Review
Release Date: 11.09.2002
Platform:
Game Boy AdvanceDeveloper:
HelixePublisher:
THQ, Inc.Reviewed by
Wade Monnig on 4.27.2003
Ah, young padawan, you seek a portable Star Wars experience but still feel pain after spending your hard earned credits on Star Wars: Attack of The Clones? Give not into the Dark Side; THQ may be able to alleviate your pain, your hate and your suffering. Adventure? Excitement? They know you crave these things and Star Wars: The New Droid Army provides them. But, isn’t there more to being a Jedi?
In the latest Star Wars GBA adventure, you take control of Young Anakin Skywalker after then end of Episode II in order to fight a resurgence of the droid army. With the power of the force and the cunning wielding of a light saber, you’ll cut through the threat like…well...a pissed off Anakin through a village of Tusken Raiders.
A true Jedi will want to begin the game on Master Level, which provides a hearty challenge and eliminates the button mashing mentality that is easier to adopt at the Padawan and Knight levels.
The A button executes a basic Light Saber attack and pressing A with a direction executes moves such as a twirling attack or a flip attack. The B button is used for blaster deflection. Proper timing with the block button will even reflect shots back at the attacking enemy. The R button is used to activate the Force Ability you currently have equipped.
Even a strong Jedi such as Anakin feels the drain of constantly using the Force. This is reflected in the Force Power Meter. It starts fully charge at 100. Each move, such as swinging your light saber, using force powers and deflecting blaster bolts drains this. The meter slowly replenishes itself when you are not attacking or defending. Of course, using the force only for deflecting blaster bolts would be a waste of Jedi powers. Anakin also uses Force speed, Force Jump and the droid toppling Force Push. Using these additional powers is what really adds technique to the game. For instance, you can whip out a flurry of light saber attacks at the end of a force jump. So, when you are approaching a cluster of battle droids you can force jump into them and, while you are in the air, prepare your spin attack. Upon landing, you will pull off the spin and destroy them all. It is moments like this that make you feel like you are really controlling a Jedi.
The New Droid Army takes Anakin from Tatooine to the heart of the Techno Union Alliance. Some of the areas really capture the feel of the movies, especially when you take on the first boss at the Sarlacc pit. Just remember how Luke battled during this scene in Return of the Jedi and try it out for yourself. Other scenes are also faithfully integrated into the game and, you get to make a little history of your own during the final boss battle.
The drawbacks of New Droid Army are its relatively short length and the lack of technique needed on the lower difficulty levels. While playing on Padawan level, you can hack and slash your way through the game with little hindrance. Even bosses only require constant attack, force jumps and an occasional recharge of the Force meter to defeat. Factor in the lack of puzzles or unlockables and NDA feels distinctly like a Star Wars based dungeon hack without the dungeon.
What Star Wars: The New Droid Army does, it does well. But if you are looking for more than constant force enhanced hand-to-hand battles, you might be disappointed.
