Unless you are the inventor of some kind of enviable media hype blackout device, there’s every chance that you’re aware that this summer George Lucas brings us the final installment in his trilogy of prequels to his legendary Star Wars trilogy. And according to the tradition started back in 1977, the release of any Star Wars movie must be accompanied by a deluge of merchandise. Add to that the knowledge that at all times a steady trickle of Star Wars spin-off video games will find its way in ... more >>

Unless you are the inventor of some kind of enviable media hype blackout device, there’s every chance that you’re aware that this summer George Lucas brings us the final installment in his trilogy of prequels to his legendary Star Wars trilogy. And according to the tradition started back in 1977, the release of any Star Wars movie must be accompanied by a deluge of merchandise. Add to that the knowledge that at all times a steady trickle of Star Wars spin-off video games will find its way into the market (Pod Racers, Knights of the Old Republic, Lego Star Wars, Star Wars Galaxies etc. etc.), and it’ll come as no surprise if we say that another digital version of everyone’s favourite space opera looms large on the horizon.

The latest film, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, has at its centre a full explanation of how Anakin Skywalker transformed from the gawky blond teenager we saw in the last episode to the bio-mechanised, burnished black heavy breather we remember from the first films. In the game by the same name you can play as Anakin or Obi Wan Kenobi, and experience white knuckle light sabre duels inspired by the movie. Master the mysterious power of the Force, and upgrade the attacks and combos of your Jedi knight as you explore the universe in which the film is set, made more real by sound effects from the film and a grandiose soundtrack inspired by it. In fact, the game takes you beyond the film, with 16 interactive levels of which some are direct locations from the movie, and others are inspired by it. There’s also a multiplayer mode in which you can battle it out with a number of characters, including the fully fledged Lord Vader of the Sith.

In this adventure you must choose, marked by fate as you are, whether you will stay on the light side of the force or be lured to the sinister Dark side. << less