History VideoGame / RogueSquadron

To tie in with ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', a cheat code was hidden in ''Rogue Squadron'' which allowed you to unlock a [[CoolShip Naboo Starfighter]] for play. Factor 5 later released the SpinOff ''Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo'' on UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, which is very much in the vein of the ''Rogue Squadron'' series (albeit with new ground-based vehicles as well as the flight combat), and was equally well-received and successful. By the same token, to tie in with ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', ''Rebel Strike'' had a mission where you ended up on Geonosis and could find a hidden Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter, one armed with ''Slave I's'' Seismic Charges.

** ''Rogue Squadron'' begins with the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}} logo [[note]](or the game's title logo)[[/note]] being destroyed by a TIE fighter.
** ''Battle for Naboo'' features the UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}} logo [[note]](ditto)[[/note]] [[DeathFromAbove falling on top]] of [[TakeThatScrappy Jar Jar Binks]].

* PressureSensitiveInterface: The [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube's]] joystick has touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, with another button at the very bottom of each of the buttons. The [=GameCube=] installments of the series map the accelerator to the right trigger. Clicking the button underneath (depending on your craft) either triggers a rechargeable booster or closes your S-foils (giving you increased speed but disabling your weapons). To accelerate to max speed normally, you need to hold down the trigger without pressing the button underneath.

In 1996, at about the same time that the first novel of the ''X-Wing'' series was coming out, Creator/{{LucasArts}} decided to make a space combat game, similar to the Hoth level in ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire''. Factor 5, the company they contracted, wanted to make games that let people play though action scenes from the films. At that time, Creator/{{Lucasfilm}} was not comfortable with video games drawing directly from the films. Then someone looked at the ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'' comics and realized that they could use similar settings, putting characters from the films into new missions. A series of three shooter games called ''[[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Rogue_Squadron Rogue Squadron]]'' (for UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}), ''Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader'', and ''Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike'' (both for UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube), kicked off in 1998. The first game is set between [[Film/ANewHope Episodes IV]] and [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack V]], but several missions make use of events in ''Legends'', like the [[ComicBook/DarkEmpire Emperor's rebirth]]; the next two games are set between and during points of the movies.

The first game was later ported to PC operating systems as ''Rogue Squadron 3D'', and is available from Website/GOGDotCom and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. See also ''VideoGame/XWing'' and ''VideoGame/TIEFighter'', games to which the ''Rogue Squadron'' series is in many respects a SpiritualSuccessor. 2020's ''VideoGame/StarWarsSquadrons'' presents itself as the most recent spiritual successor to the ''Rogue Squadron'' series.

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In the "Neimodian Plunder" level of ''Battle for Naboo'', after you save the farmhouses, if you go after one of the few remaining [=STAPs=] on the outskirts of the level, you'll find that they're chasing and firing on a tiny pack of harmless Nunas (the planets equivalent of chickens).

** In the first mission of ''Rogue Leader'', you're given six torpedoes, but you must keep at least one to complete an objective later. Waste the sixth and the mission ends in failure on the spot as Yavin IV goes kaboom.

* OneHitKill: The EWERDEAD cheat code in ''Battle for Naboo'' allows you to kill ''any'' target in one hit. There's a catch though--it affects ''everything'' in a level, meaning that not only can ''you'' be killed in one hit, it means your allies and buildings you have to protect can be killed in one hit by the enemy as well. This ends up making many of the levels, especially "Search for Captain Kael", "The Queens Gambit" and "Panaka's Diversion", UnintentionallyUnwinnable. "Gambit" ends as soon as it begins because your ally, Panaka, will get killed just as the level starts. Getting killed just as the second cutscene triggers in "Panakas Diversion" (where the people you have to save are killed instantly because the cheat makes them mincemeat for the enemies attacking them) [[GameBreakingBug can cause the game to freeze.]]

---> '''General Rieekan:''' The Y-Wing is the workhorse of the Rebel Fleet. It's not quick or flashy, but it gets the job done.

To tie in with ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', a cheat code was hidden in ''Rogue Squadron'' which allowed you to unlock a [[CoolShip Naboo Starfighter]] for play. Factor 5 later released the SpinOff ''Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboo'' on UsefulNotes/{{Nintendo 64}}, which is very much in the vein of the ''Rogue Squadron'' series (albeit with new ground-based vehicles as well as the flight combat), and was equally well-received and successful.

** Imperial Academy Heist changes dramatically depending on whether you're playing between 6 AM and 6 PM: during the day, you get a Y-Wing mission where you can optionally disable the canyon sensors to reduce your chances of getting caught, while the nighttime version puts you in a Snowspeeder that ''can't'' disable them and thus has to make use of its ground-hugging property to avoid getting caught. The method of hijacking the TIE Fighter changes between the two variations, as well: In the daytime, you use the Y-Wing's ion cannon to force the fighter to land and the pilot to surrender the vehicle; at night, you simply kill the pilot with your Speeder's blasters.

