Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (video game)

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Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Developer(s) Big Ape Productions
Publisher(s) LucasArts
Designer(s) John Barnes
Mike Ebert
Dan Ross
Eric Wilder
Release date(s) Playstation PC
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
Platform(s) Playstation, Windows
Input Keyboard & Mouse (Mac & PC)
Gamepad (Playstation)

Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace was an arcade-adventure game released by LucasArts in 1999, contemporary with the release of the movie.

Visually the gameplay reminds 3rd-person 'over the head' view games like Tomb Raider, but such kind of actions, like jumping, climbing or pushing objects, is very limited, relying mostly on interaction and riddles. The player can control Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala or Captain Panaka. The game offers also a variety of weapons.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The plot closely follows that of the movie; although it expands on some minor events that could have been silenced or cut from the movie, or shows them from a different character's point of view (for example, it follows Amidala's 'adventures' on Coruscant during Anakin's interview in the Jedi Temple, something that is never shown or mentioned in the movie since it follows Anakin).

There are also some apparent inconsistencies or contradictions to the storyline, in order to generate a new narrative (for example, unlike the movie, in the game Jar Jar is imprisoned on his return to Otoh Gunga and the player has to rescue him to continue the adventure).

[edit] Levels

[edit] Film and game plot differences

[edit] Trade Federation Ship

After Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan retreat after the Droidekas come, Obi-Wan falls into a ventilation shaft, but Qui-Gon does not. The next time the two meet is at the end of the next level.

[edit] Swamps of Naboo

Instead of Qui-Gon saving Jar Jar's life, Obi-Wan is the first to meet the Gungan.

[edit] Otoh Gunga

The majority of the level revolves around Obi-Wan rescuing Jar Jar from prison. However, this never happens in the film.

[edit] Gardens of Theed

Similar to the previous level, Gardens of Theed starts with Obi-Wan getting cut off from Qui-Gon and Jar Jar at a bridge. The main objective is for Obi-Wan to reunite with Qui-Gon and Jar Jar.

[edit] Escape from Theed

This is also another level which invents new situations specifically for the game. The level once again starts off with Obi-Wan and Queen Amidala getting cut off from the rest of the group at the start. As Obi-Wan the player must escort Queen Amidala to the Hangar housing the Queen's ship.

[edit] Mos Espa

This is the first time the player plays Qui-Gon rather than Obi-Wan. Before entering the city, the player must kill some Tusken Raiders which attack Qui-Gon, Padme and Jar Jar. Qui-Gon must then find three parts to complete Anakin's podracer. This involves speaking to the various traders in the town and having to trade parts with them. Tradeable parts are either bought from vendors or obtained through sub-missions. A further deviation is that instead of getting money to enter the Boonta Eve Race from Watto, the player is offered to get money from Jabba the Hut by two of his Twi'Lek masseuses.

[edit] Mos Espa Arena

Continuing from the previous mission, Qui-Gon must get the entry money from Jabba the Hut. This involves having to defeat Jabba's "champion". Once this has been done, the player must retrieve a component stolen from Anakin's pod by a competitor.

[edit] Desert Encounter

Much the same as the corresponding fight against Darth Maul in the film.

[edit] Coruscant

The player now takes the role of Panaka. The entire mission is based around events which were not covered in the film. Queen Amidala is captured by some thugs, and Panaka must make his way through various levels of Coruscant to rescue her.

[edit] Assault on Theed

This level has the player alternating between Obi-Wan fighting Darth Maul and Amidala fighting her way to the Palace. Unlike in the film, at the end of the level, Obi-Wan is knocked off a walkway, and cannot continue the fight with Qui-Gon in this level.

[edit] The Final Battle

The player continues the roles of Obi-Wan and Padme. Having been knocked from the walkway at the end of the previous mission, the majority of the play time as Obi-Wan is spent jumping through the various levels of the Naboo Reactor in order to get back to the fight.

[edit] Weapons

[edit] Bosses

  • AATs -- Destroy with many explosives
  • Neg's Monster -- kill with lightsaber, blaster, explosives
  • Jabba's Champion -- kill with lightsaber, blaster, explosives
  • Machinery Thief -- kill with blaster, explosives
  • Darth Maul Battle I -- keep him away from hyperdrive and queen; fight with lightsaber
  • Coruscant Mercenary -- kill with heavy blaster
  • Nute Gunray -- any weapon will kill
  • Darth Maul Battle II -- kill with lightsaber or force push him into the shaft

[edit] One-time Characters

[edit] Critical reception

On release the game received mixed reviews. GameSpot praised the quality of the game's sound effects (in particular the music and the "solid voice acting"). It also noted the action sequences, but pointed out that many of these were flawed. Two major problems pointed out were the third person camera perspective and the difficulty curve [1]. Many other media outlets highlighted similar problems.

In March 2004, GMR Magazine placed The Phantom Menace number 4 on its list of the 5 worst Star Wars games.

[edit] Trivia

  • There is no ammo limit for any weapon
  • The "rex" cheat causes the light repeater to fire tank rounds but it hardly ever works.
  • It is remotely possible to force push Darth Maul into the energy doors. Doing so does not hurt him at all.
  • If you throw a thermal detonator at Qui-Gon's dead body, he will stand up again.

[edit] External links

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