Star Wars: Force Commander Free Download [2023]

Star Wars: Force Commander Introduction:

Star Wars: Force Commander, a real-time strategy video game, was released for the Microsoft Windows platform in March 2000. It was a collaborative effort between Ronin Entertainment and LucasArts, with LucasArts handling the publishing. The game's storyline weaves through the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, featuring pivotal battles from these films. Notably, Peter McConnell composed remixed tracks based on John Williams's original score, incorporating elements of hard rock and techno music.

Critical reception for the game was mixed. Critics commonly pointed out issues with the game's controls as a significant drawback. Opinions on the game's visuals were divided, with some reviewers finding them outdated while others considered them commendable. In terms of gameplay, Force Commander was generally regarded as simpler compared to other real-time strategy titles.

Gameplay:

In Star Wars: Force Commander, players assume the role of a commander overseeing forces rather than controlling individual infantry units. The game employs a top-down perspective on a 3D map. The levels are primarily story-driven, with players initially taking the side of the Imperial faction in battles against the Rebellion. As the narrative unfolds and the main character defects to the Rebellion, players switch sides to fight against the Imperials. The game focuses on ground-based combat, with no space battles. Beyond the main story-driven Campaign mode, players can replay scenarios in the Scenario option or set up their own battles in the Skirmish mode, where up to four factions can compete, but the choices are limited to Imperials or the Rebellion.

The game's original storyline bridges the gap between Star Wars: A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, often intersecting with familiar Star Wars events. It follows the journey of Brenn Tantor, a young officer in the Imperial Navy who starts as a stormtrooper and later assumes command. The initial task involves searching for an escape pod that crashed on Tatooine and tracking down the droids it contained, mirroring the opening scenes of Episode IV. Initially loyal to the Empire, Brenn's allegiance shifts when he learns that the Empire was responsible for their father's death, leading him to join the Rebel Alliance. The game includes pivotal battles such as the Battle of Hoth from the Imperial perspective and the Battle of Endor as a Rebel. It concludes with the liberation of Brenn's brother, Dellis, during the battle to capture the Imperial Palace on Coruscant.

Originally conceived as a 2D strategy game, LucasArts scrapped the design after its initial presentation at E3 1998. Instead, they adopted an optimized version of a 3D engine provided by Ronin Entertainment. This decision led to a delay in the game's release, moving it from the original late 1998 or early 1999 timeframe to an early 2000 release. The collaboration between LucasArts and Ronin Entertainment involved Ronin's programmers and engine alongside LucasArts' project leadership, designers, and artists. The final patch for the game, version 1.1, was released in March 2000. The game's soundtrack features hard rock and techno remixes of John Williams's original Star Wars scores, crafted by Peter McConnell. Over 3,500 voice lines were recorded for the game.

Final Words:

Star Wars: Force Commander received mixed reviews, as reported by the review aggregation website GameRankings. GameSpot's Greg Kasavin criticized the game for its dated graphics, ineffective controls, and flawed gameplay, stating that it fell short of its ambitious goals. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the game's engaging plot and mission objectives in the campaign and praised the 3D mission briefings. PC Zone's Mark Hill appreciated the unique perspective of playing from the Galactic Empire's viewpoint but noted that simply placing this style of game in the Star Wars universe lacked innovation. AllGame's Nick Woods found fault with the game's blocky and undetailed 3D models, asserting that there were superior RTS games available. NextGen's Chris Kramer opined that while not as disappointing as some other Star Wars titles, Force Commander failed to match the quality of other real-time strategy games like Myth II or Warzone 2100.