THE STAR WARS GAMES UNIVERSE is a many coloured beast. For every brilliant X-Wing Fighter, Dark Forces, Knights of the old Republic, there has been a Star Wars: Galaxies or any title you care to mention based on the last three films.

Actually, if that were true we would have a surfeit of decent titles, which we most definitely don't. So we weren't exactly filled with the joys of Spring when we heard that the public beta of Clone Wars Adventures opened today. The force isn't strong enough in this one, certainly not strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark.

It doesn't bode well given the title is based on Clone Wars, the CGI kids fest, which is the worst rated Star Wars offshoot ever to come from the mind of Lucas. Funnily enough, the Onion's review stated at the time that "it wouldn't even make for a particularly high-end videogame."

That hasn't stopped Sony Online Entertainment and Lucas Arts from looking for gamers to join the open beta testing for Clone Wars Adventures. The free to play online virtual world is going to be released in mid-September and will offer minigames and social notworking activities like events, rewards and daily competitions. Players will also get to duel adversaries with customised lightsabres and fly Starfighters.

There's also the option of monthly subscription for anyone who wants to get their hands on premium content like unlocking a Togruta playable character and a Yoda monitor topper.

If Lucas Arts is involved in a Star Wars game it usually raises the bar but we fear for this one. µ