Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance
Developer(s)	LucasArts Singapore
Publisher(s)	LucasArts
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release	November 11, 2008
Genre(s)	Adventure[1]

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance is an action-adventure game developed and published by Lucasarts. It was released for the Nintendo DS on November 11, 2008. It is set in the science fiction universe of Star Wars and is a tie-in to the Clone Wars TV series.^[2][3] A companion game for the Wii, Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels, was released on the same day.

Gameplay[]

The game utilizes complete use of the Nintendo DS stylus to control the characters' movements and actions, especially during lightsaber combat; there are also special action sequences in which the player must complete quick-time events by quickly making the correct stylus strokes on-screen to help the characters avoid a dangerous situation. "Jedi Alliance" features ten levels in which the player must select two of the following Jedi characters —Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto—to proceed through a story original to the game. Each character has special abilities that can uncover new areas and collectibles throughout the game. Each pair can employ unique combo attacks, which become stronger the more that pair is used. During some moments, R2-D2 and C-3PO are also playable, though their abilities are limited.

After completing missions and various challenges in the missions, the player can unlock new costumes for the characters, as well as concept art for the game.

Plot[]

Setting[]

The game is set in the familiar Star Wars universe and takes places on new planets seen in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and series such as Christophsis, as well as the capital planet Coruscant, and the home planet of the Nightsisters, Dathomir. The initial level takes place on a Republic transport cruiser named the Sedawan, newly-designed for the game.

Story[]

The story revolves around a raid on a Republic cargo transport, the cargo being Kyber crystals used in the construction of a Jedi's standard weapon: the lightsaber. Two Jedi (of the player's choice) are sent to investigate the theft and stumble upon a plot involving the anti-Republic Separatists and a female-only clan of force users known as the Nightsisters, who possess powers unknown to the Jedi.

In the search for the stolen crystals the Jedi travel to various planets, and eventually discover that the separatists have constructed a new battle ship that utilizes the stolen crystals to fire a beam of immense energy, which could tip the balance of power in their favor. The player must then help the Jedi dismantle the ship before it can be used against the Republic.

Development[]

Following the release of The Clone Wars animated series, the game features a new original story set in the series continuity. Jedi Alliance was produced alongside the animated TV series in the same studio in Singapore, and features the same voice actors,^[4][5] which recorded over 3,500 lines of dialogue for the game that were translated into several languages.^[6] The game's original title was "Day of the Nightsisters", in reference to LucasArt's classic, Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle but was changed. The game's antagonists, the Nightsisters, were first introduced in The Courtship of Princess Leia, and were later reintroduced in the TV series as allies of the Separatists.^[7] A regular shadow technique on the Nintendo DS was a simple dark circle, but the development team wanted something more realistic. Due to hardware limitations a new method had to be made and was implemented in the game.^[8] The completed game took up 256 megabytes of space on the Nintendo DS Game Card.^[9] Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels for the Wii and Jedi Alliance were both released at the same time to coincide with the airing of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Prima Games published an official game guide on the same release date, which contains an extensive walkthrough for both Lightsaber Duels and Jedi Alliance.^[10]

Reception[]

Critics pointed out that it was a very well made action game, from designs to details, music and sound.^[13] Cheat Code central said that the story was an "interesting tale with entertaining dialogue".^[14] PAL GN praised the game for having a strong story, solid visuals and great implementation of voiced dialogue, but criticized the game-play for being overly simplistic and its combat system inefficient.^[15]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website