I wanna be a Jedi Knight

Ever since the words "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." first appeared on the movie screen in 1977, I've been hooked on "Star Wars." Kids in my neighborhood in upstate New York didn't play Cowboys and Indians. We played Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader.

My other hobby is playing computer games, so it's no surprise that I've played most every Star Wars-related video game or PC game ever produced. As a kid, I spent more hours playing The Empire Strikes Back on the Atari 2600 than doing homework (Object: Destroy the AT-AT with your snowspeeder. Repeat forever.) Thankfully, the games have gotten better.

A few years ago, my first experience with online gaming was with the Star Wars game Jedi Knight. Of course, as I joined a server I was immediately hacked to pieces by another Jedi (an eeeevil Jedi) with a light saber. But since the evil Jedi was human and not a computer opponent, I was hooked all over again. Sure, the human might have been cheating, but at least there was some intelligence behind the animated character.

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My other hobby is playing computer games, so it's no surprise that I've played most every Star Wars-related video game or PC game ever produced. As a kid, I spent more hours playing The Empire Strikes Back on the Atari 2600 than doing homework (Object: Destroy the AT-AT with your snowspeeder. Repeat forever.) Thankfully, the games have gotten better.

A few years ago, my first experience with online gaming was with the Star Wars game Jedi Knight. Of course, as I joined a server I was immediately hacked to pieces by another Jedi (an eeeevil Jedi) with a light saber. But since the evil Jedi was human and not a computer opponent, I was hooked all over again. Sure, the human might have been cheating, but at least there was some intelligence behind the animated character.

The latest game in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Battlefront (LucasArts, $50) lets you take part in the larger battles from the movies. In this game, you play as a front-line soldier (or pilot), rather than the hero. If you've ever wanted to be a Stormtrooper, here's your chance.

If you've played the Battlefield 1942 series from Electronic Arts, you'll feel right at home in Star Wars Battlefront. You choose what type of soldier you want to be (fast infantry, or slower soldier but armed with a missile launcher?), and then jump into a planet-side battle with lots of other soldiers, some with you, some against you.

Team dynamics are much more important than just rushing into battle and shooting everyone in sight. Each side has specific objectives and command points they need to capture to achieve victory. Defending an area is just as important as attacking, and you get to choose which stance to take. And when your character gets killed, you can jump in as a different soldier type and try a different approach.

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The graphics, music and controls are top-notch; the designers do a great job of making you feel like you're a part of the movie. When you play battles connected to the battle of Hoth or the battle of Naboo, for instance, you get to see a movie clip before the fight begins.

Star Wars Battlefront took me back to my Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader battles all over again.

Shaw has turned to the Dark Side. Contact him at offtheclock@nww.com .

GAME BYTES

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