Is it fair to compare SW:RC's online play to that of Halo 2? I'm not entirely sure. After all, SW:RC sort of shared the same development cycle as Halo 2. It didn't really have all that much time to adjust. Three months. That's all. That's not enough to realize how much Halo would forever change the console standard in both quality of online play, and the front end interface. SW:RC fails to deliver in both areas. The front end interface is bare bones and workhorse compared to Halo 2's value packed thoroughbred. You have the basic options and nothing more. The gameplay is the standard Unreal / Quake / Doom online experience. No finesse. No subtlety. Run fast and gun faster. The multiplayer maps are variants on the offline maps that cover all the standards. Maze like corridor levels, open arena levels, rinse and repeat. The multiplayer options are also the standard deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag, and assault. Assault being a capture the flag variant where one team is forced into defense while one is forced into offense. On a side note, I was surprised to find an amazingly worldwide audience attracted to SW:RC compared to most other games I've played online. In the one session alone, I was playing with some very talkative people from Scotland, Great Britain, Germany, and Australia. I was called a "fucking cunt!" by the guy from Scotland in a heavy accent. It was great. SW:RC online is a decent distraction and nothing more. It's not something I'd suggest you buy the game for. Bungie has set the bar. Companies are going to have to meet it. The standard is higher these days. Bare bones doesn't cut it anymore...
Next time will be the final opinion on Star Wars: Republic Commando.
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