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Let a Real Reviewer Take the Stand

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 21
Date: February 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Rebellion is the game that sets out a new type of strategy and despite old-school graphics, it rocks so much that you'll say "To hell with graphics." Some people like graphics over gameplay. I on the other hand, think otherwise, and think that this game is all about it. From galactic conquest, to diplomatic stress, natural disasters, and many characters from the Star Wars Universe (plus even more I remember from books), this game takes the cake as one of the most addicting games, if not THE MOST addicting game that you'll ever find packed all into one CD. Take it from me, my friend gave me the go to purchase it, and I was very doubtful at first, but I'll tell ya: I wish that I had bought the game when it first hit the shelves.

Wonderful game...don't believe the naysayers

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: December 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I am one of PC Gamer's biggest fans, and there are only a few of their reviews I have ever disagreed with. One of them was Rebellion. Garnering only a 61%, I was immediately skeptical. But after playing it, I realized that this game was one of the most addictive and fun games that I have ever played. People will tell you that the micromanagement will eat you alive. They say you have to "click here and here and here and here and here and here" just to accomplish a simple task of building a ship. Well, sure, you can do that, if you take the long route approach to doing things. And once you get playing, you'll learn all the little shortcuts.

Graphics aren't great, but that's not what makes this game a winner. The gameplay is constant. It is frantic at times. Should you send Han on that sabotage mission or leave him to help lead troops into battle against an Imperial system? And some characters are Force-sensitive, allowing them to be trained by Luke (or Vader or the Emperor) once they reach a certain rank.

I can't list all the great features of this game here because of space. But this is the most addictive game that I have ever played. Star Wars fans will not be disappointed. Strategy fans will not be either. It will not appeal to everyone though, so if you really detest strat games, don't buy it because it won't be your cup o' tea. But despite the steep learning curve, you'll be enjoying it for months on end.

Rebellion gets a lot of bad press...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: January 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Which is kind of unfair. The game, in and of itself, is pretty fun. Now, I realize that it has some problems. The interface looks like it was designed by Jabba the Hutt, as far as 'being downright sadistic' goes. Apparently, the game is based on the premise that after Yavin (where the first Death Star went 'boom') the Rebellion and the Empire signed a pact which said "We're going to reduce ourselves to an equal size." Remember in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK or RETURN OF THE JEDI, the scenes where there were those great numbers of Star Destroyers gathered, showing off the might of the Galactic Empire?

Forget about it.

I am absolutely serious. I play as the Empire, because, well, I don't like the Rebellion. I've been pretty successful at times, too. But I've never had that many Star Destroyers, period. Let alone in one place.

Again, the control interface is just plain evil. It can take several steps to reach even the most basic of solutions. There are times when your advisor, (who is either an Imperial standard protocol droid if you're the Empire, or some freak dressed in gold who does a downright amusing job at sounding like C3P0 if you're the Rebellion) will tell you that no, you _can't_ send your fighters to that cap ship. Try again, and he'll let you. It can be a pain to try to get things that you want to happen to happen, like, say, getting a diplomat to try to either sway a neutral system towards you or pacify a system that doesn't take well to being 'protected' by thugs in white armor and great big metal things with legs.

So the control interface doesn't get points for simplicity. Play the game for a while, though, and it becomes less tedious and more easy to play. Just give it time.

The tactical part of the game isn't worth much either. It too is just plain tough to navigate, and you'll be crying "uncle" very quickly if you try to do anything complex at first (or later, as a matter of fact). But the manual's right, the tactical thingy can mean a lot. If you calculate the battle, you're setting yourself up for a heck of a lot of trouble. Whereas, there have been times when the Rebellion has fled - even when they had the advantage - from a fight that I personally commanded. Go figure. Still, the tactical thingy is wierd, and I still give simple commands (even though at this point, I spend more time a day playing Rebellion than sleeping...In fact, I play Rebellion rather _than_ sleeping. That explains my grades on those last finals, I guess.) rather than trying to actually command my fleet. It's a little like Nelson or Farragut just kinda pointing vaguely and saying "fire at the enemy" and nothing else. The tactical interface is simple, too. You can't select armament, or designate flight positions, or board enemy ships (remember when Leia's transport was fleeing from that 'Destroyer at the beginning of Star Wars IV? Fun, but not in this game.). That's a blessing in disguise, I think, because if they'd tried to add those other elements, it would have been nothing short of unbearable.

For all of that, though, Amazon.com asks, "How much fun is this game?" That's why it gets 5 stars. The game is fun, no denying. You'll like it, if you give it the time to grow on you. IMHO, it has an unfair rap. The game isn't bad, just confusing at times. And complex (NOT to be confused with 'complicated'). What I mean is, the game has you manage a lot of stuff. Well, good. One of the things I dislike very much are those people who don't like certain strategy games because they're "too complex." If you want a simple game that doesn't require you to think, Rebellion isn't for you. Go play "Go Fish" instead. On the other hand, if you want to be able to control a galaxy - with all the 'complexities' that come with it - do yourself a favor and click that 'buy' button right now.

Besides, who _doesn't_ want to get to use the Death Star?

