Star Wars: Starfighter (Special Edition) - Xbox

Taking place parallel to the events of Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace, Starfighter lets you control the destiny of Naboo pilot Rhys Dallows, mercenary Vana Sage, and pirate Nym as they wage war against the dreaded Trade Federation.

Starfighter delivers everything that a console game named Starfighter should: shiny ships, big guns, and lots of targets. The gameplay is of course just as good and solid as the PS2 original. While the core game can be finished quite quickly, there's a host of extra missions and ships that can be unlocked by successfully completing secondary tasks within individual missions.

Every object in this special edition of Starfighter is more detailed and shows a bit more flare and flash than the already great-looking PS2 version. And unlike the PS2 game, there's almost zero slowdown when the action is at its most frantic. Besides improved graphics, Starfighter SE features expanded (and instantly accessible) multiplayer games. These games are mildly amusing at best.

So, while the extras aren't fabulously exciting, the game delivers what it promises: Starfighter optimized for Xbox. If you're in the mood for a fun, mostly mindless, space shoot-'em-up game, you'll be well satisfied with this one. --Mark Brooks

Pros: One of the best Star Wars games made for consoles Enhanced visuals over the original PS2 version Multiplayer options that do not need to be unlocked, unlike the PS2 version Cons: If you've beaten the PS2 version, there's no need to bother with this one A particularly deep game it's not

Amazon.com Product Description
Star Wars Starfighter, Special Edition combines LucasArts-quality air and space combat with the power of Xbox. Building on the Starfighter title, this edition adds five bonus operations to the original's 14-plus missions, a new two-player dogfighting mode, expanded two-player racing and capture-the-flag play, and enhanced graphics. Inspired by the motion picture Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace, this game puts you on a mission to save Naboo from invasion by the treacherous Trade Federation. Courage, skill, and honor are the qualities you'll need to triumph over evil and pilot through intense air and space combat. May the Force be with you, young starfighter pilot.

As in the original, you play as one of three pilots, each with a different ship. Rhys, a cocky Naboo pilot-in-training, flies a Naboo N-1 starfighter. It's quick, agile, adept at dogfighting, and armed with proton torpedoes, laser cannons, and deflector shields. Vana, a Naboo expatriate, roams the galaxy as a gun-for-hire. Her ultra-fast ship has stealth capabilities, sensors, tracking devices, and an array of weaponry. Nym, an alien pirate, lives a Robin Hood-like existence in the shadows of the Naboo system. His starship comes outfitted with powerful bombs, lasers, a rotating turret gun, and heavy shielding.

Pilot cutting-edge starfighters in a battle against the treacherous Trade Federation.