Jedi Archive

the following is the G4-TV video review of Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided....really amazing how much has changed and yet how much it's stayed the same....anyway...good for a laugh, enjoy.

http://www.g4tv.com/mediaplayer/index.aspx?video_key=7439

Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided' (PC) Review
written by Greg Bemis and Matt Keil on Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Overall Rating **/*****

"Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided" is the most highly anticipated massively multiplayer release this year. Over the course of developing this game many promises were made and more than a few were broken. Since the game went live, "X-Play" has been traveling to the far corners of the galaxy to see if it's a worthwhile place to visit.

A long time ago, in a... blah, blah, blah

"Star Wars Galaxies" takes place in the time just preceding the events in "The Empire Strikes Back." This is good news, because Vader's a full-fledged badass as opposed to the whiney little brat from "Episodes I & II." Unfortunately, there are still Gungans ambling around. And Ewoks. God, we hate Ewoks.

After creating a character and choosing a basic profession, you're dropped into the game world and told to go make a life for yourself. Eight different races, each with different strengths and weaknesses, are available. The number of different ways you can customize your character is impressive. It's possible to create a character that looks completely different from any other just by tweaking its physical appearance.

The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded

Choosing a starting profession gives you a general idea of what kind of character you'll become. There are combat, crafting, and support professions. Instead of having your character go up in levels, like in "EverQuest," "Star Wars Galaxies" uses a skill system. If you use your blaster, you'll get better at using blasters. If you heal people, your medical skill will increase. Although it's an easy concept to understand, it's made ridiculously complex by the number of stats, skills, and modifiers you need to track. Keeping tabs on your attributes and the way items influence them is headache inducing.

The interface isn't any better. Basic commands are easy enough, but most detailed actions are performed by typing in slash commands in the chat bar. It's either that, or create a special button and assign it to a hotkey. This was a game that was supposed to be accessible to the mass market? Well, it isn't, not by a long shot.

A big point to "Star Wars Galaxies" is the interdependence between players. This works to a degree. Medics will usually hang around the hospital to heal players, entertainers stay in bars to sooth weary travelers, and artisans are constantly crafting items for other players to use. This last bit is especially important because nearly all of the items in the game are created by players. Unfortunately, the most effective way to buy and sell is through the kiosks located in each city. It's cold, impersonal, hard to use, and in no way fosters the kind of customer loyalty that crafters need to survive.

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid

If at this point, you're wondering just what any of this has to do with "Star Wars," join the club. What we have here is standard massively multiplayer role-playing game hosed down with "Star Wars" juice. All the familiar locations are here and it's really a beautiful game from a visual perspective. You can find popular characters from the movies and books if you seek them out. The sound effects and music are authentic, but that's about it.

Combat looks patently ridiculous. How many shots from a blaster does it take to kill a fluffy space bunny, anyway? You still have to wander around killing low-level critters to increase your combat skills, and the sight of a pet rancor following a player around like a puppy dog is laughable. Unless you decide to join the Alliance or the Empire, combat is only possible in predetermined battlefields. Most missions are variations on the fetch or kill quest.

These are not the droids you're looking for

And then there's the missing content. Want to drive your landspeeder to Anchorhead to pick up some new power converters? No can do, Luke. You'll have to walk there or take public transportation. Player-created cities, essential in making the player-driven economy actually work, are missing in action. Jedis? Don't ask us. No one has a clue how to become one. Perhaps the best thing about "Star Wars Galaxies" is the community. These are a great group of players who are dedicated to making this the best online game out there. It's just too bad this game in its current state doesn't live up to their level of dedication.

"Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided" (PC)

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