Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
- March 29, 2016
- Factor 5
Get on Steam"Star Wars: Rogue Squadron" is a classic game that lets players step into the role of a Rebel Alliance starfighter pilot. The game features a variety of missions across different Star Wars locations, where players must complete objectives such as destroying enemy bases and protecting allies. With a variety of starfighters to choose from and fast-paced aerial combat, "Rogue Squadron" offers an immersive and thrilling Star Wars experience.
PC
Windows
Nintendo 64
Reviews
- Nostalgic experience that brings back fond memories of the original N64 game.
- Engaging gameplay with a variety of missions and iconic Star Wars ships to pilot.
- Works well with controllers, providing a smoother experience compared to mouse and keyboard.
- Camera frequently loses track of the ship, requiring constant adjustments to maintain visibility.
- Controls are clunky and unresponsive, especially with mouse and keyboard, making gameplay frustrating.
- Numerous technical issues and bugs, including crashes and poor optimization for modern systems.
- story243 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally considered thin and somewhat disjointed, primarily revolving around various missions where players pilot iconic Star Wars ships to combat the Empire. While the narrative lacks depth, it offers a nostalgic experience for fans, featuring recognizable characters and settings from the franchise, and is enhanced by a variety of mission types, including escort and sabotage. Overall, the gameplay and mission variety are praised, but the story itself does not stand out significantly.
“The story is simple but interesting, as Star Wars games are, they explore parts of the universe outside of the movies, but without losing the connection with them, either with the plot, the characters, and the locations.”
“Along the way you come across some well-known heroes in their ships like Han Solo, Wedge, Chewie, etc. It's a cool little adventure storyline that nowadays who knows if it is canon or 'legends' material, but enjoyable nonetheless.”
“The storyline is pretty good, the missions mix up the action, and you can even put your butt in the cockpit of a TIE interceptor.”
“The story is very thin in this game and its presentation isn't the best.”
“While the story is nothing worth nosing through, I'd say this game has enough fun content to keep you coming back for more - especially with all the extras and secrets sprinkled throughout the game!”
“The lore and mission descriptions are a bit sparse as well, and I guess they rely a bit on the player being invested into the Star Wars franchise even a bit beyond the main movies, but most players of this game probably weren't, so a more fleshed-out narrative would be nice.”
- graphics122 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its original release in 1998, with many players noting that while they were impressive for their time, they do not hold up to modern standards. Despite some graphical glitches and limitations, the visuals are often described as charming and nostalgic, with many reviewers emphasizing that the gameplay and story take precedence over graphical fidelity. Overall, while the graphics may not impress contemporary gamers, they still evoke a sense of nostalgia and are considered adequate for enjoying the game's core experience.
“Featuring a variety of spacecraft and iconic Star Wars locales, the game's graphics and sound design capture the essence of the series.”
“Incredible graphics for 1998; rivals some of the games being played today.”
“The graphics still hold up well, and I've not experienced the 'graphical glitches' that some have complained about.”
“The graphics are terrible and even with 20 years of technology between its release on the Nintendo to being ported to PC, nothing has changed and the draw distance is still laughable.”
“First things first, the graphics are horribly outdated, granted it's almost 20 years after its original release.”
“The game has not aged gracefully graphically speaking, but the gameplay is just as fun as I remember it.”
- gameplay57 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this classic title is a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with many players appreciating its fun, arcade-style flight mechanics and diverse missions, despite acknowledging dated graphics and some technical issues. While it offers solid gameplay that holds up for fans of the genre, newcomers may find the simplistic controls and unbalanced difficulty challenging. Overall, it remains a beloved gem for those who appreciate retro gaming, though it may not appeal to modern players seeking refined mechanics.
“Flying X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings, and more never gets old, and even though the graphics are dated (it was an N64 game after all), the gameplay still holds up.”
“The gameplay is simple yet fun, short but sweet (with replay value too), and it strikes a balance of fanfare without feeling shoehorned.”
“Rock solid story and gameplay with cool retro Star Wars action that holds up just as well today as it did all those years ago.”
“If you're looking to relive the nostalgia of playing Rogue Squadron on the N64, this is not the game for you. This is the PC port from 1998; admittedly, I can't speak much on the gameplay as the game is constantly crashing. The farthest I managed to make it to is the level select screen before crashing.”
“The mechanics of the engine (resolution, draw distances, etc.) have all gone mostly unchanged since before the turn of the millennium, and as a result, so has almost any pretense of optimization.”
“As a PC port, both the controls and camera are terrible, the gameplay is very simplistic, and the visuals are ugly.”
