This game rules.
It's core gameplay is practically a Bungie Halo game (60-round AR, different grenade types, energy shields, medpacks and all) with a Star Wars and squad tactics twist on the formula. You have essentially two constant weapons, but if you think about it, the DC-17M counts as a three-in-one in all its modular glory. There's not a moment you're left without it, adding to the immersive feeling of a special-ops trooper who is *already* carrying the best equipment possible. Of course, you can use other weapons wielded by enemies which are all unique in their own way, giving a nice change of pace. No two weapons in this game are the same, each has its own usage. You really have to learn to work with your full arsenal in order to maximise efficiency, and that includes your team, whose AI mechanics are still a technical marvel in 2026, let alone when this game first released TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO in 2005. There's absolutely nothing that compares to the sheer rush you feel everytime you assign one of my squadmates at a unique post and just see and hear everything going to hell as rounds fly off in every direction and enemies collapse, explode or die screaming.
As for the story, it's cut up into different lengthy operations, reflecting the "special operations" vibe that the game so skillfully executes. These aren't missions that just any soldier can go through with. *You* are the best and ONLY option, and it's made abundantly clear through the narrative. The plot itself is not that terribly complicated. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel in any way, but that's never really a problem since the main characters and their dialogue are so well written that you want to continue simply to hear more of it. Speaking of the main characters, Delta Squad are rightfully iconic. Boss, Scorch, Fixer and Sev truly are a band of brothers and not once does that feeling subside throughout your entire playthrough, both in gameplay as they rush to cover, assist and resuscitate each other and through the narrative through their banter and shared pride at a job well done.
The dark, bleak aesthetic of the game helps its serious tone: this truly is a war through and through and the brutality of your actions are reflected through clever visual mechanics such as: the HUD of your Katarn-class armor (which is absolute eye candy, it's striking and utterly my favorite armor design in literally any piece of media), displaying all necessary information in a unique, clean and extremely appealing way, the gushy sound effect of your wristblade stabbing into an enemy, the mere visual feedback of shooting an opponent and blood, or oil in the case of the droids, spraying out all over... in the uncommon case it gets on you, 38 has a handy cleaning system mounted on his visor which will quickly get rid of any obstructions. Simple stuff like that just adds so much to the immersion, and this is where the soundtrack comes in to tie everything together: it's mostly made up of militaristic war chants in the made-up language of the Mandalorians, Mando'a, filled with horns, drums and loud, deep choirs which sing of your triumphs and prideful service... They outdid themselves with the music, to the point where I'd say it's the best part of a game already filled with solid gameplay, art direction and characters.
In case it wasn't obvious, I'm a full-time glazer of this game. I literally cannot think of a single problem I have with it (except for the drones, ♥♥♥♥ the drones) and it's a damn shame that one: it never got a sequel despite the glowing critical and fan reception, and two: that its only legacy is through shallow cameo apperances in modern shows that do nothing but bastardise its original charm by making the Commandos look like jobbers.
TL,DR: An exhillirating, immersive tactical shooter with fun characters and an addicting soundtrack that's undoubtedly worth it at full price and is a complete steal on any sort of sale.
P.S. I miss when the Clone Wars had consistency and continuity and wasn't just incessant retcons by a guy who couldn't give less of a ♥♥♥♥ about anything not written by him (lead creative director of Lucasfilm, by the way, really inspires confidence for your subordinates Dave). Just read the tie-in novels this game has, there's more substance there than any show the series has put out in the last twenty years.
