May 24, 2002 - One of the surprise announcements right before the Expo last week was LucasArts revelation that they'd not only add to the Episode II madness with a Bounty Hunter prequel, but also throw in a post-Attack story with the vehicle shooter Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Set immediately after the events of Episode II, gamers can choose from three different Jedi in a quest to end the tyranny of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Be it Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Vader-to-be Anakin Skywalker, the player can step into the shoes of the three main force-wielders of the second movie (Yoda not included). Interestingly enough, the selection of each Jedi has no bearing on gameplay whatsoever. Entirely aesthetic in execution, the storyline will differ from character to character, but the vehicle manipulation will remain the same.

Laid out in a similar fashion to Star Wars: Jedi StarFighter (but built on a different engine), moving through the environments is a breeze. Whether we were on a STAP, in a tank, or flying through the air via speeder, the straightforward controls remained identical. Allowing for an easy transition from stage to stage. However there is a definite frame-rate problem in this early stage, so maintaining the illusion of high speeds is a bit difficult. Luckily, we've been assured that this will be fixed and headed for a solid 60 frames before ship.

The two coolest moments in Clone Wars however had to be the out of vehicle missions with lightsabers and the excellent war-like atmosphere when caught in the simulation of the climactic final battle of Episode II. Not only are there scores of vehicles, walkers, starships, and laser blasts coming from all directions as you advance, but there are plenty of Medal of Honor-like moments that simulate a real war. As both sides clash in a dramatic struggle, a true feeling of being caught up in the movie overtook us like a hungry Rancor.

Headed for stores this fall, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is looking as though it will be just as solid as the forthcoming Bounty Hunter. 30 units, a boatload of stages and levels, and the sweeping emotional soundtrack from the motion picture equals one hell of a cool experience. We'll be back with more... soon.