A combination of Battlefield 1942 with Jedi Knights it may well be, but Lucas Art's Star Wars Battlefront is a polished representation of the Star Wars universe that will satisfy sci-fi geeks and action gamers alike. Fighting for the Rebel Alliance, Galactic Empire, Republic or CIS, players get to fight it out across 10 planets and 16 large scale maps in a well designed and supported multiplayer environment that includes impressive weapons, a host of drivable and flyable vehicles, and a good mix of character types. The single player component is much more than an afterthought, boasting two historical campaigns and a relatively open-ended Galactic Conquest mode. Instant Action provides good training before jumping online, and anyone familiar with standard FPS play will have no trouble mastering the basics.

Star Wars is the selling point in what is essentially a fairly routine shooter, and Lucas Arts has made sure that it doesn't disappoint in that regard. The environments, which include many known locations, are terrifically presented, and the individual character details are first rate. Throw in an excellent musical score and a host of trademark sites and sounds, and Star Wars Battlefront captures the Luke Skywalker atmosphere perfectly. Each faction has five classes to choose from, including one unique capability, and the weapons and skill mix is nicely balanced. Playable vehicles include Speeder Bikes, AT-AT Walkers, Starfighters and Spider Droids, and the Rebels even get to mount the local livestock. 

We had no trouble finding online games, and the general interface and game options are straightforward and well implemented. Vehicles are a little too powerful at times, but the team system works well and the maps offer plenty of tactical options. Despite bringing nothing really new to the genre (except for Wookies!), Star Wars Battlefront should prove to be a popular title. It's simple, well presented and a lot of fun, and pretty well devoid of any major flaws.