DESCRIPTION

Set shortly after the events of the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: Rebellion represents LucasArts' first attempt at a strategy game involving the popular space saga. As either the Rebellion or the Empire, it's up to you to command your side to victory against the computer or a friend via the Internet.

In the course of your game, you might try to conquer as many as 200 planets in the Star Wars universe. In order to do so, you must effectively manage a variety of factors such as construction of new facilities, appropriate number of garrisoned soldiers, and use of task forces in certain situations.

You'll also guide your side's 30 characters on different missions, deciding who might be best for each. For instance, the Rebellion might do well to assign Princess Leia on a diplomatic mission and Han Solo on one of espionage. Most of your favorite characters from the original trilogy of Star Wars films are present, with a few new ones as well as some who were introduced in books by the likes of Timothy Zahn and Kevin J. Anderson. If you've ever wanted to take control of Garm Bel Iblis or General Daala, now's your chance!

For battles, you have a variety of ships available for either side, including 15 capital ships and four starfighters for each side. As the Empire, proper positioning and usage of your Star Destroyers, TIE fighters, TIE bombers — even the Death Star — could be enough to crush the Rebellion's Mon Calamari cruisers, Corellian gunships, X-wings and B-wings.

The battles of Rebellion occur in real time and offer you a choice as to their implementation. You have the option to either let the AI take over and hope that your predetermined strategy is enough to overtake the enemy, or you can take matters into your own hands by controlling the units manually as you assig targets to your task forces and fighter squadrons.

In addition to the core action and strategy elements described above, LucasArts has also included some other "nice touches." For instance, be prepared to deal with traitors who might secretly sympathize with the enemy, or zip through space at double-speed when Han Solo and his Millennium Falcon are on a mission. Luke Skywalker might even learn some unsettling news that will disable him for a while should he and Darth Vader ever meet one another.

With all of these inclusions, it might be difficult to keep track of who is who and what is what. For this reason, a comprehensive encyclopedia is included within the game as well as a 176-page game manual and a quick-reference poster. (Who ever said taking over the galaxy would lack complication?) ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide