When I first read that there was a 3D platformer coming out on the XBox 360 based on the very cool TV series of the same name, I was a little over the moon. Unfortunately my high expectations were crushed immediately when I started playing the game which had fiddle some controls, lackluster gameplay and Spartan looking graphics. Yes my friends, developer Krome Studios had dropped the ball of this latest Star Wars game. Of course, the world of Star Wars games have had its highs and lows and after the impressive Force Unleashed game, it was inevitable that another Star Wars game would fail.

Features

Experience an all-new and exciting Clone Wars storyline that bridges the gap between season one and two of the TV series as you learn more about the mysterious bounty hunter Cad Bane and hunt down the all-new Skakoan super villain Kul Teska

Play as your favorite Jedi heroes including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Mace Windu, and Kit Fisto

Slice and dice your way through Separatist droids with your lightsaber and Force powers and use your agility to perform amazing leaps and navigate levels filled with interactivity

Turn your enemies into weapons as you commandeer droids and use their unique abilities to blast enemies and solve puzzles as a Jedi

Be part of an elite clone trooper squad with unique gameplay that puts firepower at your fingertips. Blast droids and unleash devastation with heavy weapons like rocket launchers and thermal detonators as Commander Cody, Captain Rex and all of your favorite clone troopers

Compete against a friend with in-level challenges for rewards and points to be spent to upgrade your character and unlock bonus items

The story of Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes is to bridge the gap between series 1 and 2 of this television series and once again involves the Republic's fight against the Separatists, lead by General Grievous. Gamers can also play all the major characters that include Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Mace Windu and Kit Fitso to name a few.

Although the game is aimed at a younger market, it's really no excuse to skimp on the gameplay and had some more work been put into the title, Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes would have soared rather than bombed. Although you can control quite a few of the characters from the TV series, you initially start with Anakin Skywalker with Yoda barking orders to you in the first level which is more of tutorial. The game is also quite reminiscent of LEGO Star Wars from the view of the game and automatic re-spawning. However, control... control... you must learn control, as Yoda once set is the black heart of this game.

This is where the game falls over from the awkward controls that are quite unresponsive and when you control the characters, the accuracy is unfortunately missing. Whether you're attempting to jump or using the force to hold down a robot, run up its legs and destroy the blasters, it's a very frustrating experience because sometimes you just can't do it. Walking on ledges or performing jumps on precariously placed areas is frustration at its penultimate.

Needless to say, there will be many restarts in the game and when you want to throw your XBox 360 controller against your 50" High Definition Plasma TV, that's not a good thing. I want to fight the Sith, General Grievous and the like, not the damn controls.

Controlling the characters in the game is quite simplistic at best and most feel the same, whether you're playing Obi-Wan Kenobi or one of the Clone Troopers. Basically, the controls feel almost identical to LEGO Star Wars but unfortunately it doesn't play the same. You have the force, jump, double jumps, light saber attacks or blaster attacks for non Jedi's. That pretty much sums it up with a few puzzles throw in along the way plus boss fights.

All the Jedi maneuvers are there from throwing your lightsabre and even some combos but at the end of the day, it's just a button masher with awkward controls. Some parts in the game, you need to use the force, whether it's pushing boxes out of the way or enemies or using the force to incapacitate a foe, the satisfaction and fun factor is totally missing.

Although the developers did try a few things like controlling droids but by jumping on the back of one in order for them to blast something away, this should be Star Wars not Spyro the Dragon. When playing one of the Clone Troopers, it's more about a blast fest than one of strategy but sadly, aiming where you want to shoot is also a fiddle some experience as you shoot in circles.

Apart from single-player, like Star Wars LEGO, the game contains a local co-operative mode and a variety of extras that can be unlocked from different masks (e.g. Yoda, Death Vader etc) that can be worn by your characters and even cheats.

Graphically, the game seems dumbed down on the 360, obviously to allow a port to other consoles. It's not bad, it just like the gameplay has that rushed appearance to it. Luckily the environments and characters look like their TV counterparts. The soundtrack is straight from the TV series and amazingly enough, the voice acting is quite professional. Our only annoyance in this department is Yoda who seems a little too gruff.

Although I desperately tried to like this game, unfortunately the buggy, almost unfinished gameplay made things a very frustrating and annoying experience. It could of been great, however the lack of true Q&A makes this another Star Wars game that will go down the canals of history of the one that missed the mark. It's a shame, because the computer animated series is the perfect foundation for a decent game.