Battlestar Galactica: Xbox Game Review

Way back in the '70s, just after the world figured out that Star Wars was a really cool idea, (and before The Matrix made machines all-powerful), a bunch of guys at a television studio figured they could duplicate the same space effects for the small screen. The show was called Battlestar Galactica. It's recently been revamped with a new mini-series for the Space Channel and with its 2004 update, a new Xbox video game called, what else, Battlestar Galactica has blasted in.

Battlestar Galactica: The Video Game

This one is your basic outerspace shooter/flier/let's-save-the-galaxy game. You play as Adama, (the name of the original Commander in the original show). Adama is a recent graduate of the academy who's been assigned to the Galactica. You're pretty much flying non-stop in a smoking ship called the Viper, doing your best to prove yourself to the rest of your team, protecting the Battlestar (and the human race) against the Cylons.

Battlestar Galactica: Sci-Fi Success

Well, this game looks and handles really well. Both the visual and sound effects are pretty sweet, and the Viper moves in a lot of cool ways. (We are talking some serious playing with gravity here). The background planetary and space views are rock solid, full of great colors and imagery. The one-two punch of the dogfights with the banter between you and your partners give it a realistic feel - like you are really part of a larger team.

Battlestar Galactica: Sci-Fi Failure

How can we say this simply? Battlestar Galactica is just plain hard. Too hard. Like, every single mission is hard, and as with any game, the missions get harder. And to make matters worse, there's not too much in the way of help options to be found, which makes this Xbox video game as frustrating as algebra. Yeah, the game looks and handles well, but it doesn't give you much in the way of aiming ability - which in a game like this is a total must. How are you supposed to save the galaxy if you can't hit the bad guys? It kind of feels like the creators decided to release Galactica without fine tuning it, and it definitely needs a tune-up.

Battlestar Galactica: The Final Frontier

BattleStar Galactica is a great looking game, but it's no Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds. Like c'mon, how can you save the day if you can't hit the broad side of a barn? Sheesh.

Battlestar Galactica Thumbs Up

Great effects, visual and sound.

Cool ships that fly real nice.

Battlestar Galactica Thumbs Down

Too hard with no help.

Targeting and aiming is near-impossible.

Rating:

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