Challenges

The following section is dedicated to the challenges you unlock in the Xbox 360 and PS3 game, and the multiplayer mode you unlock in the Wii version of the game.

As you play through the single-player campaign, you will unlock 10 challenges. These vary from mastering combat techniques to navigating complex landscapes in a limited amount of time. Each challenge has four ranks you can achieve: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Depending on how well you perform, you can unlock any of four rewards: cinematics, costumes, experience points, and saber crystals. Use the following strategies to complete each challenge. However, to truly master a challenge and attain a Platinum rank, pay special attention to the tips from the masters at LucasArts.

Developer Tips and Tricks

The following are tried-and-true tips and expert strategy from the best and brightest at LucasArts. In order to master every challenge, you must first master everything from saber combat and defensive techniques to speed and agility training. Keep the following in mind if you want to score Platinum ranks across all challenges!

General Tips

These two tips are a great starting point before attempting to complete all challenges with Platinum rank.

Have all powers at Rank 3. Lightning, Push, Mind Trick, and Repulse are the most important.

Collect all saber crystals; use two Focus crystals on levels where Force powers are the dominant moves needed.

Speed Tips

The following tips are for challenges that prize speed over saber skill. These “race courses,” such as the Deadly Path Trial and Retrieval Trial, require players to shave as much time as possible in order to attain Platinum rank.

Dash as much as possible. Dash will “cancel” out just about everything; for example, if you’re jumping, using a dash will interrupt the jump and cause you to quickly move forward without having to wait until you reach the top of the jump.

This is also true of combo attacks; you do not need to wait to finish the string of combo animations before performing other actions. Pressing the Dash button while you’re attacking will immediately halt the combo and take you to whatever action you’d like next.

When needing to jump between platforms, use a quick dash to reach the edge of the platform you’re currently on in order to jump off its edge immediately.

Dashing off an edge will allow you to perform another dash midair. However, using this technique will not allow you to double-jump. The second dash replaces the first jump, and any jump after that will be your last unless you reach another platform.

Avoid using double-jumps when they aren’t necessary. Double-jumping can add approximately one extra second to the overall time it takes to double-jump and land on a platform. Instead, use only single-jumps when a double is not needed.

Challenge 1: The Combat Trial

The trick to mastering this challenge is to anticipate the next combo before it begins. With each successful combo you execute, you will extend the timer by a few seconds. The goal is to execute all 26 combos so quickly and fluidly that you extend the timer past 1:05 by the time you finish the last combo. Practice the combos before starting, and begin the next combo as soon as it appears on the screen.

Study the following table and master the combos in the order they appear in the table; it’s the same order as they appear in the Combat Trial.

Challenge 2: Kamino Drillgrounds Trial

This challenge requires you to endure past the time requirement before 20 stormtroopers dash from the surrounding portals to the exits. Scattered throughout the drillgrounds are dozens of explosive canisters. Use the quick-turn camera to scour the area around you, and spot the stormtroopers as they emerge from the portals. When they do, use your Force powers to eliminate them before they reach the exits.

Challenge 3: Deadly Path Trial

The Deadly Path Trial requires you to travel across several floating platforms in a short amount of time. To do so, you must skip over every other platform, beginning with the first one. Double-jump dash from platform to platform, spending little to no time on the platforms when you touch down. Try to maintain a straight line across the long chasm until you reach the exit.

Challenge 4: Deflection Trial

In the Deflection Trial, you’re tasked with deflecting volleys of incoming missiles from AT-MPs and thermal detonators from AT-STs on a platform opposite your own. If they blast you off the platform or destroy you, the challenge is over. Use Force Grip to throw incoming missiles back at the AT-MPs, then dash away from the other incoming missiles as your Force Energy replenishes.

When AT-STs begin to appear with the AT-MPs, use the AT-MPs’ missiles against the larger walkers and take it out first. Maximize the amount of time the walkers remain on the opposite platform, and eliminate all but one for every wave. When only one walker remains, allow it to live longer by simply tossing its projectiles away. When another one joins it, destroy the first. Repeat this process until you’ve achieved your desired rank.