- stability45 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is highly variable, with many users reporting significant glitches, camera issues, and freezing, particularly on Windows 11. While some players have managed to resolve technical problems through troubleshooting, others found the game too buggy to enjoy fully. Overall, the experience seems to depend heavily on individual system configurations, with some players reporting smooth performance while others encounter persistent issues.
“No troubleshooting, no weird drivers needed.”
“Runs great on my PC.”
“It runs great on everything, even a potato.”
“Tons of glitches and odd problems with this game on Windows 11.”
“Game is completely broken; the sound in the intro suddenly stops, it freezes after every cutscene, and I get a black screen during gameplay.”
“I bought it for nostalgia's sake, but it's just too buggy to really play.”
- optimization25 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's optimization for modern systems has received mixed reviews, with many users noting that while it can run smoothly with some adjustments, it is not fully optimized for contemporary hardware or controls. Players have reported issues such as lack of resolution support, camera glitches, and poor mouse functionality, leading to frustration over the lack of updates for a game that is nearly two decades old. Overall, while nostalgic and enjoyable, the game requires extra effort to run well, and many feel it falls short of expectations for a modern PC release.
“If you are willing to do a bit of extra work to get it to run smoothly, the game is great.”
“It runs smoothly on even typical laptops, and it's as nostalgia-filled as if you had the N64 all over again.”
“Fantastic job with re-releasing it for modern PCs, must say I'm very impressed with the controller integration and performance, it's great to be back on Rogue One!”
“The mechanics of the engine (resolution, draw distances, etc.) have all gone mostly unchanged since before the turn of the millennium, and as a result, so has almost any pretense of optimization.”
“This game is horribly optimized for PC; the mouse controls don't work at all.”
“Sadly, this version is not optimized for modern machines at all.”
- music19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and memorability, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtrack and original compositions that complement the iconic scores of John Williams. While some mention minor issues like tinny sound quality, the overall sound design, including sound effects and voice acting, is considered top-notch and effectively immerses players in the Star Wars universe. Overall, the music and audio elements significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“The music of the game was very well done, and the theme is memorable.”
“Top marks for the music and sound design, helping to fully immerse the player in the Star Wars universe.”
“Another plus, unlike other Star Wars games, this one mostly has original music that fits John Williams' scores very well.”
“I doesn't look perfect (the draw distance is a big hindrance at that) and the music sounds very tinny, but the other in-game sound effects sound great!”
“Music is meh”
“Pros: updated graphics, a new UI, partial controller support + mouse & key controls, same low bit sounds and music that we know and love.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its medal system, which encourages players to revisit missions for gold, silver, or bronze ratings, significantly enhancing the experience. While some players note a lack of difficulty settings that may limit replay value, many agree that the fun and challenge of aiming for high scores and completing all missions provide ample incentive to replay. The game is generally regarded as enjoyable and addictive, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking to maximize their playtime.
“Excellent game with tons of replay value.”
“Going for medals gives the game lots of replay value, as missions are meant to be replayed multiple times for some sweet gold, silver, or bronze.”
“Decent length, and replayability, especially when you challenge yourself to acquire either all bronze, silver or gold medals to unlock 3 secret bonus missions!”
“Speaking of difficulty, there is no difficulty setting, so once you're through, the replay value diminishes practically to zero, except for when you want to 100% the game and get a gold rating in every mission (good luck with your life).”
“The medal system has replay value covered.”
“It has some decent replayability though.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its charmingly quirky mechanics, such as the amusingly blocky enemy designs and the absurdity of converting a v-wing into a car. Players find joy in the game's playful glitches and controls, often leading to hilarious moments during gameplay. Overall, the combination of funny playability and a lighthearted story contributes to a nostalgic and entertaining experience.
“I remember when I played this game as a child just for the sake of failing missions because I thought it was funny.”
“A hilarious cheat is converting the V-wing into a car.”
“It was funny as hell to fly around in a car taking down space fighters XD”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, detracting from the nostalgia and quality of the original experience. Many users feel that the port fails to honor the legacy of the original game, instead prioritizing profit over player satisfaction.
“Don't ruin your childhood memories of an amazing game by trying to play this cash grab of a port.”
“Or at least it would be enjoyable, if this wasn't a terrible port and a blatant cash grab.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect to be somewhat tedious, yet they still enjoy the overall experience, indicating a balance between effort and fun.
“The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I find the repetitive nature of grinding to be exhausting and it detracts from the overall experience.”
“While I understand the need for grinding, it often feels like a time sink that could have been avoided.”
