Journey into 'Star Wars' with action-packed CD-ROM

By Brian A. Gnatt
Daily Arts Writer

"Star Wars" games used to be a lot simpler. They usually had something to do with moving small two-dimensional paper figures of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo around a flat cardboard gameboard.

Thanks to "Star Wars" producer George Lucas, who has been involved in other film-related ventures since the end of the trilogy, mainly his special effects studio Industrial Light & Magic and his software company LucasArts, new "Star Wars" multimedia titles that make the film's board games of the past seem like mere antiques in the high-tech '90s.

LucasArts, which releases all of the new "Star Wars"-related multimedia games, has done a purely phenomenal job in designing and executing the various CD-ROM titles that appear in its latest release, "The LucasArts Archives Vol. II - 'Star Wars' Collection," an affordably priced six-CD-ROM collection of multimedia adventures. (Available for PC and Macintosh.)

In the set are four previously released best-selling "Star Wars" titles: "Rebel Assault," "TIE Fighter," "Dark Forces" and the two-CD "Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire." There is also a new disc, "Making Magic," which gives a preview of new scenes, storyboards, interviews and other treats from the re-released "Star Wars."

It's the games that are the highlight of the collection. They are superb for various reasons. First of all, they are visually and audibly delectable. While some are more film-like than others, they all capture the feeling of the "Star Wars" trilogy. The graphics, voices and actual sound and video clips from the movies put the player right in the center of the action. Whether it's in the cockpit or on foot, the games have taken the utmost care to maintain the continuity between the films and the CD-ROMs. Second, and most importantly, the games are all exciting.

"Rebel Assault II" is the bread winner of the collection. With its combination of live-action video (it contains some of the first footage shots since the original films), an exciting plot and a large variety in the many tasks the player must perform, the game is a blast to play. It contains both extensive cockpit flight and ground combat, which is significantly more exciting than simply one or the other, as in "TIE Fighter" and "Dark Forces."

The oldest of the titles, "Rebel Assault," still packs a strong punch with its vivid flight simulation and hand-to-hand combat. Its production is still impressive, yet clearly superseded by its sequel's live-video footage. The game is also a bit more difficult than the sequel, and players may have to repeat scenes over and over again before they are able to pass to the next mission.

"TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM" is the most difficult and probably the least exciting of the collection. The game is a high-tech flight simulator, and it is sometimes difficult to keep track of the dozens of commands and keystrokes it takes to fly an Imperial TIE fighter. The game's major virtue is that players get to experience a slice of life behind the controls in the Imperial Navy. It gives the plot a new twist, but lacks the excitement of some of the other titles.

The first-person, "Doom"-inspired "Dark Forces" appears here in a sampler edition and only contains three playable levels from the original release. Nevertheless, the play and design are a thrilling ride in this shoot-'em-up adventure.

While the games stay clear of graphic violence, their success at staying true to the "Star Wars" films is amazing. With the hundreds of sound effects, video and dialog clips from the original movies, players have a chance to get incredibly close to the classic story. They won't ever have to move little cardboard pieces around a boring old two-dimensional board again.

09-03-97