Before you even consider playing this game, please be aware that it contains cut-scenes which (crudely) cover most of the major plot points in the movie. If you’re trying to avoid movie spoilers, you should wait to try out the game versions until after you’ve seen Episode III in the theaters.

With that said, the GBA and DS versions of Revenge of the Sith are not particularly story heavy, and other than a few very cool boss duels, the hack-and-slash action is only vaguely tied into the film’s plot. The correlation is limited to basing whole side-scrolling levels full of droid enemies on particular locations in the movie.

The GBA version of Revenge of the Sith is a straightforward side-scrolling action game, the only alternative style of gameplay coming in boss battles when your movement is restricted and the game focuses more on swordplay. Most of the game is about running back and forth all over the screen, smashing droids (or Jedi, if you go to the Dark Side…) with a small arsenal of lightsaber moves. There are also several force abilities and special moves, with a different meter governing each type. You can also block and deflect shots with the lightsaber, which comes in handy for the game’s many bosses.

Both Anakin and Obi-Wan are playable, and each one has his own set of missions and moves. Other than the story-based dialogue, the two mission branches are actually quite similar, considering that level design has only a marginal influence on how this type of game is played. The two distinct move sets are much more important in distinguishing the two characters; Anakin and Obi-Wan really do feel different, even though they share the same controls and are roughly equal in power. It helps that their force abilities are completely different, which can be a big deal depending on your style of play.

Side-scrolling "beat-em-ups" like this one often fall victim to repetitive gameplay. Revenge of the Sith is certainly guilty of serving up dozens of repetitive/pallet-swapped enemies, but the gameplay is kept fresh thanks to a rewarding experience system that lets you permanently power up your character over the course of the game. Based on your performance in each level, you’ll earn points that can be used to purchase new force powers or upgrade old ones. Each level also gives you one stat point upgrade to boost health, strength, or force. On top of all that, powerful special moves are learned at key points in the story. Yes, you could possibly play the final level of the game with the same basic moves that got you through the first level, but why? The game offers enough variety that you can continuously change your fighting style from level to level.

About half the game’s bosses take place within the normal frame of gameplay, though they may require you to use moves that you don’t normally mix into your style, like the deflect ability. The other bosses are set up as duels against enemies just as comfortable with a lightsaber as you are. Since the two sides are so evenly matched, these clashes are tense and exciting, even though they do boil down to simple pattern recognition and quick reflexes. That’s what real swordfights are about too, right? All the bosses in the game are well designed and surprisingly challenging, considering that the normal enemies are piss easy.

I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention that Revenge of the Sith for GBA and DS are mostly the exact same game. The GBA version has a two-player co-op mode (requires two cartridges) and retails for ten bucks less, so if you are mainly interested in the 2D beat-em-up gameplay, it’s probably the best one to get. The DS version includes a 3D space shooter mode that primarily serves as a multiplayer feature. If you’re mostly interested in that mode, read my review of the DS version and consider buying it instead of the GBA version. Either way, you’ll get a competent 2D beat-em-up with some welcome RPG-like character development features and several great bosses.