Ode to a Game Poor, Yet Beloved
Upon first play, this game was a revelation that only served to augment my excitement about the Star Wars prequels. Along with the excellent Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, here was a game whose use of licensed music and familiar atmosphere (cue Ben Burtt's sound effects) got one's juri juices flowing. And it was the second game I played with hardware acceleration! (Voodoo 3 2000 for those that remember). When one is honest with oneself, the Phantom Menace is a pretty poor game. Where are the extensive Force Powers? Why are the attempts at dialogue trees so ineffectual? What's with the awful faces? Why can't Obi-wan deflect laser bolts from a droideka? And why can't I move backwards like a normal person?! Sigh.
And yet, there was enough to like for me to play it over and over. The music and sound effects I've already noted. Saber trails and coloured lighting also helped. The game's length, too, was generous (which I admit, could make things even worse), with many and varied locations, and a variety of different tasks and areas to explore. It expanded on the action of the film whilst not stepping outside the bounds of the central plot. The developer was evidently punching above their weight, attempting to incorporate action, adventure, shooting, platforming, puzzle and role play, but at the impressionable age of 14, the lack of depth in any one of these areas suggested potential greatness rather than overwrought ambition.
Do I remember the Phantom Menace with rose-tinted fondness? Absolutely. Is it a good game? Probably not. Still, it's an important part of my gaming catalogue. And I love that every time I hold my mouse over 'Play' in the main menu, Obi-wan and Darth Maul fight to the death. Good times.
