Star Wars Arcade / Rebel Assault II

The sound of a lightsaber, the roar of TIE fighters and the feeling that you're sitting in a cockpit in the middle of a galactic war — Star Wars knew how to sell that dream like few other brands. On the SEGA Saturn, the pairing of Star Wars Arcade / Rebel Assault II attempted just that, each in its own way.

Rebel Assault II follows up on the famous series of rail shooters by LucasArts, built on technology full of video sequences and live-action footage. Instead of free flight, the game leads you along a predetermined trajectory while you shoot, dodge and focus on reflexes and timing. It was a showcase of what the CD media of the time could do: a wealth of cinematic material interspersed with action, meant to create the impression that you're really part of the film. Star Wars Arcade then brings the spirit of arcade space combat — fast, flashy action built for an instant thrill.

Both games draw on what was new and exciting on consoles back then: the CD-ROM's ability to load heaps of audiovisual content. The rail shooter and FMV genre was a big trend in the mid-'90s, and Star Wars was the ideal brand to show it off — who wouldn't want to fly through the Death Star trench or dogfight imperial fighters?

Today we look at these titles with the knowledge that the FMV era was more of a brief episode than the future many believed it to be at the time. But that doesn't diminish their charm. On the contrary — they're perfect time capsules of an era when the gaming industry was intoxicated by new technology and tried to get as close to film as possible, whatever the cost.

For a fan of Star Wars and retro hardware, this is a pleasant nostalgic ride. It's not deep strategy or a sprawling RPG, but fast, flashy fun carrying the magic of a galaxy far, far away — in the form the 32-bit era gave it.

Why play: For genuine Star Wars adrenaline in the form of a CD-era rail shooter — nostalgia, action and a piece of FMV gaming history.