Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Anakin Skywalker's fall into darkness ranks among the most dramatic moments of the entire saga — and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith tries to forge that epic tragedy into action on the Game Boy Advance. The film source gives the game a clear direction: to guide the player through a story every fan knows by heart.

In gameplay terms it's a top-down action game built around lightsaber duels. You slash, block, chain attacks, and use Force abilities against waves of enemies. The handheld version focuses on the most enticing parts of the source material — the duels and the battle chaos of the Clone Wars — and packs them into a pace suited to gaming on the go.

The game's release accompanied the film's premiere, making it a classic simultaneous licensed title meant to extend the cinema experience onto the handheld as well. Meanwhile the GBA version had to flex its muscles: presenting iconic environments and musical themes within the limits of the handheld hardware, which it manages thanks to colorful, legible graphics.

As with most film adaptations, the game aims chiefly at fans who want to relive Episode III's key moments with their own hands. It's no revolution in the genre, but an honest serving of lightsaber duels and action from a world millions of people across generations love.

Today it's an interesting document of a time when a handheld game came out alongside every big film. For collectors and the nostalgic it's one more piece in the mosaic of the enormous Star Wars gaming family on the Game Boy Advance.

Why play: For fans of Episode III who want to experience Anakin's fall in the form of snappy action and lightsaber duels on a handheld console.