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Amazon.com Review
A long time ago, LucasArts established a sterling reputation with their classic X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and Monkey Island games. But recent efforts have varied widely in quality. Some games, like X-Wing Alliance, were outstanding. Others, such as Force Commander, were better left unreleased. Obi-Wan, LucasArts's first Star Wars: Episode I adventure game for the Xbox, falls firmly in the latter camp--the controls are poor, the graphics uninspiring, and the voice acting is embarrassing. Obi-Wan chronicles the adventures of young Obi-Wan Kenobi across five acts as he battles the evil Trade Federation, the Black Heth crime organization, and other assorted baddies. The story is nothing new, and it's hampered a bit by the Episode I setting, which simply isn't as compelling as the setting of the classic Star Wars stories.
Since you play as Obi-Wan, the primary weapon in your arsenal is the lightsaber. Using a third-person view, you use the left thumbstick to control Obi-Wan and the right thumbstick to control the lightsaber. In principle this sounds fantastic, but in practice it's a mess--the camera constantly shifts angles, making it hard to see certain enemies, and planning a coordinated attack with the lightsaber is unnecessarily difficult, especially when multiple enemies are swarming in from all sides.
Graphically, Obi-Wan is lifeless. It fails to take advantage of the Xbox's fancy graphics hardware, and the environments are empty and plain. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a game released for the obsolete Nintendo 64 system, features much more beautiful graphics. And playing Obi-Wan after playing Halo or Munch's Oddysee will make a Star Wars fan weep at the thought of how good Obi-Wan should have looked. Compounding the ugly graphics problem is the fact that the game will slow to a crawl at certain points, making jumping or fighting practically impossible. Almost as bad as the poor graphics is the horrid voice acting (Obi-Wan sounds like Mike Myers doing a bad Scottish accent), and the all-too-frequent cinematic cutscenes look like they were slapped together in five minutes.
There are some tiny diamonds in the vast rough, such as the ability to use Force powers to throw objects at enemies or pull weapons out of their hands. A feature sure to please fans of the dramatic saber fights in Episode I is the multiplayer Jedi Battles mode. This mode lets you and a buddy engage in fierce Jedi duels, using characters from the movie and game. Unfortunately, these few nice touches aren't enough to overcome Obi-Wan's bland setting and lame execution. --William Harms
Pros: Force powers You get to use a lightsaber Multiplayer Jedi Battles can be fun Great music and sound effects Cons: Foes parry Obi-Wan's lightsaber with clubs Horrible graphics Atrocious voice acting Clumsy controls Empty levels
Amazon.com Product Description
Join the legendary Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi as he takes on the worst scum and villainy the galaxy has to offer in level after level of fast-paced action. In Star Wars: Obi-Wan, you'll call upon the Force and your powerful lightsaber as you face a mysterious new enemy, a droid assassin, and a devious plot that could dramatically shift the balance of power in the universe. Fight your way through an underworld trail of munitions dealers and crime lords--from the lowest depths of Coruscant and dusty Tatooine to the lush city of Theed. The Force is in your hands.
Wield Obi-Wan's considerable Force powers, Jedi agility, and lightsaber in more than 15 action-packed levels. Force abilities include Force attack, push, pull, throw, defend, and jump. You can also tune your skills in up to six two-player arenas, facing Jedi Masters such as Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Saesee Tiin. An original story line brings you face-to-face with a host of new and familiar enemies, ranging from Tusken Raiders and assassin droids to the evil Sith Darth Maul.
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