-Baikal

An Indepth View of the SW Universe

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: November 21, 1999
Author: Amazon User

When I first got this game, I found it to be extremely difficult due to the complexity of it. Once you get the hang of the game, however, it is very addicting. You get to do everything from spying missions, recruiting, building armies, fighting, mining, exploring new planets and more. With all these different things that you need to do in order to win, it is a little difficult at first, but it is well worth going through all the difficulty once you really fully play this game. I would highly recomend it to anyone who loves a good strategy game and who loves star wars.

Still outstanding after 5 years

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: April 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Star Wars: Rebellion is a rich strategy game populated with all the equipment, characters and worlds of the original trilogy AND the expanded universe of the Bantam-Spectra novels (up to 1998). I still play this game after five years and there are many strategies left to explore.

If you are a fan of strategy games such as KOEI's 'Pacific Theater of Operations' series or MicroProse's 'Master of Orion 2,' you'll likely enjoy Rebellion. The game incorporates the standard resource gathering, exploration, fleet building, diplomacy, etc. and does it in high Star Wars style! You can micro-manage every facet of your infractructure or delegate as much or as little to your droid assistant as you wish. Fleet battles can be glossed over or you can take direct command. You can even choose how big to make the galaxy. The soundtrack is classic Williams, and is varied enough not to be repetitive or annoying.

I would rate the interface at intermediate complexity, and the game overall as mildly complex. As has been previously stated, you WILL need to read the manual, and I also recommend the strategy guide if you can get your meat-hooks on one. I suggest playing a 'small galaxy' game as the Rebel Alliance first, since the Rebels can re-locate their base. It's FUN to make the Imperials play a 'shell game' when they think they have you on the ropes. Once you've finished that first game, you will have the basics down and should be pretty well hooked.

You know you want to build a Death Star. Yes, you can watch it do the job in cinematic glory. Happy hunting!

This Game Flat out Rocks

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: January 04, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I'm telling you all right now, if you're gonna get any Strategy game, this is the one. You here people raving about StarCraft and WarCraft. Great games, but no way better than Rebellion. It gets the voices right on par, the pictures perfect, no little glitches. The hook up and battle is an extra addition that makes this game the best.

The Perfect Game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 30, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I don't care what anybody else says about this game, it rules. I can't put it down. I love it. I started playing about a year ago and I can't stop. Even my cousins and friends have played and had a hard time putting it down. I really like how we can boss around the Emperor and Darth Vader, tell them where to go, what to do and stuff. I've played X-Wing, Tie-Fighter, Rebel Assault and other LucasArts games, but this one takes the cake. If you only buy one game in your entire life, it should be this one.

Give it time

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 31, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have to say, Rebellion is one of the greatest games of time. but, you have to give it time, let it grow on you. When I first played it, I kept losing. I didn't know where to put my troops, where to put my fleets, and such. When I wanted to conquer a planet, I built a huge fleet Destroyers, big ol Mon Cal Cruisers e.t.c and I attacked. the thing was, though, the enemy has twice as many ships, A gigantic Armada of Star destroyers wipe out my "huge" fleet with ease every time I try. But, as I play the game more and mor, I find that you have to build troopships and ships that make sure you KEEP the planet after capturing it. You learn more as you gain more experiance, and believe me, The puny fleet and troops that your enemy has blocking you from victory will be easily swiped aside. P.S. After borrowing Rebellion from a friend, I liked it so much that after i moved to germany, I bought it in German.

Rebellion

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: September 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The Best SW campaign game to date ! The only necessary improvement would definately be control over ground forces during invasions . Excellent graphics and sound ! The amount of information coming in from intelligence during game play can be overwhelming to the inexperienced player . A must for any player, SW fan or not .

History Lesson

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Some of the newer Star Wars strategy games (ex: Force Commander) could learn some lessons from this great old title. I purchased this game upon first release and it has been a constant icon on every PC I've owned (3) since. I will not uninstall it, ever. In fact the first thing I do after getting a new machine is to load this game.

The game is set in the Star Wars universe just after the Empires defeat at Yavin. You can take on the role of commanding the Alliance or the Empire, the later being my favorite (you can't play as the bad guys often enough in other games).

Once started, your objective is simple, colonize other worlds or bring them to your cause through diplomacy or flat out invade them and then win them over with diplomacy. Just keep going until you have captured the other sides leaders and have deystroyed their base.

The game is heavy on micro-management and there is a bit of mouse work involved, but all functions have short cut keys, usually involving the shift or control keys. You can even name your ships and fleets which I love to do.

Each side has a specific strategy for playing and one will not work with the other. Play as the Empire and overwhelm the Alliance with brute force and numbers. Play as the Alliance and you'll find hit and run, mission based tactics and diplomacy work best.

Resource management is a huge factor in the game. You can manage it yourself (hard to do) or you can delegate to your assistant. Just make sure your maintence resources don't slip into the negative or you'll start lossing personell, ships and facilities.

The graphics are reasonable but nothing to get excited over. The sound is OK with stuff right out of the movies, but even with the best speaker system, it still sounds like it's coming out of a walki-talkie. Game play makes up for any and all short comings however.

Warning to anyone wanting to run this game on Windows XP. I have experienced some graphics problems which don't last long, slight slow down and auto play problems (better to launch from the menu after putting the cd in than using auto play). These issues are a slight anoyance and after the initial install, I have had no problems with launching the game. The game has also never crashed on me using XP.

If your SW fan who really likes to micro-manage and has no problem with lots of mouse work, then this game is for you. In my book, this game is second only to the original X-Com (which is the other main-stay on my PC's).

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