Challenge 5: Retrieval Trial

This challenge is particularly tricky. Like the Deadly Path Trial, you must traverse a series of platforms toward your goal. In this challenge, though, you must travel over the platforms as they circle around in midair, retrieve a holocron, then backtrack to the starting area. To get through this challenge quickly, double-jump dash across the platforms as they circle around. Save time by leaping from the platforms as they circle toward each other.

The path across the platforms turns right, then left as you reach the holocron. To get across the platform course quickly, double-jump dash onto the first set of platforms as they rotate to the right.

As soon as you land, double-jump dash to the stationary pillar on the right. The next set of platforms should be floating left as you land; double-jump dash across the next floating platform as it floats left, and land on the next pillar.

This time, double-jump dash across the next two sets of platforms, bypassing the stationary pillar, then finally make a final double-jump dash onto the pillar with the holocron. To return, follow the rotating platforms back to the beginning, bypassing the first and second stationary pillars.

Challenge 6: Domination Trial

The Domination Trial is a very unique challenge. In this contest, you must defend a small green circle at the center of a circular platform. Attached are three walkways that enemies use to attack you and infiltrate the green circle. As long as the green circle is free of enemies, the timer to the screen’s left counts down.

If an enemy steps into the circle and turns it red, the timer stops counting down until the foe is removed from the circle. The timer begins at 55 seconds, so in order to score Platinum rank, you must not allow a single enemy to step into the circle the entire time.

Upgrade your Force Repulse to maximum before starting this challenge, and equip both Focus crystals. Stand near the center of the circle and use Repulse attacks to repel the attackers before they set foot in the circle.

Challenge 7: Terror Trial

In this challenge, you’re locked in a small, cramped room as five waves of terror spider droids and terror troopers attack you. Use Force Repulse to fend off the terror spider droids, then Mind Trick the terror troopers to stun them. While they are stunned, attack them with saber combos and take them out. If they fall to the ground, stab them to finish them off quickly.

Challenge 8: The Cloning Spire Trial

Like the Combat Trial, your goal is to continuously increase the time limit until the trial is over. To increase the time limit, destroy the rising and falling clone tanks on each platform.

Watch the tanks as they pop up out of the platforms, then dash toward each one and slash it just as it pops out. The tanks rise and fall in a counterclockwise or clockwise pattern, so follow the edge of the platforms and destroy the tanks one by one.

Don’t cut across the center of the platform; you’ll only waste time. Instead, maintain one steady, circular path around the edge as you shatter the tanks.

Challenge 9: Scout Trooper Trial

To complete this challenge, you must speed down a long path that is watched over by scout troopers, and collect five holocrons along the way. The troopers immediately hone in on you, tracking you with their rifles and firing as soon as they’ve got a positive lock on you.

As soon as you pick up a holocron, the scout troopers disappear. Also on the path are bright blue areas on the floor. Whenever you stand on these, a small protective barrier pops out of the ground.

As soon as you begin, dash out of the starting area and make a beeline for the first holocron. Bypass the barrier spot on the right, and dash straight at the holocron. You’ll barely reach it before the scout troopers fire at you. On the next section, dash straight to the barrier area and let the scout troopers fire into the short wall before setting out after the next holocron.

In the third area, use the boulders as protection from the troopers. On the final area, use Force Push blasts to knock away the scout troopers as you approach them before reaching the final holocron.

Challenge 10: Gauntlet Trial

The final challenge is split up into four small battle arenas. Before the blue force field to the next area is removed, you must first defeat the batch of enemies in the area you’re in. The first area houses a carbonite war droid and a group of riot troopers. Tear away the droid’s shield and Mind Trick the troopers to turn on each other and the droid.

You can also allow the war droid to freeze the troopers, then shatter them. The next area has a group of jumptroopers and a terror giant. Fry the jumptroopers, then focus on the giant.

Wave three has scout troopers and an incinerator droid. Eliminate the scout troopers first, then bring down the war droid. Use Force Lightning attacks and Force Grip to hurl its fireballs back at it. The final wave has Sith acolytes and terror troopers. Turn the troopers with Mind Trick and help them slice through the Sith acolytes.