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STAR WARS: DEMOLITION
review | DREAMCAST
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Publisher: Activision.
Developer: Luxoflux. Released: December 2000 (Europe). Genre: Vehicle Combat. Other versions: PS. Posted 16th October 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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Of the myriad of Star Wars games to release since the eighties, Demolition might be one of the strangest. Capitalising on Luxoflux’s previous experience with Vigilante 8, this one traded lightsabers and Jedi powers for explosive vehicular combat. It’s an odd direction to take and looks less flattering when you consider it runs on the same engine that powered the developer’s previous work, which you may assume means this one is a lazy reskin. But once you scratch beneath the surface, rock-solid mechanics and some unique quirks ensure this one is enjoyable for fans of both Star Wars and explosive combat, even if the game would have greatly benefitted from more content.
With the Galactic Empire outlawing Pod racing, Jabba the Hut has invented a new kind of sport, which replaces high-speed racing with explosive battles. Thus, Demolition sets the stage for vehicular combat in the same wheelhouse as Vigilante 8, as you drive around compact arenas looking to wreck all your opponents. Controls feel solid even with the myriad of vehicle types including tanks, pod-racing vehicles and even a beastly Rancor, as all can be accelerated with the A button while the triggers fire weapons. Speaking of which, each vehicle comes with one unique laser weapon, while secondary fire can be found around the maps and includes thermal detonators, tractor beams and concussion missiles. The maps also are well designed, taking you from the destructible markets of Mos Eisley to the jungles of Yavin 4 complete with temples and a golden boulder that coats the player upon touch. Overall, it’s a fun time which fans of the genre will likely enjoy.
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Expect a full range of Star Wars vehicles, as well as a fun and unusual cast
There are a few unique quirks that grant Demolition an identity outside of Luxoflux’s previous games. Attacks can be charged up to four levels, depending how much weapon power you have. Striking an enemy with a level two or three charge will add to a meter on the side, which then can be cashed in by nailing a max level attack. After draining an opponent’s health, you can also perform a Final Blow by charging both attacks to full, rewarding even more credits. This little wrinkle adds a thought process to each attack, which spices up the traditional action. It plays a key role in Tournament mode, a series of matches against more opponents each round. While completing each will reward an ending scene (or a losing one, should you fail), earning 10,000 credits in each tournament unlocks a host of characters to use. These are a bit of a riot, including the aforementioned Rancor, several iconic characters of the series in disguise, and Darth Maul with a dual-lightsaber vehicle which is equal parts silly and amazing.
Not everything is perfect, though. There are definitely some balancing issues with the roster, with certain characters showing a clear advantage over others. Boba Fett may be the worst offender, with his small stature, nimble pace and charged stun attack making it easy for him to wipe out enemies. Meanwhile, Tia and Ghia’s tow attack is, by comparison, borderline useless. Power-ups also are quite unbalanced, with some easily exploitable for both players and the AI, to the point of frustration such as the Tractor Beam. The other issue is that, at least on the default settings, the damage output of attacks feels a little too light, resulting in matches that feel a tad long-winded. Recharging stations for shield and armour add to this, though you can at least change the damage output (similarly to Vigilante 8) and putting it up to ‘high’ adds a quicker, more engaging pace.
Not everything is perfect, though. There are definitely some balancing issues with the roster, with certain characters showing a clear advantage over others. Boba Fett may be the worst offender, with his small stature, nimble pace and charged stun attack making it easy for him to wipe out enemies. Meanwhile, Tia and Ghia’s tow attack is, by comparison, borderline useless. Power-ups also are quite unbalanced, with some easily exploitable for both players and the AI, to the point of frustration such as the Tractor Beam. The other issue is that, at least on the default settings, the damage output of attacks feels a little too light, resulting in matches that feel a tad long-winded. Recharging stations for shield and armour add to this, though you can at least change the damage output (similarly to Vigilante 8) and putting it up to ‘high’ adds a quicker, more engaging pace.
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While unlocking these characters is fun, it doesn’t take very long to mow through tournament mode several times, as each consists of just four matches. There are a few other modes present too, including traditional Battle, High-Stakes which allows you to bet before matches and Hunt a Droid, which serves as a target practice of sorts, but these don’t feel substantial enough to add much more longevity. Luckily, much of the content here supports multiplayer, with some modes offering 4-player skirmishes that prove a treat. You can play the entire tournament mode with a second player and even partake in some gambling with the High Stakes mode, all of which prove enjoyable for the occasional session. It probably wouldn’t be your first pick for multiplayer gaming on the Dreamcast, it’s definitely got enough options and tweaks to offer something for those four ports.
Demolition would arrive on the Dreamcast at the same time as the PlayStation version and because it’s a straight use of the Vigilante 8 engine, a lot of the quirks carry over from 2nd Offense’s Dreamcast port. That’s to say, the bump in quality for the assets such as textures and character models is good, and performance generally holds steady at outside of some explosive moments. Ills like pop-in and less attractive elements carry over, but it’s a good upgrade. The sound fares very well too. The effects are potent as you’d expect from Luxoflux, albeit with more iconic auditory parts like the laser sound of Star Wars, and a plentiful amount of voice clips work well here. But the music is the highlight, mixing traditional Williams-esque touches with some of that funky spirit from Vigilante 8, resulting in a distinctive and catchy accompaniment which is worth seeking out, even if you don’t take interest in the game.
Demolition would arrive on the Dreamcast at the same time as the PlayStation version and because it’s a straight use of the Vigilante 8 engine, a lot of the quirks carry over from 2nd Offense’s Dreamcast port. That’s to say, the bump in quality for the assets such as textures and character models is good, and performance generally holds steady at outside of some explosive moments. Ills like pop-in and less attractive elements carry over, but it’s a good upgrade. The sound fares very well too. The effects are potent as you’d expect from Luxoflux, albeit with more iconic auditory parts like the laser sound of Star Wars, and a plentiful amount of voice clips work well here. But the music is the highlight, mixing traditional Williams-esque touches with some of that funky spirit from Vigilante 8, resulting in a distinctive and catchy accompaniment which is worth seeking out, even if you don’t take interest in the game.
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Summarising Star Wars: Demolition some decades after its launch is weird, as it’s technically a cash-grab effort, but one that throws enough cool ideas at the wall to prove worthwhile for enthusiasts of both the license and the genre. Make no mistake, Vigilante 8’s influences are inescapable, but this also ensures the vehicle combat is sturdy and enjoyable. Coupled with a slew of goofy unlockables, substantial multiplayer modes and pleasant presentation, it makes for a decent time. Maybe with a little more content and some refinement in certain areas, Demolition might have been a classic of the genre, but as it stands, those aching for more vehicular combat on their Dreamcast should still check this one out.
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VERDICT"As a goofy Star Wars spin on Vigilante 8, Demolition makes for a decent time, with substantial multiplayer modes, pleasant presentation and sturdy combat, even if it’s a bit short on content." OVERALL: 7/10 |
OTHER STAR WARS GAMES REVIEWED
Star Wars Episode I: Racer (2000, Dreamcast)
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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008, Xbox 360)
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