You're Delta Three-Eight (RC-1138), "The Boss", Commander of Delta Squad. Accompanying you are Delta Four-Oh (RC-1140), 'Fixer', the squad's second in command and technology specialist; Delta Oh-Seven (RC-1207), "Sev', a sniper of some skill; and the Final team member is Delta Six-Two (RC-1262), 'Scorch', the team's demolitions and heavy weapons expert. These four set out to take on some of the most difficult missions the Republic has to offer.

The controls are familiar to anyone who has played a FPS on the Xbox. That said, though, it becomes essential to learn how to effectively control your squad as the game has many tasks that are best suited to the individual members of the squad. While their AI is good for most situations, there are many points where commanding them to take action that you learn how to delegate command. The effective use of your squad is one of your greatest tactical advantages in this game and, if used properly, can make a difficult level seem almost easy. You can directly control your squad through two different methods. The first method is available at certain points and locations in the game where there are points where you can command squad members to take a position, use a Turret, Revive a downed member of the team or heal themselves. The other method, and even more important, allows you to alter the commandos' basic AI toward four different tasks; Search and Destroy is one of the most useful of these, though if used at the wrong times it can have disastrous consequences for the squad.

The single player campaign is fairly straight forward and is broken into three different campaigns, starting with the Battle of Geonosis where your squad is tasked with a variety of missions that teach you the basics of the game. Here you battle the insect-like Geonosians and Federation droids as you work your way behind the scenes of the battle, trying to turn the tide for the Republic. The second part of the campaign takes you to an apparently abandoned Republic Assault ship deep in space, where you must find out what happened to the ship. The Final mission places you on the forest planet of Kashyyyk, the homeworld of the Wookies, where you must assist the Wookies in there battle against the Separatists.

The single player campaign is enjoyable but unfortunately ends far too soon. It took me approximately ten hours to complete the game and left me wanting for more. While the game is fairly straight forward and the level design keeps you pointed toward your objective, this does not make the game any easier. There are several choke points where you generally can't brute force your way through. Having to use your squad-mates to take critical points can win or lose you the level. The solution to a situation is not always obvious and it pays to use the cover that is provided. While this constant action can make ammunition management important, the game provides a pistol that never runs out of ammunition, so you're never caught in without some weapon.

All of the visuals and sounds you would expect from the Star Wars universe are here. From the details on the Clone Armor, to the sound of a blaster going off, you quickly begin to feel a part of the game and the universe. Even the oft witty banter of your squad mates has the distinctive static of the Trooper's communication system, so familiar to fans of the universe. Some visuals did stand out in the game and one of these happens when you get in close in battle; you will occasionally get a splatter of blood or fluid on your view screen when killing in hand to hand combat. This feature though can be a bit of a hindrance in some of the larger conflicts as it obscures your vision temporarily. These visuals and sounds are what we have come to expect from games in the Star Wars universe. The effects masters from LucasArts and LucasFilm have raised the bar on what we expect in our games and movies and, once again, they have delivered.

I didn't get a chance to play on Xbox Live!, but did play some of the split- screen multiplayer. While fun, it was not outstanding. I was hoping that the multiplayer would include some squad play rather then stick to a traditional style of multiplayer game play. Still, I did have fun playing with friends and there are few things more pleasurable in a game then watching a friend go flying though the air when hit with a Wookiee Rocket Launcher.

If you're a fan of Star Wars, you will want to pick this one up. We are shown the darker, grittier side of the Star Wars universe where life is cheap. While the game does have its faults, it is extremely polished with fast gameplay, solid AI, and a good story. This is LucasArts first attempt at a squad based first person shooter and I must say that it is a successful one. It's nice to take the grunts point of view for once in the Star Wars universe. To not be deciding the grand destiny of the universe, but instead to play a small but crucial behind the scenes role is very rewarding-and very fun.