If at this point, you're wondering just what any of this has to do with "Star Wars," join the club. What we have here is standard massively multiplayer role-playing game hosed down with "Star Wars" juice. All the familiar locations are here and it's really a beautiful game from a visual perspective. You can find popular characters from the movies and books if you seek them out. The sound effects and music are authentic, but that's about it.


Combat looks patently ridiculous. How many shots from a blaster does it take to kill a fluffy space bunny, anyway? You still have to wander around killing low-level critters to increase your combat skills, and the sight of a pet rancor following a player around like a puppy dog is laughable. Unless you decide to join the Alliance or the Empire, combat is only possible in predetermined battlefields. Most missions are variations on the fetch or kill quest.