Star Wars Battlefront

With an abundance of Star Wars games already lurking on the shelves, some of you may be questioning the need for more. But as Knights of the Old Republic has proved, Star Wars-related gubbins is just as popular now as it was in the 1970's and onwards. Reaffirming this is LucasArts' offering for autumn 2004, Star Wars Battlefront.

A game designed with online play in mind, Battlefront sees players undertaking virtual remakes of some of the most memorable battles from all five films. And because the game is based in the gargantuan universe of Star Wars, battles are dispersed across a massive array of fictional worlds. There are 15 familiar locales in all that spread themselves across 10 troublesome planets, all of which are host to a variety of shooting, driving and platform elements of play.

But before you can undertake any conquests or campaigns, your first job is to choose which of the four factions you want to side with. These comprise of the Imperial Army, Clone Army, Droid Army and of course, the Rebel Alliance. Clearly, each have their own objectives and specialised abilities, but it's the multiplayer competition that makes things interesting.

Standing your ground against a group of unpredictable human-controlled troops from the other side of the world is much trickier than it sounds. Players will soon learn that hiding behind trees and making use of other environmental props is often the best course of action. The battlefields are thankfully multi-tiered, accommodating more strategic players looking to take advantage on higher ground, and there also happens to be a number vehicles lying around for the taking.

There's a distinct feeling of freedom in the Battlefront world, and the addition of other multi-player games and a unique Conquest mode makes it all the more diverse. That said, players lose only a little of the experience in the single-player game. The offline game is just as challenging and players will be rewarded with the same story-driven bonuses and cut-scenes as those in the multiplayer game.

As a cross-platform online epic, Battlefront is likely to receive the support it deserves. It's a great game as it stands, but future downloads and bonus levels would be a great addition to this virtual Star Wars world. Here's hoping.