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Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

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"Star Wars Rogue Leader" redirects here. For the comic book, see X-Wing: Rogue Leader. For the character, see Rogue Squadron. For other uses, see Rogue Leader.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II:
Rogue Leader
Several futuristic aircraft flee an exploding, spherical structure in outer space; the game's logo appears above the scene.
Rogue Leader's North American and European box art
Developer(s)Factor 5
LucasArts
Designer(s)Julian Eggebrecht
Brett Tosti
Composer(s)Chris Hülsbeck
John Williams (themes)
SeriesStar Wars: Rogue Squadron
Platform(s)GameCube
Genre(s)Action, shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (also known as Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II) is an action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts. The second of three games in the Rogue Squadron series, it was published by LucasArts and released as a launch title for the GameCube on November 9, 2001.

Set in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, the game spans all three original trilogy Star Wars films. The player controls Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles. As the game progresses, Skywalker, Antilles and the Rebel Alliance fight the Galactic Empire in ten missions across various planets.

Gameplay

Similar to its predecessor, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Rogue Leader is a fast-paced, flight action game. Each of the game's ten levels introduces mission objectives such as search and destroy or protection that must be completed to progress to the next level. Enemy aircraft are primarily composed of TIE fighters, Imperial shuttles and Star Destroyers. Ground defenses are more varied and include three different walkers, various laser turrets, probe droids and stormtroopers.

The heads-up display features a health meter, a radar, an ammunition count for secondary weapons and the "command cross" that allows the player to give limited instructions to their wingmen.[1] The player can control seven craft in the base game: X-wing, A-wing, Y-wing, B-wing, Snowspeeder, the T-16 Skyhopper and the Millennium Falcon. Each vehicle offers a unique armament arrangement, as well as varying degrees of speed and maneuverability.[2] The game initially restricts the player to a particular craft for each level; however, after a level is completed, it can be replayed with any available craft.[3] Some levels offer the player the option to change craft mid-level.[4] Eleven bonus power-ups are hidden in different levels throughout the game. These bonuses improve a craft's weapons, durability and targeting computer and are applied to each eligible craft for the remainder of the game.[5]

The player's performance is measured throughout the game, and performance statistics are checked after each level against three medal benchmarks.[6] Each benchmark contains six categories: completion time, number of enemies destroyed, shot accuracy, number of friendly craft and structures saved, number of lives lost and targeting computer efficiency.[7] If a player's performance meets or exceeds one of the level's three benchmarks in all six categories, a medal—bronze, silver or gold—is awarded on completion. Acquiring these medals promotes the player's rank and helps unlock hidden content.[6] Once the player completes all of the training missions and achieves gold medals on all 15 levels, the opportunity to activate "Ace Mode" is awarded. The player may then achieve one more medal per level by completing them with this mode activated.[8]

Unlockable content

Rogue Leader includes a number of unlockable secrets. The player can unlock five bonus levels. Two of these levels allow the player to pilot the Millennium Falcon, while two others allow the player to fight against the Rebel Alliance as Darth Vader. The fifth unlockable level pits the player against 99 waves of enemy fighters. These levels can be purchased after the player obtains enough points accumulated via the game's medal system. Alternatively, they can be unlocked via password. Several craft are also available when unlocked. The Millennium Falcon, the TIE advanced, an Imperial shuttle and the Slave I may be selected after the player meets or exceeds various medal requirements or enters the corresponding passwords. A Naboo Starfighter and a TIE fighter may also be selected after the player completes in-game tasks dependent on the time as dictated by the GameCube's real-time clock. A playable model of a 1969 Buick Electra 225 based on a car owned by the game's sound designer, Rudolph Stember, can be unlocked via password only. The complex scrambling system developed for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron to help hide a code from gamers using game-altering devices such as GameShark or ProAction Replay also made a return. This time it is used to hide a password-only alternate color scheme for Slave I, as seen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Slave I could be restored to its original color scheme by entering the password a second time.

