I recently tried installing this on both my computers at home but graphics are corrupted. I guess new DX10 video cards will not support a DX5 game. I have tried different drivers & video setting but no change. It does sill play on my computer at work, that has about a 6 year old video card.

As a person who takes consistent and entertaining storylines seriously in a PC game, Shadows of the Empire delivers the goods. While not supremely challenging, this game gets the player so involved with Star Wars backstory that it's difficult not to spend hours with the game long after you've beaten it. When comparing the game on different game systems, the PC version ups the ante with a more elaborate orchestral score and much more realistic cutscenes that give the game a tangible momentum you won't find on any gamebox. My only real complaint is that the number of game levels is fixed, regardless on which of the four difficulty levels you play. And if you play on "easy or medium" you can beat the game in no time. The "Jedi" level is the most difficult, but also the most congruent with the experiences of the characters in the Star Wars movies, and is also the most fun... and you won't beat the game in an afternoon. I give the game five stars for fun, but four out of five overall.

I am buying this game because my son loves it and the one that is at home it was broken (don't know how). He is only 5 years old and plays the game like a pro. So I hope he can continue enjoying it.

Not Lucasarts' best, but an awesome game by far. It far outplays the N64 version. Awesome graphics- definately worth buying!

This game is VERY fun, but no lightsaber and your guy obstructing your view in 3rd person mode makes it's score go down. Also, the music wouldn't come on when I played, but it could've been my cheap computer. Anyway, Isay it's worth buying, even though it's not as good as Episode 1.

hi yeall i wrote a review of the sound track go see it i played it star wars:shadows of the empire on N64 and i hated it and i bought it on pc and was amazed i love how it supports 3D card and top computer (cause i have one just bought it with this) and i keep playing if your a hardcore fan like iam get it if your not try it your sure to be plezed.

This game is worth 18 bucks,even though Dash obstructs your view, but you can change the view. Other problems are no lightsaber and no music, but the music thing could've been my cheap computer. It's not as good as Episode 1, but it's cheaper.