Obi-Wan's Adventures
The GameBoy has long needed a new adventure title that doesn't rely on a side-scrolling 2D platform style, and perhaps this could be it..
A long time ago..
One such character is our hero Obi-Wan, played by the ignoble Ewan McGregor in The Phantom Menace, and Obi-Wan's Adventures (due out from THQ in November on GameBoy Color) is a title that will allow players to take on the guise of our aspiring Jedi Master and play through various sections seen in the film. Obi-Wan's Adventures marks the first title in a worldwide publishing agreement between THQ and Lucasarts which will give THQ the opportunity to publish GameBoy (and latterly GameBoy Advance) titles based on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones properties. If you've been living under a rock and haven't seen last summer's film, then here's a brief summary of the plot. The Trade Federation (an alien race) has blockaded the world of Naboo (seems timely does it not?) and you, Obi-Wan Kenobi are being sent by the Jedi Council along with Qui-Gon Jinn to help officiate the dispute and negotiate a settlement with the leaders of the Federation. Senator Palpatine and the Imperial Senate are depending upon you, but the Federation aren't interested in negotiations. Instead they have allied with the Sith, Dark Jedis.
Obi-Wan never told you..
Of course, the action centres around the young Padawan apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, and in the game you play through nine different levels based on actual locations in the movie, such as the Naboo Swamp and Queen Amidala's Palace. Your enemies are made up of other characters from the film, including the famous tiger-faced Darth Maul, and your arsenal includes three different weapons, the Blaster, your trusty laser-deflecting Lightsaber and of course, The Force. As you can see from the screenshots dotted around this page, locations are very detailed for a GameBoy Color title, although your character is very small in proportion. The heads-up-display along the bottom of the screen seems to cover your health and force powers as well as the obvious aspects like your selected weapon and ammunition where appropriate. Most interesting is the fact that the game features sections with different angles and play styles. While some sections are side-on, the game is played from an isometric perspective for most of the time, including sections within the Trade Federation ship at the beginning where you have to fight your way free.
Conclusion
While there aren't sufficient details yet available to form much of an opinion on Obi-Wan's Adventures, the GameBoy has been itching for another adventure game that doesn't rely on side-scrolling platform action. Perhaps this will fit the bill when it hits just before Christmas.