It is a sad fact that a real time strategy game will usually have only average graphics. Games such as Command and Conquer Generals have sought to change this, and have succeeded for their time. However, its time to test the limits on the detail we can shove into one battle.

Empire at War has wholly achieved phenomenal graphics for a game designed to be viewed at a distance. Every battle seemed to astound us with the level of detail that Petroglyph has shoved into the screen. I'm reminded of games such as Star Trek Armada, however with the graphics department on turbo. You'll find that the ships will deliver a definite sense of being colossal, while the fighters and lighter support ships zip around in between. Specular maps on the larger cruisers give an excellent look with the starlight bouncing off. Real time shadows arc across the flat sections of hull as dogfights ensue. The weapons in Empire at War look just as we've come to know and love from the Star Wars movies. The Empire's artillery of greenish lasers and ion cannons flare brilliantly against the black of space.

Small stars engulf ships as their reactors go critical and decide to warm the battle with raw energy. On the ground, a similar situation can be found - to a degree. You'll notice some low resolution textures more often here, since you're up so close on some of the vehicles. Tiling of the landscape is well done, although a few marks and blotches are repeated. Watching vehicles and troops march onward through water is quite pleasing, seeing how lots of attention was paid to the bodies of water on the planets. Over all, graphics like this have almost never before been seen in the RTS arena. To show off their graphics, Petroglyph included a cinematic mode which pulls you down into eye level with the battle. You do lose control of the battle at this point and the camera sometimes move a bit jerky and points at nothing, but you can adjust that by tapping the space bar a few times and watch your X-Wings duke it out up close and personal. This is definitely a nice addition to the game in my opinion.

Not to put all their stock in visuals alone, much work was put into the audio. Musical scores are quite original, but they still feature the classic tone of Star Wars so you remain wrapped in the game. Sound effects are exactly what you'd expect from a game by Lucasarts (since they have the official archive). Every last vehicle has its characteristic sound, whether it is the drone of snow-speeders, the metal clanking thunder of AT-ATs, or the deep bass presence of a larger cruisers Empire at War will give you quite the listening experience. Towards the character voices, it seems most are a close comparison to actual actor voices from the movies. While not spot on it isn't obvious enough that you'll be mentally grumbling about it whenever the Emperor gives you your next mission. One thing that did bother me was some repetitive nature in the lines of a few particular characters. Vader had a few select lines he loved to use, in particular, which got a little old towards the end of a battle. This is nothing that really detracted me from the actual gameplay, but just a minor note.