STAR WARS: REBEL ASSAULT II

Rebel Assault II is the newest offering in the Star Wars computer gaming series from Lucas Arts. It is the sequel to the action?arcade game Rebel Assault. However, the sequel has been much improved, featuring original footage from the Star War movies, a next generation custom animation engine, 10?channel stereo, and an original story.

The game is a unique interactive computer game that sets it apart from other games in the genre. The player is put in the role of Rookie 1, the latest rebel alliance pilot to take up arms against the Empire. The game allows the player to test his piloting skills flying an X?wing fighter and shooting skills in ground combat against Imperial Storm Troopers. However, interspaced between the battles are neat video clips that put you in the role of the rookie.

The graphics, art, animation, sound tracks, and video effects have the feel of the original movies. The designers took great pains to ensure the accuracy of the ships, scenes, and characters in the game. It was almost a shame to shoot the white­clad Imperial Storm Troopers. Well, only for a second; after all, they did shoot first.

The opening video scene sets the stage with a meeting between Darth Vader and his admirals. The scene then switches to conversation between three rebel pilots regarding the rumors that they are in a haunted quadrant of space. The three pilots are then destroyed by imperial fighters.

The game begins with Chapter One: The Dreighton Triangle. The chapter opens with two rebel pilots, a commander, and the player flying a patrol in their X?Wing fighters. They intercept an emergency message from the transport Correlia, which is being jumped by empire fighters. The two are themselves jumped by enemy fighters. Then, after the battle, as Rookie 1 and his wingman try to figure out where the fighters came from, the poor rookie is shot down and lands on a desert planet. Fortunately, the Empire has a secret base nearby, and the player gets to shoot his way through to the hangar deck and then in a daring escape gets to fly the Correlia, a large transport ship, through the air conditioning vents of the enemy bunker.

There are 15 different chapters plus the finale, and each is unique. Each requires the player to battle his way through to the next chapter. Players cannot move to the next level until they have completed the previous adventure and acquired the password that allows them to move on. At the end of the chapter, the player's performance during the battle is measured. Outstanding performance will result in medals, promotions, and bonus points for exceptional shooting and flying ability, while sub­par performance will maintain your rookie status.

The net effect of flying and shooting is unlike most other games on the market. The inclusion of the video clips gives the game a nice interactive feel and also gives players an opportunity to rest between battles.

If the enemy's performance is too mundane, the gamer can also change the difficulty levels of the game. Everything from the hit points, laser delay, damage, and scores of other criteria can be adjusted to suit the individual players. The game can be played using the mouse, keyboard, or joystick. The keyboard was the weapon of choice for this author.

Although there is lots of shooting, there is no blood or gore. A hit on an enemy trooper results in a groan from the enemy and that's it. Ships simply disappear in a ball of fire. Still there are lots of bolts of light flying about, and the Empire never seems to run out of troopers or fighter pilots. The game box says its good for kids 6+, but I think 10 is about the right age to start playing the game.

The game retails for $59.95 and is well worth the money if you're a Star Wars fan or just looking for a game that is a little more than a shot?um?up. Buyers beware though?all those graphics burn up bits and bytes: the game requires a 50 Mhz 486, double?speed CD, and 8 megabytes of RAM.

SILENT HUNTER

Silent Hunter is a World War II American Submarine simulation game from SSI. In SH you take the place of a US submarine captain, whose job is to sink as much enemy shipping as possible. But watch out: the Japanese are not going to make it easy, and the consistent malfunctions of the US torpedoes is no help either.

The game comes on CD ROM for the IBM PC platform. A minimum 486/66 DX2 is required, but a Pentium is recommended. We played the game on a 486/66 with no problems. Also required are 8 megs of RAM, a 1 meg SVGA card with a VESA driver, Dos 5.0 or higher, and a 2X speed CD­ROM (we used an old NEC Intersect CD ROM with no problems). An uncompressed hard drive is recommended and the Soundblaster family of sound cards is supported.

Upon starting the game, the player is presented with two play options. He can either play a single mission, or start a campaign. He can also take a tour of the USS Pampanito, or listen to interviews. Both options are well done and informative.

Playing a single mission will allow the player to perform one mission of his choosing: a historic mission, a convoy encounter, a warship encounter, a patrol encounter, or a special mission, such as rescuing downed pilots (I've never seen this type of mission offered in a submarine game before, and it is a welcome addition). A database of best missions is maintained so that the player can compare his results with others and thusly gauge his performance.

There are three difficulty levels (and various other "realism" switches) that can adjust the game between the extremes of an arcade game where the sub has unlimited ammo and is invulnerable, to a very intense and realistic encounter. Some other variables that can be thrown in are limited depth data, realistic charts, and the potential to run aground. What's more, for those interested in ultimate realism, you can even plot your own torpedoes. The reference book comes complete with a trigonometry lesson to aid you. You also may choose your submarine, including the S Class, Barracuda, Narwhal, P Class, Salmon, T Class, Gato, Balao, and Tench type submarines.

If the player starts a career, he must choose the date on which to do so. This selection will determine what kind of submarine he is assigned to and the various features it might have. The sub will be assigned various missions and will receive radio traffic during the patrol that may alter those missions.

Graphically the game is quite good, living up to the standards set by SSI's most recent releases. The interface is mostly free of ambiguities, although I had to look up how to dive the boat the first time I played. All in all, this game is a welcome addition, certainly a step up from Silent Service 11. Many intense hours have been spent playing this game in the OSS office, oftentimes culminating in shaky hands and sweaty brows. The game is good, and as an educational tool, is unparalleled. We highly recommend it.

ONLINE ONLY

SSI has relased to "Online Only" versions of their two previouslt released games Panzer General and Dark?Sun: Crimson Sands. Although we have not tried the online version of Panzer General, we've spent considerable time playing with Crimson Sands from their AD&D series. It is a hoot! As a player you can intereact with several other online players in a total fantasy environment filled with danger and adventure. For those looking for something to do online, we can't recomend this release enough.

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