Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Star Wars : Empire at Warfrom Aspyr Media is the Mac play colossus ’s first biz exclusively for Intel - based Macs . As such , it has left a sour taste in the mouths of many PowerPC Mac users . But concord to Aspyr , it had no choice — it was either do that or not make the plot at all , harmonise to the troupe ’s director of development .
irrespective of whether it should have or even could have been produced to run on PowerPC - base Macs , Empire at War stands as a fantastic real - clip strategy secret plan set in theStar Warsuniverse ; if you have the equipment to run it , you ought to consider it .
Star Wars : Empire at War eschews the prequel trilogy but also avoids direct the “ original ” trilogy of Star Wars films — instead , it ’s set a few year before the event seen in the trio of films starring Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford . But the apparatus is the same — the Rebellion is stirring , and the Galactic Empire does n’t want to see it happen .
The game features a story style , a galactic conquest modality , and a skirmish mode . The story musical mode is oppressed with twists and turns , taking you through a complete adventure . In conquest mode , you may pick what side you need to toy as , wending your mode through series of military mission or just go in a flash for galactic domination . If you ’re just in the mood for a quick melee , you ’ll find the skirmish modality most rewarding .
At its most very introductory degree , Empire at War is break up between two master gameplay modes : One involves your maneuvering of space fleet between stars and planets , taking on enemies in the vast reaches of interstellar space . You ask to do this to attain ground mastery by building fortresses and deploying troop .
In addition to intricate literal - time space battles , you ’ll also control the flow of fleets from one system to another , and your command of private planet will affect how many resources — galactic credits — you may throw at the problems you ’re confront with . minelaying materials from asteroids can also help you generate quotation .
As a full general on the ground , you lead unit into battle for domination of planetary surfaces . Although there ’s a fair amount of dispute graphically between land and space , the basic mechanics are pretty similar — Empire at War does n’t dabble in the six point of motion that made interstellar combat so interesting in Homeworld II ( also by Aspyr ) , and that ’s a disappointment . But it also make the plot a bit more approachable . Still , the approximation of endure through a nebula field instead of over it or under it is distressing for anyone who acknowledge that infinite is more than just a two - dimensional tabletop .
It ’s a Trap!Star Destroyers take on Mon Calamari cruisers in this quad struggle . Could Admiral Ackbar be far behind ?
If you ’ve played strategy games long enough you ’re undoubtedly conversant with the concept of the Hero unit — he or she diffuse your forces with particular fire or defence capabilities . AndPetroglyph , the developer of this plot , has carried over that functionality with Hero unit that will be instantly conversant to Star Wars fans : Darth Vader , Han Solo and Chewie and so forth ( even R2 - D2 and C3PO make appearances ) . While your Heros greatly pad your forces as they go into combat , your opponent can counter with bounty hunters , who will take them out — obviously , to keep the mythology intact , not for good , but long enough to turn the tide of battle against you . Some of the special unit you’re able to create as you amass credits and build up additional installations are really inventive — ideate sending in aRancorto pommel an enemy squadron , for example .
RTS games can often get bogged down in micromanagement as resourcefulness manipulation and engineering become important factors in building your armadas or your Army . Empire at War is no dissimilar . Interstellar resource management takes a bit of getting used to , especially equate to the very approachable skirmish mode , and candidly , I was lost a bit at the beginning as I stepped through the tutorial . Fortunately , a tutorial is render to avail you get the basic principle , and it really does help . You ’ll distinguish that each side in this conflict has effectiveness and weaknesses . The Empire , for lesson , is fantastic when it comes to stuff output and yield , and can put forward bunch of money very quickly . The Rebellion , by necessary , has to bank more on subterfuge , undercover work and so on , and does that very well . A engineering tree and other comparative posture and weakness between forces is outlined in a mathematical function that Aspyr provides along with the certification .
One of my favorite twists in the plot is a cinematic style . If you ’re pretty comfortable that the masses you ’ve launched against the enemy will be able to handle themselves in engagement , you’re able to tap an icon in the heads - up display to activate the cinema style , which draw you into the natural process directly , coiffe up television camera panorama from the linear perspective of the units in reality doing the fighting . It ’s loads of fun watching capital ships get blown up by squadron of fighters and frigate in space , though it ’s not quite as spectacular as the movies ’ especial upshot .
Multiplayer play is present , too . The game does n’t provide for multiplatform gameplay , and I ’ve found very few other players to act against online , usingGameTap , a multiplayer gambling serving . It ’s a letdown , but if you do see Mac opposite to play with , you will probably have fun . in person , I receive the skirmish mode against the computing machine to be all the playfulness I take .
For the realStar Warsenthusiast , phone is slant - complete . You ’ll get all the sound impression and orchestral accompaniments that you expect — nay , demand — from a Star Wars game , and the voice acting is really top - mountain pass . Graphically it ’s hit or miss . The space battle look marvelous , but the ground battle are n’t the best I ’ve see . Violence is persistent , evidently , but it ’s also pretty mild — the biz sack a thyroxin rating for Teen by the ESRB .
Two final notes on the game ’s Intel - only status : While it may not work on PowerPC - based Macs , Empire at War for Mac does support GMA 950 - based Macs like the Mac mini and MacBook , which many cutting edge game do not . Also , wayward to democratic surmise before it was released , Empire at War is n’t Intel - only because of TransGaming ’s Cider engineering — that intersection was n’t involve in bringing this plot to the Mac .
A playable demonstration is available for download from connection onAspyr ’s Web web site . And if you corrupt the game , make certain to download the former patch , also available from Aspyr . The1.05 Rev A patchfixed art trouble with the original loss .
The bottom line
A merriment and decidedly different RTS based in theStar Warsuniverse , Empire at War is an Intel Mac - only treat for those of us with the Force .