** Imperial Academy Heist changes dramatically depending on whether you're playing between 6 AM and 6 PM: during the day, you get a Y-Wing mission where you can optionally disable the canyon sensors to reduce your chances of getting caught, while the nighttime version puts you in a Snowspeeder that ''can't'' disable them and thus has to make use of its ground-hugging property to avoid getting caught. The method of hijacking the TIE Fighter changes between the two variations, as well.

** The Y-Wing is also this trope to a lesser extent. While the most sluggish of the rebel fighters, it has great shielding, ion cannons, and strong proton bombs (moreso when you get the spread bombs in later installments). The game's description of the ship states it as such.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The Advanced Targeting Computer upgrade in the two [=GameCube=] games. It makes the targeting computer button a toggle rather than having to be held down, and allows you to move the cursor and command your wingmen to target specific enemies. Unfortunately, the command aspect of the upgrade is difficult to handle, and most missions' medal requirements require leaving the targeting computer off for a set percentage of the mission time or worse, not using the targeting computer at all. This leaves the upgrade only useful on a few missions, such as ''Rogue Leader''[='=]s Endurance mission where the medal requirements don't have a "maximum TC uptime" requirement at all. It's also a late-game upgrade (in ''Rogue Leader'' in particular, you pick it up on the very last main mission), meaning that it's not even useful for minimally beating the game.

** ''Battle for Naboo'' has the bonus level ''The Dark Side'', where you play as Darth Maul and defend the Trade Federation forces in the Sith Infiltrator.
** ''Rogue Leader'' has the bonus levels ''Triumph of the Empire'' and ''Revenge on Yavin'', where you play as Darth Vader in both the Death Star trench run battle and the Empires subsequent assault on Yavin base.

* RedHerring: In ''The Jade Moon'', Wedge brings up the possibility that the [[HeelFaceTurn newly-defected]] Kasan Moon could be a double agent leading them into a trap, to which Luke abruptly cuts him off. Kasan's intel turns out to be right on the money and the rest of the game leaves no doubt that her defection was genuine, which makes it strange that it was brought up at all.

* WhatTheHellPlayer: In the first game, Rieekan will call Luke back to base for what is implied to be strict dressing down if the player shoots down too many escorts/friendlies. See also NonStandardGameOver.

--->'''Wedge:''' I can tell you one thing Luke, the officer on duty is not going to enjoy explaining this damage to the local Moff.
--->'''Kasan Moor:''' He may not live to tell about it. Moff Seerdon is notoriously... unforgiving.

* LittleHeroBigWar: Subverted. While most levels restrict you to Luke/Wedge/Sykes and just a few wingmen, there are also missions where you are backed up by (and/or must [[EscortMission escort]]) other squadrons and ground forces that are participating in the same mission.

* PutOnABus: Kasan Moor, a new character created for this game, was basically forgotten in other Star Wars Legends material. Her sole other appearance was in ''Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption'', but even there she only has a throwaway role, and her lines are all stock audio taken from the character Dak Ralter from ''Empire Strikes Back''. WordOfGod revealed that she had resigned so that she may be a military adviser for Mon Mothma.

* RegeneratingHealth: Although Star Wars lore, the game manual, and in-game dialogue establish that the player-controlled Rebel craft have shields, this isn't reflected in the gameplay where there's only a single health bar. Health only regenerates on ships that carry an R2 droid, as well as the Millennium Falcon.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Lieutenant Sykes does this in Battle for Naboo after [[spoiler: Borvo kills Captain Kael]]
* ScriptBreaking: In "Battle of Endor", you can turn around right as the mission begins to summon the massive swarms of TIE Interceptors, instead of following the movie faithfully and only turning around when ordered to.

-->'''Kasan''': "This reminds me of Bespin. My squadron scouted it once for a possible Imperial takeover. Too small, though..."
* [[TakeThatAudience Take That Player]]:

** If you unlock the Naboo Starfighter in the original game you can use it in any level of the game. This includes levels where you fight AT-AT's and would otherwise be forced to stick to the Snowspeeder. The Naboo Starfighter cannot destroy AT-AT's, rendering the mission unwinnable if you try it.
** In ''Battle for Naboo'', its possible to play as the Gunboat in the Naboo Swamp level with a cheat code, but it makes the level impossible to complete.

* ZeroEffortBoss: In ''Battle for Naboo'', Borvo's ship in the "Borvo the Hutt" level. His ship is a huge target, moves slow as molasses at best and then just lingers around in mid air, and it has a measly laser cannon to defend itself that has practically no chance of actually hitting, much less killing, you. On top of that, if you saved up your missiles, you can end the fight just ''seconds'' after it begins by hammering the Hutt's ship with them. The real challenge in that mission is to get to Borvo and deal with the ships and missile launchers protecting him.

