Star Wars games have been a mixed bunch, ranging from the lamentably mediocre to the engrossingly spectacular, so it was with some trepidation that fans have been anticipating the new tie-in to Episode III, the last movie of George Lucas' epic space fantasy series.

Ask any fan what they expect from the genre and, basically, it's the chance to wield a lightsaber. Knights of the Old Republic II allowed you to do that, albeit late on in the gameplay. This time round, it's all about lightsaber duelling and your progress through the story depends on how much experience you gain and how adept you are at wielding your weapon.

The gameplay is divided into basic moves and the use of Force powers. The basic moves involve three types of saber strike (fast attack, slower but more lethal and a balance of speed and power), blocking manoeuvres and strafing, and you can also use the X and Y buttons to do a series of rapid combo attacks. The main Force powers are Push, Grasp (where you can pick up an enemy and throw them sideways) and Stun. You can supplement these with a saber throw, instant healing and a sudden burst of speed.

The story closely follows that of the movie and the bonus is that each of the 17 levels is introduced by actual footage of the film: so be warned if you haven't had a chance to see the movie before you play! You alternate between playing Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and Anakin has additional Dark Side powers (such as Sith Lightning) as the game progresses.

There's a role play game aspect to the action as experience points are gained by how effectively you fight. These points can be used to enhance your skills and Force powers. Your foes come thick and fast, although the action is somewhat hampered by a largely side-scrolling movement. Frequently you'll see blaster traces long before you see who's firing them. Although there is a multiplayer mode, the linear nature of the story makes it unlikely that you will want to replay the game too frequently.

Your enemies are a mixture of droids of varying hardness (including the truly evil General Grievous) and flesh and blood opponents like Count Dooku, Mace Windu and the climactic battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan. The difficulty level is medium, as the self-heal and strafing facilities will often allow you to move away from the action long enough to fully replenish your health and Force power.

Visually this is a treat, as you have two new worlds to explore (the sinkhole planet of Utapau and the volcanic Mustafar) and much of the scenery is destructible. The acrobatics are truly stunning (the Star Wars stunt coordinator Nick Gillard was called in to master these) and the familiar theme music completes the illusion that you are part of George Lucas' vision.

If you've seen the movie and want to experience a fast action lightsaber conflict, then this is probably the right Star Wars game to purchase, even though you may not be too keen to play it twice.