The Phantom Menace Comes to PlayStation Plus Premium, for Better or Worse

PlayStation Plus Premium has added a huge library of classic games to its offerings, bringing a massive dose of nostalgia to subscribers. However, not all retro games have aged gracefully. 

Last month (Jan 2024), PS Plus Premium added Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, a divisive 1999 adaptation of perhaps the most controversial Star Wars film.

Introduction: PlayStation Plus Premium and Controversial Media

PlayStation Plus Premium provides access to hundreds of games across generations of PlayStation consoles. This includes both undisputed classics and more controversial titles. Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace falls into the latter category. Much like the film it’s based on, the game has a mixed reputation. 

While some defend it for recreating iconic Star Wars moments, most critics highlight significant gameplay issues. Still, its addition to PS Plus Premium makes it worth revisiting as a historical curiosity, if nothing else.

Critical Reception Upon Release: Failing to Live Up to Star Wars Games’ Pedigree

When The Phantom Menace launched in 1999, the expectations were incredibly high. For years, Star Wars had put out acclaimed video game adaptations like Dark Forces, TIE Fighter, and Rogue Squadron. 

However, this Nintendo 64 and PlayStation release couldn’t live up to that pedigree. While reviewers noted merits like its audio design, they also highlighted the clunky combat and frustrating camera angles.

Contemporary critics gave The Phantom Menace credit for bringing the movie’s world to life but couldn’t excuse the lackluster gameplay. For better or worse, it focused more on movie authenticity than being a great game in its own right.

Gameplay and Design: Blocky Characters and Sounds Like the Film

The Phantom Menace takes key scenes from the film and adapts them into levels focused primarily on combat and jumping puzzles. Characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul made appearances but as low polygon, blocky versions of themselves.

Reviewers at the time praised the audio for capturing the mood of the film, even if some criticized relying too heavily on the film rather than innovating. Players run around familiar settings like Tatooine and Naboo with a lightsaber that unfortunately feels weak and ineffective. Beyond a faithful adaptation of the film’s plot, many felt The Phantom Menace didn’t do much to advance the medium or genre.

Is The Game Worth Revisiting on PS Plus Premium?

Credits: TheLoadout

The Phantom Menace is far from the best Star Wars game ever made. Contemporary reviews make that abundantly clear. However, its limitations might make it interesting as a historical relic on PlayStation Plus Premium.

Since licensed movie tie-in games fell out of popularity years ago, this offers a window into a style of adaptation we don’t see anymore. It also never received an HD upgrade or re-release, so this may be the best way to revisit the game. 

Considering Phantom Menace’s niche appeal, PS Plus Premium feels like the perfect fit to allow curious fans to spend a couple hours with this divisive adaptation.

An Infamous Adaptation of An Infamous Film

Just as The Phantom Menace struggles to satisfy fans and critics over 20 years later, the 1999 video game based upon it has a mixed reputation that has endured over the years. Thanks to its inclusion on PS Plus Premium, a new generation of players can explore this adaptation and see how well it captures the film’s essence – for better or worse. 

Its incongruously high expectations matched with mediocre design encapsulate a piece of gaming history still worth examining today.

Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace is available now as part of the PlayStation Plus Premium library. Whether you love or hate the prequel trilogy, it’s worth booting up just to revisit the lost era of movie tie-in games, even if only for the novelty.