Released for the Nintendo 64 and PC nearly three years after Rogue Squadron, Star Wars: Battle for Naboo details the events of Naboo post-occupation by the Trade Federation\ in 32 BBY. As LieutenantGavyn Sykes you attempt to liberate the planet Naboo from Trade Federation forces, using several vehicles and starships including the AAT, STAP, and N-1 starfighter. Intended to be a sequel to Rogue Squadron, the game was made by Factor 5, and in many of aspects was very similar to Rogue Squadron. It was also the first installment of the series to include an audio commentary track to play along with the level, a process that was later repeated with Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike.
Turmoil has engulfed the
Galactic Republic. Taxation
of trade routs is in dispute,
and the greedy Trade
Federation has resorted to
violence to resolve the matter.
Acting on orders from a
mysterious Sith Lord, the
Trade Federation has sent
an invasion force to the small
world of Naboo. The Trade
Federation's leaders hope
to capture the peaceful planet
and steal its resources
before the Republic can respond
to the crisis.
As the Trade Federation
marches on Theed, Lieutenant
GAVYN SYKES and the
volunteer members of the
Royal Security Forces are
Naboo's only hope....
Lieutenant Gavyn Sykes is a volunteer member of the Royal Security Forces. He is assigned to patrol Theed during the Blockade, and rescues Captain Kael during the opening stages. He goes on to fight the Trade Federation under the command of Kael, at one point absconding with a aquatic gunboat. Following the death of Kael, Sykes leads the resistance force in taking revenge against Borvo. He then liberates Camp Four and joins in the battle to retake the planet.
Kael is a Captain in the Royal Security Forces. He is assigned to patrol Theed, and becomes trapped near RSF headquarters. Sykes rescues him, and Kael then leads the other pilot into the countryside where they search for allies in the fight against the Trade Federation invasion. Kael agrees to escort Borvo the Hutt to his base, and gets a new group of starfighters in return. Kael leads the strike against several Trade Federation installations, but is betrayed and murdered by the Hutt.
Borvo the Hutt is a smuggler in the northern mountains of Naboo. He maintains his base, a construction site for N-1 starfighters. During the invasion, his personal craft becomes trapped by Trade Federation tanks. Kael agrees to escort his transport, and in return the Hutt gives him new starfighters as well as vital intelligence. Following an operation which results in the liberation of Naboo slaves, Borvo provides more of his transports to carry the slaves. Borvo then betrays Kael and kills him, and brings the slaves to his prison camp. Sykes then leads a strike, which results in the destruction of his transport. Borvo flees Naboo, and the slaves are re-liberated.
Kol Kotha is a Granmercenary. He works for Borvo the Hutt and pilots his transport. It was Kotha who was the first point of contact with Sykes. After Borvo is escorted to his base, Kotha takes control of a starfighter and flies with the resistance to attack Comm 4. Kotha later leaves the employment of the Hutt to join Sykes, as he was not a slaver. Kotha had scouted Federation prison camps and offers that information to Sykes. Kotha then joins in the liberation of Camp Four and saves Sykes at one point. Kotha then serves as Sykes' wingmen in the battle to retake Theed.
Briefing:
The Trade Federation has taken control of Naboo, and only the swamps
appear safe. Follow CaptainKael through the Naboo Farmlands until you reach
the swamps. Protect any civilians and settlements threatened by Trade
Federation forces.
Briefing:
A trader village is hidden deep in the heart of the swamp. Locate the village before it can be destroyed. The traders may provide valuable information and
allies to the resistance.
Briefing:
Enter the mountains in search of the mysterious smuggler, who could become a
powerful ally in the fight against the trade federation. Clear the area of
Trade Federation forces and assist civilians in need.
Briefing:
Now that Borvo the Hutt has joined the resistance, you must protect his vessel until he reaches his hidden outpost. Once at the base, Borvo's own pilots will join the fight against the Trade Federation.
Briefing:
Borvo and Captain Kael plan to assault the Trade Federation Base on Naboo. Before the attack can take place, however, you must disable the communications web controlling the target base. Pinpoint and destroy the central comm satellite to disable the web.
Briefing:
The Comm Satellite has been destroyed, temporarily disabling at least one Trade Federation base. Attack the sleeping base and destroy all Trade Federation weapons, and capture a gunboat for the Resistance.
Briefing:
The Trade Federation has established labor camps on the banks of the Naboo River. Liberate these camps and defeat the Neimoidianslave drivers.
Briefing:
The rescued civilians are now in your care. Escort them to the rendezvous point in the northern ruins. Destroy any Trade Federation forces that threaten your mission.
Briefing: CaptainKael has disappeared. Locate his downed Starfighter and protect it at all costs. The Trade Federation must not be allowed to capture Captain Kael.
Mission objectives:
Locate Commander's downed fighter
Stop Federation attack on Mining Operation
Destroy Hutt's Mining Operation
Destroy Droid Bombers and AAT before they reach crash site
Briefing:
Borvo has betrayed you. He has killed Captain Kael, and now plans to sell your people into slavery. Pursue the Hutt and rescue the captive civilians. Protecting the people of Naboo is your primary concern.
Briefing:
The Trade Federation has imprisoned Naboo's most important leaders in the
notorious Camp Four. Reach the camp, take out the Trade Federation forces,
and free the captives before reienforcements can arrive.
Briefing: CaptainPanaka and the Queen have returned to Naboo. Rendezvous with Panaka and follow him to the Queen, where you'll learn Amidala's grand plan for freeing Naboo.
Briefing:
The Queen plans to enter Theed in an attempt to capture Viceroy Nute Gunray. You must create a diversion to distract the Trade Federation's forces guarding Theed. Once Panaka and Padmé Amidala are within the city limits, travel to the Theed hangar and join the attack.
Briefing:
Naboo Commandos have taken over a Trade Federation Research Facility. A Droidarmy has been dispatched to destroy the base before it's secrets are exposed. Protect the base until the commandos can be airlifted to safety.
In an interview with Star Wars Gamer magazine, Tosti mentioned how his team developed the character of Sykes and how the game was an opportunity to show what the Royal Security Forces and the Trade Federation were doing during the invasion. For Sykes, the character was voiced by Matt Walters, and was based off Bravo Six, played by actor Christian J Simpson, whose scenes were cut from the film.[3]
In an interview with Factor 5 staff, they revealed that initial planning sessions were conducted in February of 1999. The art and level designs came from LucasArts, while the development studio provided programming and post-production work. In the interview the staff revealed that the game's engine was only partially based on the one used for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. It took a lot of mathematics to make the new landscape possible. According to the staff, a droid fighter took 200 polygons to render.[4]
The menus run at 60 framers per second and used Flash-like technology. The sound effects come from Episode I, and the music is fully interactive. The movie pieces were re-done for the game and new material was composed.[4]
The PC version was ported directly from the N64 version but features larger textures.[5]
James Zhang created storyboards for the level progression.[6]
The game was warmly received.[6]Metacritic lists the N64 version with a score of 84.[8]Nintendo Power graded the game as 4/5[9] while IGN reviewed it as 9/10 and called it "one of the prettiest games to grace the Nintendo 64."[10]
The PC version fared less well in reviews. It has a score of 54 on Metacritic.[11] Reviewer Adam Fleet from Computer Games Magazine stated the game had "truly bland textures and sad-looking 2D sprites".[12]