Now that Star Wars has the world in a tight Force-grip once again, it’s the perfect time to revisit those video-game spin-offs you might have forgotten about.
However, with dozens of them across multiple platforms, not all can hit the mark – inevitably, some are going to miss like an X-Wing with a dodgy targeting-computer.
Still, some titles out there are pretty divisive, and at least one of the games we’ve chosen to revisit has the power to split opinion. Regardless of their merits or flaws, we still think several deserve a fresh look.
So, pull on your Jedi robe, pour yourself a pint of blue milk, and check out our pick of five Star Wars games worth another try …
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Released as a tie-in to Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Bounty Hunter is a third-person adventure starring Jango Fett.
While we’re still to see a game based around Boba Fett (one of the coolest, most iconic characters in the entire Star Wars universe), Bounty Hunter at least gets us close.
It’s always refreshing to see a Star Wars game that avoids wheeling out the same old characters, and this goes further by showing us the galactic underworld, covering plenty of diverse locations (including a prison break-in on an asteroid).
Bounty Hunter has its fans, and if you’ve never played it, or forgot about it long ago, it’s well worth another try.
Let’s face it – the chance to wield two blasters and soar in a jet-pack is pretty damn irresistible!
It’s always refreshing to see a Star Wars game that avoids wheeling out the same old characters, and this goes further by showing us the galactic underworld, covering plenty of diverse locations (including a prison break-in on an asteroid).
Bounty Hunter has its fans, and if you’ve never played it, or forgot about it long ago, it’s well worth another try.
Let’s face it – the chance to wield two blasters and soar in a jet-pack is pretty damn irresistible!
Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi
Now, we know many of you will be stunned to see this game on a list of titles worth another look. Masters of Teräs Käsi doesn’t exactly have the biggest fan-base (to put it mildly), but it still has its moments.
A Star Wars-based fighting game is a tricky thing to get right. After all, pitting certain characters against each other demands a huge suspension of disbelief. Toss Darth Vader and a lowly Tusken Raider into an arena, and it’s a pretty good bet the Sith Lord’s walking away as the champ.
Likewise, pit a stormtrooper against Boba Fett, and he’ll be a smouldering heap of black-and-white armour within seconds.
In Masters of Teräs Käsi, however, characters armed with a pistol can go up against lightsaber-waving enemies trained in the ways of the Force and actually win. The fighting is fairly stiff, the controls are baffling at times, and falling out of the arenas often leads to frustrating losses – but there’s still stuff here to enjoy.
For example, throwing Luke against Vader on Endor is a thrill, as is a showdown between Han and Boba in Bespin’s carbonite freezing chamber.
The fact that this is so different to the majority of other Star Wars games also marks it out as a title deserving of another spin.
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
While EA has just given us a shiny new Battlefront game, the PSP is home to two smaller instalments in the beloved series, both of which are a blast to play.
Renegade Squadron is the first Battlefront game to provide customisation options: rather than choosing from five or so classes at the start of a skirmish, you now can actually build your fighter from a modest selection of choices. Want to play as a rebel Rodian? Go for it! Fancy equipping your stormtrooper with a chaingun? It’s yours!
While multiplayer mode is available, single-player content is here in abundance. A campaign mode follows Han Solo’s titular squad (though one-eyed Col Serra commands the troops most of the time), with the story culminating in the Battle of Endor.
Instant Action returns, allowing you to play conquest-based and capture-the-flag skirmishes. Galactic Conquest is also back from Battlefront II, putting players in charge of a fleet on a mission to conquer the galaxy (just like it says on the tin!).
If you’ve got a copy of this packed away with your PSP, it’s definitely worth booting-up for a while. While you’re at it, take a look at …
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Elite Squadron is the sequel to Renegade Squadron, offering a deeper, more compelling story, based around a force-sensitive clone known only as X2. Assigned to Jedi Master Ferroda (alongside his brother X1), X2 is put in charge of training clones throughout the Clone Wars.
Following the end of the war, X1 goes off to the Galactic Empire, but X2 ( filled with guilt over killing Master Ferroda) eventually joins the Rebel Alliance. The story follows these brothers as they grow in strength and abilities, becoming more important to their respective sides.
As well as this campaign mode, Elite Squadron also offers Instant Action and Galactic Conquest, both much the same as before. However, one major change the game introduces is multi-layered maps – you can now start off on the ground, jump into a ship for an aerial battle, and then transition to space!
This is an amazing addition to the series, helping to make the universe feel bigger, more open.
Another excellent feature is the option to play as heroes and villains during space-combat missions. Want to fly the Millennium Falcon? Say ‘yes’ when prompted to play as Han Solo, and the old girl’s yours – she’s as much fun to fly as you imagine! Want to play in Slave I? Again, say ‘yes’ when prompted to take on the mantle of Boba Fett.
While this is obviously still a pared-down Battlefront experience, it’s great fun, surprisingly deep, and crammed with stuff to come back for.
Star Wars: Episode I Racer
Ah, The Phantom Menace. Few films have the power to instil such venomous rage in Star Wars fans: some loathe it, some simply dislike it, and others will resort to the dreaded ‘meh’ when asked their thoughts on the movie.
Still, whatever your opinion on The Phantom Menace, it does have its good points – and this extends to some of the tie-in merchandise, particularly Episode I Racer, the game based around the film’s iconic pod-racing sequence.
Released on multiple platforms (most notably the Nintendo 64), Episode I Racer was once stunning to look at, but has, sadly, aged a little less gracefully than some of the other titles on this list. Players can choose from 23 vehicles and 25 tracks across 8 worlds – including the Tatooine circuit seen in the film.
Expanding on the concept Lucas introduced in The Phantom Menace, Episode I Racer offers multiple modes, including Tournament, Free Race, Time Attack, and 2 Player. As you progress through the tournament mode, you can purchase upgrades, and unlock tracks & additional racers.
While Episode I Racer might not be the best game on this list, it’s still decent – provided you give yourself time to get comfortable with the controls.
That’s it – our five Star Wars games worth another look! What do you think of our choices? Let us know!