Synopsis

Setting

Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is set in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, where a war is fought between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. The game spans all three original trilogy Star Wars films: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles have recently joined the Alliance to help defeat the Empire and restore freedom to the galaxy.[9]

Plot

The game opens with an opening crawl resembling those featured in the Star Wars films. Further story details are presented through the game's instruction manual, pre-mission briefings, character conversations during the game, in-game cut scenes and movie clips lifted directly from Star Wars films. The game begins with the Rebel Alliance launching an attack on the Death Star, the Galactic Empire's largest space station.[9] In a reenactment of A New Hope's climactic battle, Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star after firing into an exhaust port.[10]

Skywalker and Wedge Antilles then accompany a Rebel supply convoy from Yavin IV to Hoth.[11] When attempting to rendezvous with a second convoy in the Ison Corridor, they discover that the convoy has been destroyed and are ambushed.[12] After fighting off the attack, the Rebels continue on to Hoth. As depicted in The Empire Strikes Back, Imperial forces locate the Rebel base on Hoth and begin an invasion. Despite Skywalker crash-landing,[13] Rogue Squadron is able to hold off the Imperial attack force long enough for the Rebel base to sufficiently evacuate.[14]

A secret Imperial installation is then located in The Maw. As the Antilles-led Rogue Squadron approaches the base, they receive a transmission from a prisoner who identifies herself as Rebel Karie Neth, a Rebel who was taken prisoner after the battle of Hoth. Neth informs Rogue Squadron that she and a few others have escaped from the prison, but need help freeing the remaining Rebel prisoners.[15] By providing cover fire, Rogue Squadron is able to successfully escort the prisoners out of the base. Skywalker then obtains data important to the rebellion, and Rogue Squadron is asked to escort the blockade runner carrying the data to Rebel high command.[16] However, the blockade runner is captured by an Imperial Star Destroyer while orbiting Kothlis.[17] After the Rebels disable the Star Destroyer, it crashes on Kothlis and Crix Madine retrieves the data.[18]

The Alliance soon discovers that the Empire is constructing a second Death Star near Endor. With the help of Madine, Antilles infiltrates the Imperial Academy on Prefsbelt IV and steals an Imperial shuttle needed to get close enough to destroy a shield generator on Endor.[19] The Rebel fleet then begins to assemble near Sullust but needs tibanna gas for its weapons. Lando Calrissian points the Rebels to his former tibanna-mining operation near Cloud City on Bespin. Rogue Squadron raids the now-Imperial-controlled facility and secures the gas supply.[20]

In a reenactment of Return of the Jedi's climactic space battle, the Alliance then launches its attack on the second Death Star.[21] When they arrive, however, Han Solo has not yet disabled the Death Star's shield generator on Endor and the Alliance is forced to engage the Imperial fleet until the generator is destroyed. Once the space station is vulnerable, Calrissian and Antilles fly into the Death Star and destroy its power generator, effectively destroying the entire structure.[22]

Development

When Factor 5 received early GameCube prototype hardware in mid-2000, the development team then working on Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo decided they next wanted to create a direct sequel to Factor 5's most successful game to date—Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. With LucasArts' approval, the team immediately began developing a tech demo to exhibit at Space World, a Nintendo-hosted trade show. In 19 days, Factor 5 produced an introductory cutscene that emulated a scene from Star Wars and a playable demo, which then premiered alongside Nintendo's GameCube hardware at the show.[23][24] According to GameSpot, the cutscene "wowed audiences",[23] and IGN described the demo as "drop-dead gorgeous".[25]

Denis Lawson, the actor who portrayed Wedge Antilles in the Star Wars films, recorded new lines for the game.

As with Rogue Squadron and Battle for Naboo, Rogue Leader was again co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts, however the bulk of the game's development was done by Factor 5. Unlike past co-development efforts, the bulk of the level design, which was traditionally handled by LucasArts, was created by Factor 5 in addition to the game's engineering and programming. Factor 5's in-house development team consisted of 25 members plus two freelance employees.[26] One level designer as well as the game's lead artist were employed by LucasArts.[4] Development of the game's art started that same year.[24] In anticipation of the project, modelers immediately began building high-polygon models of the playable craft using Maya and in-house tools, and usable art was pulled from the archives. In late December, 2000, mission designers met with director Julian Eggebrecht and producer Brett Tosti to start planning the game engine. The team eventually completed Battle for Naboo, and full-time development of Rogue Leader began in February 2001.[24]

Draw distance, much improved over the first Rogue Squadron and Battle for Naboo, was drawn out as far as possible. A small amount of haze was deliberately added to create a sense of distance, but not to actually hide the drawing. The game also has three levels of detail; The closer the player comes to objects, the more detailed they become.[4] By utilizing the GameCube's Graphics processing unit's TEV pipeline, Factor 5 was able to create the shader needed to produce the visual effect employed by the game's targeting computer.[27] The developers tried to make the game as close to the movies as possible, studying Industrial Light & Magic's special effects, using some of the same sound effects, music and voice acting from the films. The original actor, Denis Lawson, was also hired to record new lines for Wedge Antilles.[28]

