A sensational Beat'em Up

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(Edited)

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LucasArts, the video games division of LucasFilm, also did its homework launching between 1999 and 2001 all kinds of video games based on Episode I. Titles that sometimes expanded and other times made us relive what was shown in the Lucas film. From Sims Life based on the ecosystems of the planet Naboo to Episode I Racer, a simply brutal racing title. Logically going through the official video game of the film.

Released in 1999 for the original PlayStation and PC, Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace was an adventure game in which exploration had much more weight than action. Perhaps they were things of the age, but its camera and its control system were far from fascinating me as they had done those brand new Jedi, half fighting monks half acrobats, who looked so good on the big screen.

In fact, it wasn't even at the level of other previous Star Wars titles: despite the fact that Episode I: The Phantom Menace captured the essence of the film and its plot, video games such as Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire or Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II ran a hand over his face. Luckily, the following year Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles arrived. That free adaptation of the film that many, including myself, wanted to play on consoles.

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Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles: o The Phantom Menace told in action key

The official game for Episode I: The Phantom Menace was designed to be one of the best and most complete companions of the eponymous movie. In fact, he presents and proposes us to take part in many events and events that, for various reasons, have not been captured in the film. However, the focus of Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles was just the opposite: a title that turned each section of the film into a scene full of action and platforms.

Altogether, fourteen enormous levels, as generous in variety as in content. With its own phase traps, its tight jumps, its combat against waves of enemies and its final bosses. Scenarios designed to be toured on our own and to be enjoyed even more brand new cooperative for two players.

And not only did we have the main heroes of the film at our disposal, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his young disciple Obi-Wan Kenobi were joined by the mighty Mace Windu, the deadly Adi Gallia, and the devastating Plo Koon as selectable characters. From the beginning.

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Five powerful Jedi brilliantly contrasted, with their own fighting style and special abilities that also defined their role in multiplayer. To which we must add the possibility of customizing them through a highly successful level-raising system. And not only that, common mechanics were also included, such as a lightsaber return laser system that required minimal reflections.

With that on the table, the true genius of Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles was in the stupendous balance between the design of its enormous settings and the enormous variety of heroes at our disposal, so that, without separating itself from the events of the In the movie, we had to fight in the style of arcade-style beat'em ups as well as move through tight jumps on natural cliffs, exotic ruins, anti-gravity moving platforms or very narrow ledges.

From the trade federation ship, from which we had to desperately escape, to the convoluted and narrow corridors of the generators of the planet Naboo, cleaning from enemies, planets as exotic as Coruscant or Tatooine. A true adventure tour through the galaxy.

And there was a stupendous variety of enemies: there were tons of Battle Droids, crawling Jawas, noble Gungan warriors, and even a mysterious Sith with a double-bladed saber.

Playable, Jedi Power Battles was - and is - a delight. Of course, its maximum success was its replayability: along with the level-raising system, its modes and extra phases and huge scenarios designed to be toured hundreds of times, the game gained a new layer of fun through its unlockables, like Queen Amidala and Captain Panaka (both of whom use blasters instead of lightsabers) or Darth Maul himself.

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As a result of all the above, LucasArts achieved a sensational game using contemporary technology and elements, and at the same time, a classic approach whose infinite fanservice and even better integrated John Williams soundtrack made it an irresistible experience. for fans of PlayStation, Dreamcast and, to a lesser extent, even Game Boy Advance.

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The same proposal of pure Jedi action in three versions

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The staggered release of Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles was chosen wisely: its arrival on PlayStation was in March 2000, just days before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace hit homes in VHS format. As an added fact, the DVD version of the film would arrive a year later, being the first film in the saga to bet on the digital format.

As we discussed, the Jedi Power Battles experience revolves around the design of levels and the way in which these narrate the part corresponding to the Jedi of The Phantom Menace. The key to achieving this challenge was in the hands of Michael Stuart Litcht, who transformed each of the locations of the film into simplified designs on paper with diagrams and annotations so that the developers understood the ideas and the narrative without interrupting the flow of the action.

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Ultimately, ideas and studies on gameplay, mainly design, that would not take the final form of models and three-dimensional phases until they were completely tied.

All in all, the PlayStation version of Jedi Power Battles was no technical prodigy - Episode I: The Phantom Menace was not either - but it managed to convey the full feel of the film. Of course, the best version of the game would see the light in Dreamcast.

LucasArts not only adapted the PSX experience to the characteristics of the SEGA 128-bit, but also knew how to take better and better advantage of the eight-month margin to polish the gameplay, add content that remained in the pipeline on the Sony console (like Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi) or a sort of duel mode (versus) for players to train each character's abilities.

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Although, in general, both versions were similar, in terms of finishes and details DreamCast came out - logically - victorious. However, LucasArts also remembered Nintendo users. More specifically, those of the recently launched Game Boy Advance.

The portable version of Star Wars: Jedi Power Battles was custom-made for the console, disregarding any three-dimensional element, interspersing phases of isometric perspective with others of lateral scroll and accommodating its contents as possible to the small screen.

A version loaded with good intentions and weighed down by the controls: jumps, attacks against multiple enemies or the design of certain phases could test our patience. Especially in the final match. Perhaps most scenarios and the three most beloved characters (four if we count Darth Maul as unlockable) said present, but that game was too far from the desktop experience.

Luckily, LucasArts would be more inspired by the Game Boy adaptations of the following movies.

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A lost Star Wars classic that deserves to return

Most classic Star Wars games developed by LucasArts have been recovered in one way or another for current systems. Sometimes with custom reissues, others through backward compatibility systems and, in general, updating its appearance or adding improvements.

The return of many of them was a relatively simple process, since most saw the light on PC, although we have also seen very grateful surprises on consoles such as the SNES Super Star Wars, Star Wars Bounty Hunter of 128-bit systems, Star Wars Racer Revenge from PS2 or Star Wars Republic Commando from the first Xbox.

And despite the fact that several games from the Phantom Menace have returned and have been available for some time on PCs and consoles, such as Episode I Racer or Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo, the truth is that the return of Jedi Power Battles is still a task. pending.

Not that LucasArts threw away his formula. In fact, the official video game of Revenge of the Sith or Star Wars: The New Droid Army tried to follow in its wake, with Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes (already based on the animated series The Clon Wars) its true successor.

The reality, on the other hand, is that these types of action adventure experiences and platforms with an emphasis on the cooperative were increasingly adapted to the general public, marking the beginning of one of the collaborations - or rather crossovers? - more long-lived from LucasArts: the LEGO Star Wars Seal.

¿Will we see the return of Jedi Power Battles on current systems? For now, the consoles of Nintendo and Sony are preparing to receive Star Wars: Episode I Racer (another great game) with which the only conclusion that we can draw is that the door is not closed completely. Until then, the designs of the Force will have to be trusted.



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