Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns
71
★ /10
PC
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns (2002) is an expansion that brought the massive scale of the Prequel Trilogy to the Age of Empires engine. Released just months after Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones hit theaters, it injected the game with the “Grand Army of the Republic” and the “Confederacy of Independent Systems” (CIS), shifting the focus from the original trilogy’s skirmishes to the galaxy-spanning warfare of the Clone Wars.
The New Factions: Republic vs. Separatists
The expansion introduced two of the most popular factions in Star Wars strategy, each with a distinct tactical flavor:
- The Galactic Republic: The “gold standard” for versatility. They rely on highly disciplined Clone Troopers, powerful Jedi Heroes, and heavy-hitting walkers like the AT-TE. Their tech tree is balanced, making them formidable in both early-game rushes and late-game sieges.
- Confederacy of Independent Systems (CIS): The ultimate “swarm” faction. The Separatists focus on overwhelming numbers of cheap Battle Droids and specialized mechanical units like the AAT and Geonosian Warriors. They excel at map control through sheer volume and biological air support.
The Decimator: The Ultimate Siege Weapon
One of the most significant mechanical additions in Clone Campaigns was the Decimator.
- The “Super Unit”: This massive, slow-moving armored vehicle serves as a late-game juggernaut. It functions like a mobile fortress, capable of crushing buildings and infantry alike under its weight.
- Tactical Priority: Because of its high cost and immense power, a single Decimator often becomes the focal point of a battle—either as the spearhead of an invasion or the primary target for an enemy’s air wing.
Cinematic Campaigns
The expansion features two new narrative campaigns consisting of 14 missions.
- The Separatist Campaign: Follow the rise of the Confederacy as you secure resources and planets for the Droid Army.
- The Republic Campaign: Experience the pivotal Battle of Geonosis from the perspective of the Jedi and their new Clone army, culminating in a desperate race to stop the Separatist leaders from escaping the planet.
Key Features
- Expanded Unit Roster — Over 200 new units and structures, including iconic vehicles like the SPHA-T and the Jedi Starfighter.
- Increased Unit Cap — The population limit was boosted to 250 (up from 200), allowing for even larger, more chaotic battles that better reflected the scale of the movies.
- Balance Overhaul — Significant tweaks were made to the original six factions to ensure they could hold their own against the new high-tech Prequel armies.
- New Environments — Fight across new planet types like the rocky deserts of Geonosis and the rainy platforms of Kamino.
Summary
Clone Campaigns was exactly what fans wanted: it took a rock-solid strategy foundation and filled it with the most exciting tech and lore from the Prequel era. It transformed Galactic Battlegrounds from a focused Galactic Civil War sim into a comprehensive Star Wars “Generations” war game. Even today, it’s remembered for the sheer satisfaction of hearing the “clank” of a Droid army marching across a map while a Jedi Master leads a counter-charge of Clone Troopers.
Release Platforms
- Microsoft Windows (PC): May 14, 2002
- Mac OS: 2002
- Saga Edition (Bundle): 2004 (Includes the base game and this expansion; currently the standard version available on digital storefronts)
