Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Jedi Alliance

Gameplay

The game utilizes complete use of the Nintendo DS stylus to control the characters' movements and actions, especially during lightsaber combat; there are also special action sequences in which the player must drag the stylus across certain parts of the screen to advance further into the game. "Jedi Alliance" features ten levels in which the player must select two of the following Jedi characters —Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto—to proceed through a story original to the game. Each character has special abilities that can uncover new areas and collectibles throughout the game. Each pair can employ unique combo attacks, which become stronger the more that pair is used. During some moments, R2-D2 and C-3PO are also playable, though their abilities are limited.

After completing missions and various challenges in the missions, the player can unlock new costumes for the characters, as well as concept art for the game.

Setting

The game is set in the familiar Star Wars universe and takes places on new planets seen in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and series such as Cristophsis, as well as the capital planet Coruscant and the home planet of the Nightsisters, Dathomir. The initial level takes place on a republic transport cruiser named the Sedawan, newly designed for the game.

Story

The story revolves around the theft from a Republic cargo transport, the cargo being crystals used in the construction of the Jedi Knight's standard weapon; the lightsaber. Two Jedi of the player's choice are sent to investigate the theft and stumble upon a plot involving the Separatists and a women-only clan of force users known as the Nightsisters.

In the search for the stolen crystals the Jedi travels to various planets, and eventually discovers that the separatists have built a battle ship that utilizes the crystals to fire a beam of immense power. The player is tasked in helping the Jedi dismantle that ship before its weapon can be used.

Development

Following the release of The Clone Wars animated series, the game features a new original story set in the series continuity. Jedi Alliance was produced alongside the animated TV series in the same studio in Singapore, and features the same voice actors. The game's original title was "Day of the Nightsisters", in reference to LucasArt's classic, Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle but was changed. The game's antagonists, the Nightsisters, were first introduced in the Star Wars story The Courtship of Princess Leia. A regular shadow technique on the Nintendo DS was a simple dark circle, but the development team wanted something more realistic. Due to hardware limitations a new method had to be made and was implemented in the game. Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels for the Nintendo Wii and Jedi Alliance was released at the same time to coincide with the airing of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Prima Games published an official game guide on the same release date, which contains an extensive walkthrough for both Lightsaber Duels and Jedi Alliance.

Reception

Critics pointed out that it was a very well made action game, from designs to details, music and sound. Cheat Code central said that the story was an "interesting tale with entertaining dialogue". PAL GN praised the game for having a strong story, solid visuals and great implementation of voiced dialogue, but criticized the game-play for being overly simplistic and its combat system inefficient.