This week TGH takes a look at the brilliant Gamecube launch title, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader.
TGH writes: "When the Nintendo Gamecube arrived on our doorsteps nearly ten years ago in May 2002, a certain game came along with it that – whilst not totally changing the gaming playingfield – showed just how serious a contender the console was. That game was Star Wars Rouge Squadron II: Rouge Leader."
WTMG's Leo Faria: "It might be hard to play Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader in an official way in 2021, but this is a game worth experiencing. I cannot believe this titan, as well as the GameCube as a whole, is now twenty years old. It is the pinnacle of Star Wars in video games, possibly the best game available for Nintendo’s purple lunchbox, and one of the best games of all time. Simple as that. No need to beat around the bush. Happy twentieth anniversary, Rogue Leader. You are damn near perfect and will forever be."
there was one in development... sort of. But it was for the Wii so it wasnt going to be in HD but it would have had proper widescreen and progressive scan support.
But as far as a full HD remaster... most definitely. Id feel that Aspyr could do it seeing as they have been doing other SW properties recently.
this was the game that got me hooked on the gamecube. Funny story but I had won a gamecube from my office xmas party and my wife had also bought me one for xmas. The one she got me was the platinum edition and the one I got from the office was the black edition that was bundled with star fox adventures (costco bundle w/strategy guide). I kept the black and returned the platinum in exchange for some games. Namely Rogue Leader and Luigi Mansion.
I remember when this launched for some reason the stores got the launch games in about a week before the actual console came out. I used to sit in my bed every night looking at the instruction booklet because that's all I could do waiting for the console to release.. lol
Details, plans and a gameplay video, as well as a prototype video of the cancelled Factor 5 Superman game has surfaced thanks to the Lead Developer.
Wow, looked amazing, it's a little rough but you get the idea, with a little polish this could have been an awesome Superman game...
FYI that's the "prototype" clip and the actual gameplay one is in the post...it's not looking that hot but mostly due to unfinished animations, textures.
Wish we got this as a Superman game back in that generation of consoles. It would have washed away the stain that was Superman 64 and given us something to remember.
Wow, i'm impressed that they actually managed to do the crashing through buildings thing, Destruction looked pretty cool
Factor 5 are renowned for their interesting ideas ( like Lair), sad this was cancelled along with their bankruptcy.
Factor 5 is still around; their parent company went bankrupt, Brash Entertainment.
Even factor 5's website says they are done.
"In 2008, due to massive changes in the game industry and the unexpected closure of several publishers, Factor 5's studio in Marin County had to stop production on multiple major titles, resulting in a closure in early 2009. Factor 5's spirit of excellence though lives on in several new ventures by its team members, both in cutting-edge technology and design that have reached and entertained many millions of living rooms"
Looks like some of the Devs have been working with Epic Games since 2019.
"Both Julian Eggebrecht and Achim Moller have joined Epic Games at the new studio, taking on 'Director of Online Technology' and 'Cologne Studio Director' roles respectively. "
From GameWatcher: "Epic Games is gearing up to create something new, it seems, as the company is opening a brand-new game development studio in Cologne, Germany headed by none other than Factor 5 - makers of classics like Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and Turrican.
In practice, this obviously means that we'll be seeing more original games from Epic, but it also means that the new Cologne team is looking for nearly 200 new employees, which is great news for talent both local and foreign."
"...As part of the company's expanding focus on emerging forms of interactive media and streaming technologies."
I liked Factor 5. Obviously they wont be working on any Star Wars stuff (not without Disney request) so I hope their new projects have the same charm and quality they strive for.
I remember Factor 5 games being so awesome for GC. And then they went and made Lair for PS3. I wonder what happened?
Lair, without the motion controls, is pretty good. Their hand was forced into adding them when they said it would not work like Sony wanted. you should check this out to know more... https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Or, the design of the game was just weak with poor gameplay. Nice looking dragons though.
They should have asked to remake Colony Wars instead from Psygnosis.
https://youtu.be/fd_6SYW2xw...
That would have went over better overall. Just like Warhawk did.
Who knows? All I know is because of that poorly received game the remastered Rogue Squadron trilogy was cancelled and Factor 5 was pretty much done after that.
Yes, that was a sad situation. The trilogy looked like it was a labor of love for them.
I remember playing this game years ago. Was pretty fun at the time, got it very cheap to.
LOVE Star Wars Rogue Squadron saga, wish they would make another..jeez.
To Shady Devil:
They CAN'T make another. the company that made the game has gone the way of the dodo. Factor 5 put its efforts into Lair, A near launch title on ps3. Being WAY ahead of its time , because of the forced motion controls, it was bashed. The game based on critical opinion only, did bad, and suffered poor sales. As a result, Factor 5 went bust. Hence; no more rogue Squadron, no more Lair.
Loved this game and this series
The 3rd game was the best, it also featured the 2nd as a bonus