Star Wars: Empire at War

Let me say this up front: I`m no big fan of Star Wars; the whole sci-fi thing never took-off with me. But, from a gaming perspective, I have to admit that Empire at War is alluring and did draw me in.

LucasArts` Empire at War is the latest offering in a string of Star Wars games, and developers at Petroglyph have pulled out all the stops for this one.

What separates this game from the usual 3D strategy games is it is played in real-time throughout, adding a whole new dimension to the gameplay. Thus, when viewing the galactic map, a player does so in real-time, which means one can view and react to events as they happen on the various planets.

This of course provides players with the ability to influence events and change the course of the game, depending on what actions are taken. The gameplay in Empire at War is what is called "persistent", meaning strategic decisions made on the galactic map and the outcomes and tactical moves made during previous battles will have a lasting effect on the galaxy.

Having said this, this game may be a bit over the top. It`s certainly not the most straight forward strategy game I`ve ever played, so it may not be for everyone. However, I suspect hardened 3D strategy junkies and Star Wars fans will probably like this one.

Be warned: set aside a lot of time to really explore Empire at War. In fact, this is probably best suited to the unemployed.

In the game, the player takes command of either the Rebel Alliance or the oppressive Galactic Empire, each exhibiting vastly different strengths and weaknesses, and having its own unique attributes.

The objective is to gain ultimate supremacy, by conquering every enemy-controlled planet, through battles in space and on land.

There are three modes of play in Empire at War - Campaign, Galactic Conquest and Skirmish Battles - with each mode offering a different way of capturing planets and a different gameplay experience.

In Campaign mode, players get to complete a number of story-based missions, and are given several starting options to choose from.

Galactic Conquest mode lets players start from several different scenarios, which include galaxies of various sizes, technology levels and starting credits. This is an open-ended mode, which allows players to create their own scenarios and decide on unique paths to victory.

In Skirmish Battles mode, a player has to conquer a single battlefield in one intense battle. These are shorted battles played out in space or on land, always between two teams.

The galactic map is the primary starting point of the game, from where you control fleets, armies and planets. This is also the primary game mode where building and unit construction happens, strategy is formulated and wealth is gathered.

Of course, as with any 3D strategy game, a large component of Empire at War is resource gathering. This naturally plays forms an important part of strategy formulation and planning, ensuring that the game is somewhat more complicated than simply overrunning the enemy with superior force.

From here the options and features seem endless. Many of these new gizmos make the game interesting, but things can be a bit frustrating at times. Keeping your finger on all aspects of the game can be daunting, and I often had the feeling that some missions are extremely hard to complete.

But overall, it is a pleasant game to play. The graphics are excellent and much attention was given to detail. The game`s open-endedness and real-time nature certainly make it stand apart from many games in this genre.