A New Hope enters the world of MotS. Find R2, but watch out for roaming Tuskens that are quite numerous. On to the review...

Level architecture of Beggar's Canyon was fantastic! The outdoor areas were just phenomenal, boasting huge amounts of detail. There were all sorts of outcroppings, caves, canyons, dry streambeds, caverns, ledges, pits and more. There were all sorts of nooks and crannies to crawl into and explore, and there were a lot of sloped rock faces, along with boulders and smaller rocks. Everything was done with incredible detail, and I was very, very impressed. The outside areas looked real. All editors know that outdoor architecture is challenging, and I think the author did an exceptional job; I just can't say enough. The indoor architecture of the level is also good, and it resembles the Lars' homestead greatly. I don't know if the author intended it, but some of the doorways were crooked and uneven. However, there were nice details like steps, ramps and railings. The texturing of Beggar's Canyon was also commendable. The textures in the homestead looked a lot like they really did in the movie, and the canyon featured a number of different rock textures. The variety was nice because everything didn't look all the same, which makes areas boring. There were many places where textures didn't line up, both inside and out. In the canyon I can understand because there were lots of uneven surfaces and rocks, but inside there were still a lot of mishaps. The variation, however, really added a lot to texturing despite the fact that the textures did not always line up. The sand texture could also use a little work, for it was a bit drab and boring looking. But overall, an admirable job on level design.

The enemy placement in Beggar's Canyon was slightly above average. I found that there a few too many enemies in this level, but it wasn't too incredibly difficult. It was a little strange how Tuskens were just standing around in some areas, as if they had nothing better to do, but this wasn't a huge problem either. For the most part, enemies had strategic positions so they could do some damage without massive numbers. In one area, they are placed on ledges that have the elevation advantage, and it offers a nice challenge with only five or so men. Item placement was also average, for the power ups were and far between. You start the level with zero shields (which I hate) and there are only a few smuggler backpacks to give you more power. Also, I ran a bit low on ammo during most of the level, both because of the amount of enemies and lack of power ups. In addition, some of the enemies didn't drop ammo when killed for some reason. You did get a couple of thermal detonators and a few backpacks, but nothing very significant to help you. Perhaps some weapons, ammo and shields could have been somewhere in the homestead so you could get beefed up before combat. Also, all of the power ups were grouped together in two or three spots; they were not spread out very well. COG enhancement in Beggar's Canyon was rather limited. It had a number of interesting cutscenes including Luke and Threepio, as well as some aiframemoves, but there just wasn't much else. Granted, there shouldn't be any elevators or doors in the canyons, but new, inventive COGs were called for, but they didn't appear. Maybe some rocks tumbling down in front of you and crushing a Tusken, or Obi-Wan appearing and scaring off the enemy.

The atmosphere of the level was great. It really did feel like Beggar's Canyon, and the lighting was superb. It accentuated the architecture perfectly, casting beautiful shadows, and there were dim caverns, caves and bright open areas. The variety of lighting made the level look really nice. Unfortunately, Gameplay was a bit lacking in Beggar's Canyon. The shortage of power ups and abundant enemies made playing more of a hassle than a joy. Frame rate was quite low in a number of places, and that made it hard to fight to your full ability. A few things really got to me though; random surfaces caused damage and killed you. I believe it was to keep you from going to areas where you are not supposed to be, but it is really annoying to be walking along, and suddenly you are dying for no apparent reason. Also, I was interrupted as I tried to play by cutscenes, which was kind of aggravating. The realism was okay for the level, but there was one problem. The Tuskens didn't have banthas like they did in the movies. I understand that it involves a lot of work to make new ais, but it would have been really cool to see them.

This level is more for looking than playing. It was relatively fun, but a few features of the level made me get a little annoyed. Certainly though, download it now and check out the awesome architecture!