5/10
Typical movie-to-game transition.
6 January 2002
As usual, somebody tried to make a game from a movie that didn't have enough gaming material.

The usual results?

A game that follows the movie in certain places, but adds so much other stuff that makes you wonder if it came from the movie. Also, it doesn't tie in with the movie or other Star Wars games based around The Phantom Menace. For instance, on the final level, you play as Queen Amidala. You must take Captain Panaka to capture the viceroy and, of course, win the battle and save the world. But in the game Battle for Naboo, Captain Panaka enlisted the aid of Gavyn Sykes and his battle cruiser to destroy one of the Trade Federation's hover tanks. This never happens in the game Phantom Menace.

A lot of things from Phantom Menace the game are entirely new. In fact, almost all of it is, such as rescuing Jar Jar Binks from the Gungans, or fighting off some ugly guy to recover Anakin's stolen podracing pieces minutes before the race begins. Possibly one of the most frustrating parts of the game is attempting to trade various items in order to get parts for Anakin's pod racer. Or spending a whole fifteen minutes trying to get back up to the fight with Darth Maul could possibly be one of the most frustrating parts.

Also, the acting is terrible. Some of the voices are totally absurd in comparison to their counterpart actors in the movie. Possibly the worst is Darth Maul. He never says a word in the movie, yet in the game he brags to Obi-Wan Kenobi about killing Qui-Gon Jinn.

The music is pretty good, as it all was taken from John Williams composition in the movie.

All in all, play this game only if you really liked The Phantom Menace and feel the need to play as the characters. I wouldn't really suggest playing it before you've seen the movie, as the storyline and plot is all thrown in rather quickly.
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