* CharacterSelectForcing: Enforced on all Rogue Squadron missions at first. The first time you play through any level, you must take the designated ship. On Snowspeeder levels you are never given an option, since it is impossible to beat [=AT-ATs=] with any other ship. The first game will allow you to use a Naboo Starfighter in Snowspeeder levels... the level will just be impossible to complete.
** After beating the level once, most missions allow you to choose other ships without penalties, averting/downplaying the trope.
** At last, when you collect all gold medals, you are given almost complete freedom to pick any ship you'd like - and sometimes it is easier to beat missions with ships that weren't allowed before, such as an A-Wing on "Raid on Sullust", a level designed for the Y-Wing.

* CastingGag: Crix Madine and Wes Janson in ''Squadron'' and ''Leader'' (and Kol Kotha in ''Battle for Naboo'') was voiced by Terence [=McGovern=], one of the four voice actors for the stormtroopers in ''Film/ANewHope'' (he famously said the "These aren't the droids we're looking for" line).

* ContinueYourMissionDammit: No matter how efficiently you shoot down attacking fighters, the captain of any Rebel ship you're {{escort|Mission}}ing ''will'' harangue you about how close the ship is to destruction.

** In the first game, Luke has full voice clips for using the V-Wing's boosters and rapid-fire mode, even though the V-Wing is only canonically used during the final mission, where you play as Wedge. It would have been just as easy to re-use Wedge's voice or have no voice at all, since the only way to fly the V-Wing as Luke is to complete the final mission and unlock the V-Wing as a regular ship in all previous missions, but the devs took the extra step to make it seem as if the V-Wing was available from the start.
*** On a similar note; If you are also able to hack the Game, so you can play as Wedge in a Snow Speeder Level, it shows that there are Voice Clips for Wedge when tripping an AT-AT.
** In ''Rogue Leader'', destroying any of the turrets on the Star Destroyer in "Razor Rendezvous", those turrets will remain destroyed in the next mission after the same Star Destroyer crash-lands, making it slightly easier to approach.

** Luke was the player character for the entire game (except for the Mon Calamari mission where you play as Wedge.) ''Rogue Leader'' only had you play as Luke for the first few missions before switching to Wedge, and ''Rebel Strike'' gave them equal amounts of missions.

** All three of the original Atari Star Wars arcade games are included in ''Rebel Strike'' as extras.

* EmbeddedPrecursor: ''Rebel Strike'' has the three [=1980s=] Atari arcade games as unlockable extras. Since ''Rogue Leader'''s Death Star Attack trench run segment had catwalks inspired by the original ''Star Wars'' arcade game, it counts fairly well. Humorously it took awhile for players to find the ''Return Of The Jedi'' arcade game, with the cheat code to unlock it lampshading it since it basically reads "A third game? Yes."

* EveryoneHasStandards: Kol Kolta, a smuggler working for Borvo the Hutt helps Gavin seek revenge against Borvo for murdering Captain Kael. Citing that he is not a slaver when Borvo plans to sell civilians in their care to slavery. He remains loyal to the cause and participated in retaking Theed.

* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Sarkli from Rebel Strike.]]
* FinalBoss: Moff Seerdon in the first game (though technically he isn't, but at least for his arc), Sarkli in ''Rebel Strike''.
** TrueFinalBoss: The World Devastators in the first game.

* GameBreakingBug: Pausing or entering the cockpit view while flying the Buick in Rogue Squadron will cause the game to crash. The N64 version of the game!
** If you use codes to unlock the Naboo Starfighter in the first game you can use it in any mission in the game... even if it renders the mission unwinnable because it can't kill AT-AT's.

** In the first Rogue Squadron, the first mission of each chapter has an opening crawl, before showing Rogue Squadron approaching the planet from the orbit, even when they are flying airspeeders, which are suppose to be low-attitude vehicles.

* HeroicSacrifice: In the "Attack on the Executor" level, a Blockade Runner deliberately kamikazes itself into a Star Destroyer to buy the rebels time. It fails to destroy it, but it knocks out its shields and leaves its command tower and cannons a sitting duck for you to attack.
** What does destroy it is Green Leader's crashing into the bridge of the ''Executor'', just like the movie.

* LaResistance: The Rebel Alliance as a whole, even aiding other planets trying to rebel against the Empire. You also partake in the Naboo Resistance in ''Battle for Naboo'' causing trouble against the Trade Federation while the Queen is gone.

* TheFaceless: The brief period you control Green Leader in the hanger, his face is always kept away from the camera, and obscured in shadow.

* CharacterSelectForcing: enforced on all Rogue Squadron missions at first. The first time you play through any level, you must take the designated ship. On Snowspeeder levels you are never given an option, since it is impossible to beat [=AT-ATs=] with any other ship. The first game will allow you to use a Naboo Starfighter in Snowspeeder levels... the level will just be impossible to complete.

-->'''Crix''': We can't hold them off! Aurgh!
-->'''Wedge''': Abort mission! The team is dead!