Cheap Battlestar Galactica (Video Games) (Xbox) Price

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Customer Reviews of Battlestar Galactica

Well-designed space shooter
I enjoy a good space shooter even though I'm not particularly good at them (I admit that I couldn't get through the first space mission in Star Wars: Starfighter without using a cheat). This is definitely a good one. Graphics are very nice. One thing I like is that you don't feel like you're just floating in space; you feel like you're actually flying. Hitting a turbo boost really feels like you're hitting a turbo boost. The ship controls are excellent, and targeting is easy and intuitive. The ability to customize and tweak your missiles for optimum performance/energy use adds a nice amount of gameplay depth.

For an extra challenge try the in-cockpit view. It's harder because your view is partially obstructed by the cockpit, and your field of view is limited to what you see through the windshield, but it really does feel like you're piloting the Viper. It makes the game feel even more like Starlancer for the Dreamcast, which is one of the best console space shooters of all time (and was also developed by Warthog).

The major complaint I have with this game is one that I'm sure many will share: the lack of save points during missions. You will often make it through all but the last level of a multi-level mission only to fail the objective of the last level and have to start over all the way at the beginning of the entire mission. This is an irritating flaw in an otherwise well-designed game and adds an unnecessary level of frustration to the game, expecially for those of us who are not especially gifted at space shooters (like me). If there were checkpoints within levels, I would give it at least an extra 1/2 star. As it is, it's still an excellent game that's worth checking out if you're a fan of the license or a fan of the space shooter genre.

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Difficult, but lots of fun...
I will start with the simple truth: Battlestar Galactica is an extremely difficult game. If one has the patience, it is also a rewarding game that's a lot of fun to play.

The lack of a tutorial makes reading the instruction manual absolutely necessary. Since there are no "free flight" levels, one simply has to learn on the fly. As a bit of advice, read the manual's "targeting" section multiple times. Once you've got this down, the game becomes infinitely easier. In this game, missiles are your best ally.

As pointed out by other reviewers, the lack of save points between mission sections is frustrating, and as the game progresses it may even seem that the game has a personal vendetta against the player, ever requesting further "impossible" tasks, all within the same mission. As a final complaint, certain target objectives are VERY hard to locate, and in true "Death Star" style, are the ONLY vulnerable point on the target.

However, the graphics, cut-scenes, music (especially the music), voice acting, flight control, and vast array of available craft (each with unique traits) are all superb! Real-time missile configuration along with a "fire and forget" locking system alleviate some of the previously mentioned stress. There is a wide variety of mission types (pilot, gunner, bomber) and listening to Adama evolve from eager rookie to vengeful and grizzly veteran is an enjoyable parallel to the player's own gaming experience.

I recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a challenging flight sim, but only if one has an abundance of patience.

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X-wing 2000
After reading several of the reviews, I decided to wait until the price dropped below $30. Within a few hours, I had completed the first 3 missions, and had not experienced the emotional frustration everyone else is talking about.
First of all, the game is very, very similar to the old X-wing game. With X-wing, there was about 30 keyboard-based commands which had to be learned throughout the game in order to be successful. With Battlestar, as long as you read the directions, you can get it down to about 10 necessary buttons....no where nearly as complicated as X-wing, and you don't have to take your eyes off the screen to hit W, S, +, or -.
One advantage to the game is that it actually requires some sort of skill. The new Star Wars games seem to incorporate the theory that the person who can hit the fire button the most times wins. With Battlestar, there is an energy level that does not allow you to just hold down turbo and fire the entire time. Also, your movements and time delay have a direct impact on finishing the mission.
As stated in every review, there is no "autosave" button to store progress in the middle of the mission. But then again, there are many games that are like this (Mechassault, Nightfire (007), XIII, Clone Wars, just to name a few). If you liked X-wing, and you like the concept of Battlestar, this is a great game.