Reception

The game was met with critical acclaim, as GameRankings gave it a score of 90.04%,[29] while Metacritic gave it 90 out of 100.[30] David Trammell of Nintendo World Report gave it nine out of ten and called it "a visual and aural masterpiece. The game has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a next-generation game including bump mapping and 480p support on the visual end, and five channel surround sound via Dolby Pro Logic II on the aural end."[46] Marc Saltzman of Playboy gave it a score of 90% and stated that, "The combined package of beautiful graphics, intense action (including force-feedback rumble support in the controller!) and familiar Star Wars ditties all work together to create an immersive, outstanding experience from beginning to end."[44] In The Cincinnati Enquirer, he gave the game four stars out of five and stated that, "If there was ever a reason to purchase this compact new console, this is it... [but] there's no multiplayer mode. It would have been fun to fly alongside or against another player in some of the missions."[43] Alex Porter of Maxim gave it a similar score of eight out of ten and said: "More than a Jedi mind trick to make you buy Nintendo's new whiz-bang console, this is the closest a video game has come to recreating a Star Wars movie."[47]

Rogue Leader was among the highest rated GameCube launch titles, and praised for its gameplay and graphics.[48] Official Nintendo Magazine ranked it the 100th best game available on Nintendo platforms. The staff called it an essential launch title for the GameCube.[49]

Rogue Leader won the E3 2001 Game Critics Award for Best Action Game.

Sales

Rogue Leader was the 7th-best-selling video game in November 2001, the title's debut month.[50] These sale figures made the game the best-selling third-party and second-best-selling overall GameCube game during the console's launch. LucasArts stated that the title had sold faster than any of its previously published games at the time.[51] When both the game and console were launched in the United Kingdom over six months later, the title entered the charts at number one, making it the first ever third-party game to hit the top spot during a console's launch.[52] In May 2003, Nintendo added Rogue Leader to its best-selling Player's Choice collection.[53] Rogue Leader sold over 873,000 copies in the United States,[54] and over 100,000 in the UK.[55]

