 | SPECIAL EDITION CD-ROM Collection |
The LucasArts Archives Vol. II: The Star Wars Collection
from LucasArts Entertainment
Ever since the first Star Destroyer stretched across the movie screen in pursuit of Princess Leia's blockade runner, fans of Star Wars have wanted to claim the movies as their own, to participate in them if at all possible. The talented creators at Lucas Arts Entertainment, subsidiary of the same Lucasfilm Ltd. that produced the Star Wars trilogy, have been doing their best to create computer games that immerse the player in that galaxy a long time ago. In their latest Archival Collection, LucasArts has brought together examples of the best of their Star Wars games, plus added a treat: a multimedia CD-ROM entitled Making Magic, which offers tantalizing behind-the-scenes glimpses into the new footage being added to the Star Wars: Special Edition films due for release beginning in January.
For a hefty price of $49.90 [US], including Shipping and Handling, I received the 6-disc Archives within three days. Contained within were the full version of Rebel Assault and its follow-up, Rebel Assault 2; TIE Fighter CD; a sample version of Dark Forces; and the now infamous Making Magic. If you order the Archives II from a LucasArts mailing as I did, you also receive a $5.00 coupon to pre-order X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, the new multi-player space fight simulation game that continues the X-Wing and TIE series. This part of the deal is great for those of us that were either too cheap to buy the games in the first place or couldn't afford them. A little math tells me that these games, originally in the $50 range each, are only $12.50 a piece in this package: a great deal, if you don't already own them.
The LucasArts Archives 2
DARK FORCES
This 3D action game pits you as mercenary Kyle Katarn, fighting against Imperial Officers, Aliens, and even Boba Fett! It improves on the DOOM game engine, allowing you complete mobility, looking up and down, the works. I already own the full version of Dark Forces, so this three level sample of it wasn't especially exciting to me. The full version makes its mark at an A.
TIE FIGHTER CD
TIE Fighter is an Imperial perspective sequel to the long lived X-Wing game. The gameplay is flight simulator, you in the cockpit of Imperial TIE fighters, flying against the Rebel scum, and the more than occasional mercenary. Following the release of X-Wing CD, the original disk version of TIE had better graphics than its Rebel predecessor. TIE CD blows away it's previous incarnation with improved sound and graphics. It also includes a CD exclusive Tour of Duty for an extra ten minutes of gameplay. However, I quickly got bored playing it. The game wasn't nearly as good as X-Wing; the missions had little imagination to them, the ship properties weren't realistic (as they were in X-Wing). We can only look forward to the long-awaited sequel, X-Wing vs TIE Fighter, a multiplayer version where you can choose your sides, and team up or go all out; it promises to have even better graphics, more missions and more realistic properties. [Ed.'s Note: See our preview of X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter elsewhere in this issue.] Until then, TIE CD tops its grade at B-.
THE REBEL ASSAULT SERIES
The longest running series in LucasArts' Star Wars game department, the Rebel Assault series is an arcade style fight, allowing you only minute control over your actions. Rebel Assault 2, however, as sequels should, has more possibilities. However, game control is still limited. Ships, for example, fly pre-ordained flight paths that you can't deviate from; your control is limited to cross-hair movement. However, the game is redeemed by the footage. Like many new CD games, Rebel Assault 2 emphasizes digitized video cut scenes: they shot NEW (first footage since Return of the Jedi.. or the Ewok movies if you count them), LIVE footage of stormtroopers, people flying starfighters, and exciting blaster fights. There was so much, in fact, that the games require two 600 MB CD's. Both games are an OK play. They both get a B+.
A 20 YEAR JOURNEY - MAKING MAGIC
The real treasure of the LucasArts Archives 2 is the Making Magic Interactive CD-ROM. The Making Magic CD is Windows 95 compatible, and will open itself upon inserting the disc in the drive. It should work with a DOS or Windows 3.1 machine, but you'll have to start it manually. Don't worry, the Archives 2 has the standard array of great documentation and trouble-shooting tips, so it won't be a problem.
It will first query your system for sound and video configuration; this is automatic. You'll be greeted with a menu, which should explain itself... just go directly to "Begin Making Magic." Here's where the fun begins.
Multiple George Lucas soundbites explain why he wanted to make the Special Editions. The information here isn't anything that hasn't been floating around as rumor for some time, but the packaging is nicely done for those who have heard it, and is pleasantly surprising for those who haven't.
Sandwiched among the soundbites are the true gems of the CD: pictures, information and working animatics about the production of the additional scenes for the Special Editions. These sequences features the original scene, information about it, behind the scenes production of the new scene and a sequence of stills from the finished product. There is NO match to the material presented here; not even seeing the special trailer originally released this past summer with ID 4 , (since re-released in front of various Thanksgiving films), brought on this feeling. This is some of the most spectacular information presented yet, and delivered better than all the press releases, trailers, and web sites combined.
The "Lucasfilm Archives" section provides written and visual information that chronicles what's going on now - and who's doing it. It has a large volume of production and concept work, models and storyboards. Then "Industrial Light and Magic Production Crew" presents a couple video clips of the main players in the production, and how they performed their respective magic.
This CD contains about 490 megabytes of pure gold. It's worth every penny my father's credit card paid. The only complaint I had was the sparse information. It totals up to a 30 minute video press release, with no information that hasn't been already available from one source or another. It does show scenes still not released fully, seen in the presentation for the first time, such as the production meetings and the Computer Graphic models.
The refurbished scenes could generate quite a discussion about whether certain additions are beneficial or not to the feeling and pace of the movie. This CD-ROM will certainly give both sides a lot of ammunition. Making Magic chalks up to an A-.
ULTIMATELY...
I would definitely recommend the entire package to anyone who doesn't already have most of the PC games in it - the price is hard to beat for four games worth of high speed Star Wars action. Others may have to consider the expense versus the Making Magic CD very carefully - if you are an absolute Star Wars fanatic, or don't feel that $40 - $50 is too much to pay just for an interactive video kit that plays out in less than half and hour, the LucasArts Archives II: The Star Wars Collection is a must have. Others may want to wait and pay the six or seven bucks when the Special Editions hit the theater and decide then if they've spent too much money. The package makes its mark in the world at B+ (Average between included titles).
(Rob Cashman also answers to the names Rob Cashwalker and "Hey, you" at 75473.1141@compuserve.com)
