The New Empire Special Edition

The New Empire Special Edition (TNESE) was originally going to feature hugely updated versions of TNE parts 1 and 2, along with 2 extra levels to complete the series. I've reached a point now where progress is so slow due to other commitments that I've decided to just release the updated version of TNE Part 1 for now, with the possibility of more in the future. This is now complete and is available for download from The Admiral's Command Chamber. TNESE is much more than just an updated version of TNE - many areas have been recreated from scratch, the story has been altered and there are several totally new puzzles and cutscenes.

Highlights

- Immersive evolving story, told through in game actions and cutscenes.
- High quality textures (many 16-bit and 256x256 in size) and greatly improved architecture.
- New graphical effects such as thickening fog, coloured light coronas, reflections and rippling water.
- Hundreds of interactive objects including breakable bottles and lights, jukeboxes and trains.
- New and improved security camera system featuring zoom and infra-red filter.
- New playable character with high quality model, textures and sounds.
- New enemies including dangerous creatures.

Story

It is a time of turmoil for the Galactic Empire. Hounded by the New Republic and rejected by its citizens, the Empire has been divided by squabbling warlords. One of these warlords, the self-appointed Moff Mardon, is rumoured to have developed a deadly new technology, the Ageing Cylinder, at a hidden research facility. Created by former Maw Installation scientists, this device is capable of ageing a baby to a fully-trained Stormtrooper in hours without the loss of individuality caused by cloning. Meanwhile, Kyle Katarn is training a new apprentice, Emigra Da’kal, on Coruscant and he has sent her to the remote Ison system on her first field mission. Her objective: to gain audience with the crime lord Jaffo, who is reputedly in possession of critical data about the location of the evil Moff’s labs...

New Locations

Maroona - The planet of Maroona lies in the Ison system of the Outer Rim, far from the civilized Galactic Core. It is a rocky and mountainous planet with many water features, including gushing waterfalls, expansive lakes and sprawling swamps. There is no intelligent indigenous life remaining, but the caves and lakes teem with a diverse range of wildlife, much of it dangerous.

Jaffo's Base - Jaffo's base originally consisted of a single palace built by a long-dead civilization from Maroona. With financial resources earned from dealings with the Empire, Jaffo has been able to secretly add to the base and it has been quickly modernized over a period of several years. The result is a messy jumble of buildings, old and new, full of secrets and pitfalls. This makes the base almost impossible to fully guard, and many spies have infiltrated the base, prompting the paranoid Jaffo to install sophisticated security systems and hire hundreds of personal guards.

The Abandoned Base – This section of Jaffo’s base was hastily built upon unstable ground and has since been evacuated by the base personnel. It remains populated by a band of outcast grans.

New Characters (Affiliation in brackets)

Emigra Da’kal (New Republic) – Emigra is Kyle Katarn’s latest Jedi apprentice. Since Mara Jade, Kyle has trained several other apprentices and Emigra is his latest charge. Young and energetic, Kyle expects Emigra to become a formidable Jedi. She has already constructed her lightsaber and Kyle feels she is now ready for her first big test: a mission for the New Republic.

Jaffo (Jaffo) – The ruthless crime lord Jaffo rarely leaves her palace and is well guarded in an elaborate throne room by an elite bodyguard as well as a troop of standard sentries. She first became rich after her dealings with the late Empire, and now the Empire has been split she can reap even more rewards from individual factions. She dislikes the New Republic as they are attempting to stamp out her main source of income.

Jaffo’s Bodyguard (Jaffo) – Although she has a number of bodyguards, Jaffo’s last line of defence is rumoured to be a heavily armoured and well-trained Gamorrean.

Jaffo’s Dancers (Jaffo/Neutral) – Jaffo has a quartet of Twi’lek dancers for entertainment in her throne room. Luckily for them she is less willing than the legendary Jabba the Hutt to feed them to her ‘pet’.

Moff Mardon (Imperial Faction) – Taking some of the wealthiest remaining Imperial strongholds as his own, along with a contingent of scientists, Moff Mardon has built what is probably the strongest Imperial faction yet. His supporters are fanatically loyal and truly believe that he can restore the Empire to its former glory. The hidden location of his base of operations and laboratories still eludes the New Republic and his current Ageing Cylinder project is a cause for much concern.

New Creatures

Maroona Water Cyc – More dangerous than the standard water cyc found on many planets across the galaxy, the Maroona water cyc is translucent and poses a threat to anyone in the water due to its ability to move around using a primitive water jet propulsion system.

Sewerfish - A relative of the fearsome drugon, the sewerfish has evolved for life in large sewer systems such as those serving Jaffo’s base. It is camouflaged against waste material, apart from a small red are around the gills for attracting prey.

Sewer Cyc - Another creature that has adapted itself for sewer life, the sewer cyc has three poisonous tentacles like its freshwater relative the Maroona Water Cyc. Its body is translucent and camouflaged against sewer waste to hide it from the sewerfish and other natural predators, which can sometimes attack it if hungry.

Jaffo’s ‘Pet’ – Rumoured to be a failed experiment from the Ageing Cylinder project, Jaffo has reputedly bought a huge dog-like beast from Moff Mardon’s laboratories for her personal enjoyment. It is said she keeps it near her at all times.

New Technologies

Moff Mardon’s Ageing Cylinders – Little is known about the specifics of this research project, or indeed if it exists at all. There are rumours that these devices are about the size of full-size bacta tanks and that they can age a baby to a specific age within hours using a sophisticated biological and mental growth emulation system incorporating rigorous training far in excess of that imposed on stormtroopers. It is said that this technology can produce truly unique individuals due to a randomised speed-learning process, and there is even speculation that it could successfully age a force-attuned baby to a trained Jedi Knight with suitable modifications to the learning system.

Sienar Fleet Systems ’SFS-TS104 Imperial TIE Supplier’ - This small repulsor powered vehicle delivers spare parts and tools to mechanics and pilots working on TIE fighters. Jaffo has procured several from the Imperials for general work around her base.

Jaffo’s ‘Uglies’ – Believing she will be well-protected in her throne room, Jaffo pays little attention to space defences and keeps a single hangar of haphazardly constructed ships created from parts of Imperial and Republic fighters. This type of ship is commonly known as an ‘ugly’.

Sorosuub ‘Bulk-9’ Cargo Train – Jaffo has purchased a small amount of these cheap and reliable repulsor-driven trains to transport her ill-gotten gains around her sprawling base.

Ubrikkian ‘G-Link’ Passenger Train – These repulsor-driven trains have been used for underground transport on Coruscant since the creation of the Empire and a few have somehow found their way into Jaffo’s base.

Screenshots

A few 'before and after' screenshots to whet your appetite. The shot on the left in each case is from the original TNE Part 1 and the one on the right is from TNESE.

Sewer reservoir in Jaffo's base.

The entrance to the old palace.

Cargo bay under attack by Imperials.

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Awards

The New Empire Special Edition achieved Level of the Week at The Massassi Temple.

Download

Download The New Empire Special Edition (Part 1)

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Last updated: Sat Aug 27 20:12:41 2005

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