Given the success and popularity of the Star Wars movies, it makes sense that plenty of video games based on George Lucas’ storied franchise were released over the years. Some of these were truly great, like Bioware’s seminal role-playing adventure Knights of the Old Republic, while others like Jedi Power Battles, which was based on 1999’s The Phantom Menace, left a lot to be desired.
Thankfully though, one of the better Star Wars games to date has hit Valve’s Steam online video game store, and is now available for fans of the epic galactic saga to check out. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 3D was first available for Nintendo’s N64 console back in 1998, and is considered by many to be one of the best Star Wars games made to date.
Rogue Squadron 3D is based on a Star Wars novel and comic book series of the same name, and the game’s plot features a group of maverick Starfighter pilots under the command of Luke Skywalker. The game’s story takes place shortly after the events of the original Star Wars movie, that is after the Rebel Alliance had blown up the Death Star to smithereens and foiled the Empire’s plans.
The game’s 3D action is rather straightforward, featuring planetary surface encounters (but no space battles, sadly) and players can pilot the Rebel Alliance iconic X-wing spaceships, and other craft, including snowspeeder vehicles. Players will face the Empire’s Tie Fighter pilots and even the massive AT-AT walkers seen in The Empire Strikes Back movie, throughout the game’s missions.
Back in 1998 Rogue Squadron’s visuals were cutting edge, with superb lighting and special effects for the time, although the game admittedly looks rather dated these days, but hopefully the engaging gameplay that made the game so dear to 1998 players will make Star Wars: Rogue Squadron a game worth trying out for modern gamers.