A new retro Star Wars game is coming to PlayStation 5, the PSOne classic tie-in title Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. Released in 1999 on PlayStation and PC, this marks the first time the game has been re-released in 25 years.
Coming to PlayStation via the PS Plus Premium subscription, the Phantom Menace tie-in game will be playable in its original form with the addition of save states and an improved resolution.
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace mostly follows the story of the controversial 1999 prequel movie in a hack-and-slash format. Starting on the Separatist ship as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’ll eventually meet Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine and battle in the streets of Naboo.
Alongside playing as the aforementioned Jedi Knights, you can also play as Queen Padme Amidala and even Captain Panaka, her bodyguard. Unfortunately, there are no Jar-Jar Binks sections, so there’s no “Meesa step in doo-doo” or sticking your tongue in an electrified pod-racer mini-game.
While the movie tie-in game does have a fair ally of variety with lengthy vehicle sections and puzzles, it’s not a very good game. In fact, back in 1999, the game launched to mixed reviews. Back in the day, GameSpot’s Jeff Gerstman (creator of Giant Bomb) gave the game a 4.2/10.
“This game manages to disappoint all audiences. Game players will be frustrated by the game's sketchy control,” he wrote. “Fans of the movie will be bummed out by the overall presentation. It all adds up to one Death Star-sized failure.”
If you’re looking for a much better game based on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, we suggest the recent re-release of Star Wars: Episode 1 - Racer. Playable in a remastered state on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC, the classic racing game adapts the best part of The Phantom Menace (well, excerpt the Darth Maul fight) into a pulse-pounding racing game.
Of course, there's also some brilliant modern Star Wars games that everyone should play, including the almost-perfect Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Alongside that, EA's Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is now in a great place - and a cheap place - for everyone to give a go.
Nevertheless, if you want to give the classic movie tie-in game a go, it’s included with the PS Plus Premium subscription, so why not try it?