Several things happened with the release of each Star Wars film. They upped the ante on effects, surprised audiences with new revelations, and redefined what it means to make a battle sequence. Star Wars also gave birth to the most incredible spacecrafts and ground vehicles the universe has ever seen. Who cares if they were made a long time ago in a factory far, far away - they blow the generic tanks and non-combative spacecrafts that Earthlings use out of the water.

Nothing would be cooler than being able to visit Kashyyyk, Felucia, Coruscant, Tattooine or Naboo to test out these vehicles firsthand. Nothing could match the sensation of getting behind a 40,000-ton AT-TE. Nothing could top the thrill of controlling Anakin's starfighter during a massive space battle.

Jedi have all the fun.

Now that Star Wars: Battlefront II is released, you too get to have all the fun.

Whether on land or in space, virtually every vehicle is accessible. Control two-legged walkers, futuristic tanks, Republic Gunships, droid ships, etc.! The X-Wing's predecessor, the Arc 170 Starfighter, is one of the first spacecrafts you'll get to test drive, along with Anakin's Starfighter and the Tie Fighter-type ship introduced in Episode III. As far as vehicles and spacecraft go, if it was shown in Episode III chances are you can control it in this game.

The AT-TE is a colossal, droid-abolishing super tank on four legs. It looks like a giant beetle and moves very slowly, and I wouldn't have it any other way. All of the vehicles move appropriately for their shape and size. In space everything is light and easy to maneuver, but you can't escape gravity during ground battles. Pushing through Felucia in the AT-TE gave me a special feeling - one of impenetrable strength. No one could touch it. I wasn't able to stomp on droids as I had hoped. As fun as that would've been, stomping was made unnecessary by the vehicle's heavy, unlimited arsenal - lasers and a cannon that kills most enemies in less than three blasts.

Troopers (Clone, Engineer, Sharpshooter, etc.) make up the bulk of Battlefront II's ensemble cast. Special appearances by Jedi Masters lets you continue the fight from their perspective. The idea is that, since these soldiers got to command so many different vehicles, you should be able to as well. They also fought a lot of battles on foot. You will too if you want to win.

Each Trooper has an advantage that makes him an integral part of each mission. Clones have a laser machinegun, Heavy Troopers carry rocket launchers, and Jet Troopers have an air pack that let's them fly for a short time. Perform well and additional types of Troopers will become available.

Battles can get pretty tough, if not a little cheap, which is why you should heed the lessons taught by Grand Theft Auto: take the vehicle now, ask questions later. No one's going to arrest you for taking their vehicle, though you won't be able to take it if an enemy is already inside. Should you come across a vehicle being controlled by one of your own men, get inside and he'll be kicked out unless it's a multi-Trooper vehicle like the space variation of the Republic Gunship. In that case the other Troopers will stick around, but you'll get to be the one in control.

Jedi are also able to command vehicles, but the point of controlling a Jedi is to have that experience. Jedi are much better fighters than Clone Troopers, which made me foolishly rush into battle as if I were invincible. Jedi are not. They can be killed just like anyone else. They are perhaps more vulnerable to gunfire because they have no armor. They can block though, and have the ability to perform half a dozen deadly moves with just a few taps on the square button. Jedi can use their Force powers to execute a triple jump, which is more fun than functional since landing the jump tends to slow you down. They can also use their powers to damage droids and push them back a bit.

Don't be too hard on yourself should you lose while controlling a Jedi Master. Remember: they're keepers of the peace, not soldiers.

Galactic Conquest is a new mode that plays like a turn-based strategy game. Battles occur all over the galaxy, in space and on our favorite planets. Buy units, move toward or away from enemies, and defeat them to take control of the galaxy. Both of the Star Wars trilogies clash for a war that takes you through major scenarios from each movie. These battles are considerably more difficult than the main quest, but you'll find that you have additional options to alleviate some of the pain. Bonus items can be purchased that will enhance your fleet before battle, or cripple your enemies' defenses just before you attack.

Star Wars: Battlefront II doesn't break new ground for gaming, but the vehicle-oriented gameplay is a big step forward for Star Wars games. Watching a chapter in the Saga never fails to make me want to play a Star Wars game, and you won't find another available that represents Episode III as well as this one.

Gameplay: 8.4
Polished third-person shooting, enjoyable space battles, and incredibly powerful ground vehicles have pushed Star Wars to a new level of exhilaration. The marker on my radar might be telling me to go north, but if I see a vehicle four hundred feet away, I’m going to get that first. It makes the battles more even, though that’s not the reason why I’ve got to have one. The reason I fight to so hard to acquire vehicles is because they’re the most fun you can have with a Star Wars game next to Republic Commando. One test drive with the AT-TE or Anakin’s Starfighter and you’ll be hooked like a ship being pulled in by the Death Star.

Graphics: 8.0
Beautiful and disappointing. The ground battles are a cornucopia of gorgeous eye candy – fully rendered ground vehicles, detailed Clone Troopers, impressive explosions, exquisite backgrounds (Felucia rules!), and a whole lot more. Everything you see on the ground is beautiful. The water is debatable, but that’s true of most games.

The space battles are not nearly as impressive. They’re fun, but not as fun – or as good looking – as the Rogue Squadron series. That makes sense considering that Rogue Squadron is a dedicated space shooter while Battlefront II combines multiple gameplay elements into one title. Still, if Resident Evil 4 can make the trip from GameCube to PS2 without losing its essence, why couldn’t these space battles be as exciting and look as spectacular as the battles from a GameCube launch title?

Sound: 9.0
John Williams’s most unforgettable compositions since the original trilogy. They’re straight from the movie and are not perfectly edited, but make no mistake – John’s work is perfection. The sound effects are top-notch Star Wars assets, which is old news if you’ve played any of the recent Star Wars games (even the bad games had good sound). I’m not thrilled with the voice-overs and I do not expect that to change until the day comes when LucasArts hires the same talent as LucasFilm.

Difficulty: Medium
A good mixture of battles that are hard, easy, and some that are in between.  

Concept: 7.8
Nothing new or innovative that will change gaming. However, Battlefront II moves Star Wars games forward by being the first to let you control almost every vehicle you come in contact with. It’s also the first to give you a detailed look at Episode III’s most exciting planets, Felucia and Utapu.

Multiplayer: 8.4
Never die (I mean fight) alone again. Offline you can team up with one friend for split-screen cooperative play, or turn to the Dark Side and see if you’ve become the most powerful Jedi ever. Go online (broadband only) for a much bigger multiplayer experience that allows 24 troopers to fight each other. An attack of the clones, if you will.

Overall: 8.4
Star Wars: Battlefront II has so much going for that it’s almost possible to forget its flaws. Most are negligible, but one stands out. The battles, no matter how entertaining they are, have been presented to us many times before. They’ve been presented in Star Wars games, in war games, and in other action titles over the past five years. Protect your troops, defend your base, find an important item, etc. That’s everyday gameplay. I’m not saying that we should forget the past, but Battlefront II is another serving of a meal we’ve already had. It tastes a little better and looks a little fresher. I have no regrets playing through it and urge every Star Wars fan to check it out. Just beware that what you’re getting is not innovation – it’s just more fun.