Clone Take Lacks Force

Sun Herald

Sunday November 30, 2008

ELIOT FISH

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - LIGHTSABER DUELS

Platform Wii

Publisher LucasArts

Price $99.95

Rating PG

VERDICT 1/5

BASED on the recent Clone Wars animated feature, this one-on-one fighting game focuses on the ballet-like lightsaber duels that take place between the Jedi and the Sith.

Starring Anakin Skywalker, his master Obi-Wan Kenobi, the evil Count Dooku and General Greivous, Lightsaber Duels is aimed directly at kids who enjoy the goofy, cartoon-style action of the Star Wars prequels.

The motion-sensitive Wii controller should be the perfect tool for twirling a virtual lightsaber, yet somehow it comes off clumsy and ineffective. Moves are gesture based, so flicking to the left triggers an animation of your character slashing to the left and so forth. Combos can then be created by stringing together directional motions in a particular order.

The canned moves feel unsatisfying, because simply waggling the controller side to side can win you a fight more easily than learning all the combos and attempting to play strategically.

The Story campaign is short enough to finish in only an hour, and involves a series of lightsaber duels that can all be approached in the same way: just thrash your arm about for victory.

Other modes, including two-player duels, attempt to extend the game's lifespan, but the Force simply isn't with this one.

EF

© 2008 Sun Herald

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