In the universe previously known as Star Wars Galaxies, the massively multiplayer online game, the elements missing were essentially a solid connection to the universe embraced by the movie series. Certainly there were cameos by some of the principle characters from the films, but overall that sense of being part of that universe was somewhat absent.

All that is about to change.

LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment have released the latest expansion to the SWG title with Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees. Featuring completely story-driven questing, the game bridges that gap between the world of the movies and the MMO universe. However, players may wish to note, that this game does have some “spoiler” elements in that it if you saw Episode III in the theaters and wondered what happened to one of the lead bad guys, you will find out in the latest SWG expansion.

Before getting into the meat of the expansion, there are a couple of things that must be noted: First, players need to have the original title and the first expansion, Jump to Lightspeed, in order to participate in this title. Rage of the Wookiees is a digital download and Jump to Lightspeed is included with all orders of Episode III at no additional charge.

So, why do you need the Jump to Lightspeed expansion? Several reasons – the first being that the only way to Kashyyk is through using the hyperdrive on the ship you received in the JtL expansion. You will need to launch your ship, pull up a map of the system, and then select Kashyyk as your destination. There are four areas where you can land, and that leads to the large number of quests available, more than 100 total. 

When you get there, you will find out that the Wookiees are being enslaved by the Trandoshan, and many have taken refuge in a very large cave. This is an instanced zone, but it is not for the solo player, nor is it for the new player to game. You will have to take in a good team ready to meet the challenges of this complex, which is comprised of more than 100 rooms. At the core is a boss that will take you a long time to defeat – General Grievous. Defeat him and you can own his ship. But be forewarned, he is big, bad and has a lot of hit points. 

There are eight new ships in the game, some taken directly from the movie and a new harvesting opportunity also arises – space mining. However, in order to mine, you will have to fight off pirates and that means space combat (see, that Jump to Lightspeed expansion rears its head yet again).

The game also introduces Wookiee armor and warns characters that should they die, there is a chance they may be outfitted with cybernetic parts upon regeneration (another tie-in to the films). The cybernetic parts may offer special abilities but you cannot place armor over them.

Cinco Barnes, one of the expansion’s designers, stated that Rage of the Wookiees is “really taking it (the MMO) into the world of the movies. We are getting tighter and tighter integration with the movies.”

The game adds scaling of the planets from space to add a sense of dimension to the space experience, there are multi-passenger ships (in which players can take on different roles during combat), and – of course – there are several other new surprises along the way. 

There has been an upgrade to the combat model as well, with players taking on a role in team-based combat. In the past, if you launched a certain attack, some of the kickback would damage your health, stamina and mental bars individually, but with the new combat system, mental and stamina bars drive the special attacks and abilities.

Another item of note … if you did buy Jump to Lightspeed when it was released, and only have the trainer ship from that initial release, you will likely have to delete it and get a new trainer ship. When Jump to Lightspeed first released, the Light Fighters didn’t have the ability to jump to hyperspace, and thus make the jump to the Wookiee homeworld. You can delete that ship and be issued another that will enable you to travel there.

Also, because of the changes to the combat system, players will have the opportunity to re-spec their characters quickly and easily. However, do this carefully because once done, you can’t undo it.

The world itself is rife with quests and the planet has a lush quality that makes it visually delightful, unlike the overgrown forest worlds full of shadows and stark contrasts. This is more of a pastel world, easy on the eyes, though deceptively violent. There are also a host of quests readily available the moment you set foot on the planet; some of those quests lead to involved story arcs that could result is surprising rewards. 

The Rage of the Wookiees expansion does more than merely add territory to the Star Wars Galaxies universe. It brings players closer to the Star Wars movie universe, upgrades and redefines combat roles, gives players the ability to solo a little more but follows that with challenging team-oriented content.

While Jump to Lightspeed felt like more of the same only with different pictures, Rage of the Wookiees feels like something new. The end result is an expansion that is more than a step in the direction Star Wars fans have been waiting for, it is several steps to integrating the movie universe with the game universe. And that makes this an expansion worth having.

Gameplay: 8.2
The load times are cropping up a bit more with the instanced dungeon, but this is still a game that plays relatively smoothly with a huge new world to explore. There is also an instanced dungeon in space, which gives players some nice options.  

Graphics: 8.4
The maps of the Wookiee planet are all handcrafted and look very nice. The interface has undergone a few cosmetic changes that try to incorporate what the actions do a little more, and the look of the Wookiee planet is wonderful.

Sound: 8.3
The game still carries that big orchestral sound, dotted with Star Wars effects. Nothing really new here, but it is still solid. 

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 8.6
The game integrates the Star Wars universe of the films a lot more with the game, and this is a good thing. It is readily apparent that SOE and LucasArts are listening to the fans and working to create a more immersive experience.

Multiplayer: 8.2
There is a lot of spam chatter and while the majority of the community is too wrapped up in its own affairs to be of much help to those seeking it, there are still some that step forward and will help when needed.

Overall: 8.5
The new combat model, the tighter fit with the movies and the challenge of the new world all combine to make this an enjoyable gaming experience. The game looks solid and plays well. While those who have not taken to the Jump to Lightspeed expansion may feel a little forced to do so (and make sure you have the right ship), the game combines new missions that drive the story and give players a much better sense of being part of the Star Wars universe.