References

  1. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Playing the Game". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. pp. 10–11.
  2. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Player Craft". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. pp. 13–16.
  3. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Getting Started". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. p. 7.
  4. ^ a b c "E3: The Big Rogue Leader Interview". IGN. May 17, 2001. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  5. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Power-Ups: Tech Upgrades". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. pp. 16–17.
  6. ^ a b Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Medals and Bonus Missions". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. pp. 18–19.
  7. ^ Keighley, Geoff (2001). "Playing the Game". Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (manual). LucasArts. p. 12.
  8. ^ "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Rogue Squadron II Rogue Leader: It is a period of civil war. The Rebel Alliance is preparing a major attack against the evil Empire. Launching from a hidden base on the fourth moon of Yavin, the Alliance forces hope to destroy the Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to decimate an entire planet. Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, two young Rebel recruits, have joined the Alliance in a brave attempt to restore freedom to the galaxy...
  10. ^ Death Star Attack Briefing: The Death Star will soon be in firing range of Yavin base. Destroy the large deflection towers on the surface and the TIE fighters defending the approach to the trench. Fly down the trench and fire your proton torpedoes when you're within range of the exhaust port.
  11. ^ Ison Corridor Ambush Briefing: The Rebel supply convoy is moving from Yavin IV to a new base on the planet Hoth. Rendezvous with a second convoy along the way and continue to the destination.
  12. ^ Luke Skywalker: Red Leader, here. The sensors don't show any signs of the second convoy. Looks like they ran into trouble. / Wedge Antilles: Luke, enemy fighters approaching from all directions. We're surrounded!
  13. ^ Luke Skywalker: Hobbie, I'm hit! / "Hobbie" Klivian: Echo Base, Commander Skywalker is down.
  14. ^ Battle of Hoth Briefing: A fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers has located the secret Rebel base on Hoth and is preparing an invasion. General Rieekan has ordered a full evacuation. Rogue Squadron must hold off the advancing Imperials.
  15. ^ Karie Neth: If anyone can hear this transmission, please respond. / My name is Karie Neth. I'm the leader of the prisoners here. Some of my people were brought here from Hoth. A few of us have broken out, but we need help to free the others.
  16. ^ Razor Rendezvous Briefing: Working with Bothan technicians, Commander Luke Skywalker has helped uncover secret data vital to the rebellion and has placed it on board a Rebel blockade runner—the Razor. Assemble a task force and rendezvous with the Razor, now in orbit around Kothlis. Escort the Razor to Rebel high command and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure a safe delivery of the secret data.
  17. ^ Rebel Wingman: Wedge, and Imperial cruiser has captured the Razor.
  18. ^ Vengeance on Kothlis Briefing: The Star Destroyer carrying the secret data has crashed on the planet Kothlis. A team of commandos led by Crix Madine is preparing to enter the vessel and retrieve the data. Provide air support as the commandos attack the site.
  19. ^ Imperial Academy Heist Briefing: The Empire is constructing a second Death Star near the forest moon of Endor. The site is protected by a shield generator, which must be destroyed if a Rebel attack on the Death Star is to take place. Command has determined that only an Imperial vessel can come close enough to Endor to allow destruction of the shield generator. With help from Crix Madine, infiltrate the Imperial Academy on Prefsbelt IV and steal an Imperial shuttle.
  20. ^ Raid on Bespin Briefing: The Rebel fleet is assembling near Sullust and in dire need of tibanna gas to power their weapons. Lando Calrissian has pointed the Rebels toward his former tibanna-mining operation in Bespin. Lead a raid on the Imperial-occupied facilities in Cloud City and secure the tibanna gas.
  21. ^ Battle of Endor Briefing: The Rebel fleet will be preparing to enter hyperspace. General Solo's strike team should have the shield on Endor deactivated by the time we arrive. Join General Calrissian's fighter crew, follow him to the Death Star and destroy the main reactor.
  22. ^ Strike at the Core Briefing: With its shields down, the Death Star is vulnerable. Cut across the Death Star's surface, find your way into the power generator and destroy it.
  23. ^ a b Shoemaker, Brad (October 24, 2003). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron: A Retrospective". GameSpot. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  24. ^ a b c Eggebrecht, Julian (November 9, 2001). Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader ...the making of (Video game). LucasArts.
  25. ^ IGN staff (August 23, 2000). "Exclusive Star Wars Gamecube Movies!". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  26. ^ NWR staff (November 13, 2001). "PGC interviews Factor 5's Julian Eggebrecht". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  27. ^ "PGC interviews Factor 5's Julian Eggebrecht". Nintendo World Report. November 14, 2001. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  28. ^ IGN staff (August 29, 2001). "Rogue Leader Chat Transcript". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  30. ^ a b "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  31. ^ Thompson, Jon. "Star Wars: Rogue Leader -- Rogue Squadron II - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  32. ^ EGM staff (December 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". Electronic Gaming Monthly (150): 258.
  33. ^ Bramwell, Tom (May 9, 2002). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  34. ^ Reiner, Andrew (December 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Leader Rogue Squadron [sic]". Game Informer (104): 96. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  35. ^ Extreme Ahab (November 16, 2001). "[Star Wars] Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Gee, Brian (November 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  37. ^ Torres, Ricardo (November 8, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II Review". GameSpot. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  38. ^ Suciu, Peter (November 18, 2001). "GameSpy: Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". GameSpy. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  39. ^ Bedigian, Louis (December 6, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader Review - GameCube". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ Casamassina, Matt (November 16, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  41. ^ Watts, Martin (June 25, 2013). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (GameCube) Review". NintendoLife. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". Nintendo Power. 150: 140. November 2001.
  43. ^ a b Saltzman, Marc (November 14, 2001). "'Rogue II' a must buy for 'Star Wars' fans". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ a b Saltzman, Marc (November 14, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II". Playboy. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ "2001 Winners". Game Critics Awards. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  46. ^ Trammell, David (November 23, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  47. ^ Porter, Alex (November 18, 2001). "Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II". Maxim. Archived from the original on November 19, 2001. Retrieved November 20, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Castro, Juan (April 29, 2005). "The Top Ten Best-Looking GameCube Games". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  49. ^ East, Tom (February 17, 2009). "Nintendo Feature: 100 Best Nintendo Games: Part One". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (December 19, 2001). "November software sales charts". GameSpot. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  51. ^ IGN staff (December 5, 2001). "Rogue Leader of Sales". IGN. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  52. ^ Coleman, Stephen (May 8, 2002). "Star Wars Rogue Leader is No.1 on the GCN". IGN. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved August 30, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ Powers, Rick (May 6, 2003). "New Player's Choice Titles for $29.99!". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  54. ^ "Nintendo GameCube Software Best Seller Ranking in U.S." Shrine of Data. 2005-02-11. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved August 9, 2008. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  55. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
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