The Star Wars franchise is ubiquitous today, as it has been ever since Disney bought the beloved intellectual property from George Lucas and has since churned out five films and five television shows, not to mention a slew of novels, comic books, video games and merchandise.
Back in the late 1990s, however, things were different. At that point, the last major film had been released more than a decade earlier. Fans were ecstatic to return to a galaxy far, far away, with Lucas writing and directing a prequel trilogy, beginning with Episode 1 – A Phantom Menace which released on May 16, 1999. The film, however, was a disappointment, receiving lukewarm reactions from a fandom who expected more focus on pure action and less on complex political machinations.
The film did have two memorable scenes, though – the pod race with young Anakin Skywalker and the lightsabre duel at the end of the film when Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi took on the evil sith lord Darth Maul.
Being a new Star Wars film, everything from toys to clothes were produced and sold to promote the film. While video games were still an emerging space when the original trilogy released in the late 1970s and early 1980s, numerous games were made about them.
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But with the prequel trilogy, gaming had come a long way and the technology enabled the experience to be much more immersive and exciting. So, for the first film, gamers received a video game adaptation of The Phantom Menace that put them in the shoes of the Jedi Obi-Wan.
While the game may be have been equally as flawed as the film, it did end up establishing certain ideas that have been explored in the games in the years hence.
Wield a lightsabre, vanquish the enemy
Initially developed for PC and ported to the first PlayStation, the game carried the same name as the film, and even had the promotional poster as its cover. This made it clear to buyers what they were to expect from the game: a direct journey through the events of the film.
The game begins exactly as the film does, with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon being ambushed as they fight their way out against killer droids. Right from the offset, the game thrills as it asks players to use the lightsabre to defend and attack.
What is most distinct between the film and the game is not the work itself, but the audience consuming it. For most children and young adults in 1999, this game and the film it adapts were their first introduction to the Star Wars franchise. By then, the original trilogy might have seemed too dated for the emerging millennial generation. The prequel trilogy allowed a new way in, letting them experience something fresh, with new concepts for their imaginations.
And kids knew what they wanted to do when watching the film: become a Jedi and wield a lightsabre. This was the game’s major selling point, and it did it well considering it was a tie-in game. For context, most video games made as a tie-in with a film were not expected to be good even by their fans, as they usually existed as a promotional tool rather than a standalone work of art.
But it’s not just duel, the game moves through the events of the film but almost simplifies it for younger audiences to understand and grasp. Not necessarily dumbing it down per se, rather making the politics of taxes and trade routes more digestible.
The promise of better games
Alas, while the game might have been entertaining, it didn’t do enough to warrant positive feedback at the time of release. But reviewers could still see areas of potential.
What The Phantom Menace game did well is lightsabre battles, and made it absolutely necessary for lightsabre-focused games to become a regularity, which is exactly what happened for the next 25 years.
And the standard and quality of these games continued to improve. By 2005, the game tie-in for the third film, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, gave fans a much more refined lightsabre-wielding experience.
There is also the Knights of the Old Republic series of games which are still a favourite among fans for having dynamic and brutal lightsabre battles.
More recently, Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor have brought lightsabre gameplay to its cutting edge, giving players the chance to go on incredible adventures in the Star Wars universe and taking on the toughest of enemies.
Verdict
The tide has begun to shift on The Phantom Menace since its release in 1999. As the generation of children who grew up in the 90s became the main forces in a fanbase once dominated by the children of the 70s, the film has been re-evaluated and now openly loved in many circles.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the game. After being added to the PlayStation Plus’s library of classic games this year, it’s clear just how much the Star Wars games have improved over the years, to put it nicely.
The controls are archaic and not nimble at all, and the graphics are blocky, ugly at times. The camera looks down on the characters from a bizarre angle rather than following them from behind.
However, the game does a good job in following the events of the film, putting the player at the centre of the action. Another positive is the voice acting for the game, which breathes life into the characters and adds enjoyment through quips and witty remarks.
Ultimately, playing The Phantom Menace game today is an exercise in nostalgia, hoping that you can remember the fun had when playing in 1999 rather than viewing it through today’s advanced gaming goggles.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ICC men's cricketer of the year
2004 - Rahul Dravid (IND) ; 2005 - Jacques Kallis (SA) and Andrew Flintoff (ENG); 2006 - Ricky Ponting (AUS); 2007 - Ricky Ponting; 2008 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI); 2009 - Mitchell Johnson (AUS); 2010 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND); 2011 - Jonathan Trott (ENG); 2012 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL); 2013 - Michael Clarke (AUS); 2014 - Mitchell Johnson; 2015 - Steve Smith (AUS); 2016 - Ravichandran Ashwin (IND); 2017 - Virat Kohli (IND); 2018 - Virat Kohli; 2019 - Ben Stokes (ENG); 2021 - Shaheen Afridi
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
Honeymoonish
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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