I need to start this review
off by making a confession. I cant get past the first level of Jedi Power Battles
for the Game Boy Advance. About halfway through (I am guessing that its half, but I
cant be sure because Ive never seen the end of the level) I get to a section
that involves jumping onto a moving platform and then jumping onto the next ledge. I
dont know how to do it. There is no logical solution to my jumping conundrum. After
trying to get past this obstacle about a dozen times, I have to confess that Ive
given up. I usually dont give up this easily on a game, especially when Star Wars is
involved. But it just wasnt worth it. I started having dreams about that levitating
platform and I would find myself trying to create a 3-D model of the ledges with my mashed
potatoes. I didnt like what the game was doing to me. I had to give it up.Im
sure theres some cardinal rule that Im breaking by reviewing a video game
having completed so little. I know I havent played Jedi Power Battles very much, no,
I take that back; Ive played the game a lot, I just havent played a lot of the
game. I still think that I can comment on a few basic features of the game. First and
foremost are the controls. For a game that relies heavily on precise jumping, the controls
are anything but precise. It is far too easy to overshoot or undershoot the mark. A brief
little tap of the control pad can make you run off the edge.
The
sound and graphics are adequately done. Were treated to yet another rendition of
"Duel of the Fates." Its a great piece of writing, and Im sure John
Williams is enjoying all of the residuals, but dont you think its time to come
up with something new? The character animations are nicely detailed and the droids fall
down in convincing pieces when you slice through them. What I played of the game was
pretty dark and will frustrate those without a lot of light.
Im
willing to bet that theres more to this game that I might really enjoy. But that
doesnt do me any good if I cant get past the first level. Im sure
Ill get a couple of emails explaining how easy it is and how the answer was right in
front of me the whole time. Thanks for the advice in advance. I still cant recommend
the game based on the fact that this one section is so problematic. Just to make sure I
wasnt completely missing the boat, I asked my editor how far he had made it in the
game. He got up at the same point I did. Im harboring a little theory that none of
the reviewers Ive read have actually passed the first level. Theyre just
bluffing to save face. I, on the other hand, cant bear to lie to my readers.
I
really enjoyed the Playstaion and Dreamcast versions of Jedi Power Battles and I was
looking forward to some pocket Jedi mayhem, but it just wasnt to be found here. I
often say that playing games should never feel like and job, and when it becomes more work
than play, its time to find a new game. This game was way too much work. Now, I
dont profess to be an amazing gamer. In fact, Im not a very big fan of
multi-player games because I usually get pummeled so often at them. But when I cant
even make it through the first level of a basic slash and dash platformer, there are
problems bigger than this gamers skill.