Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire

Following the Death Star's demise, Darth Vader has initiated the development of a new clandestine weapon for the Galactic Empire. Simultaneously, within the Rebel Alliance, whispers of "ghost ships" ambushing Rebel patrols have circulated among the soldiers.

Kirby, a Rebel pilot, along with his wingman, Rookie One, receive an urgent transmission from a Corellian Transport under attack by TIE Fighters. The transport pilot possesses vital intelligence concerning the Galactic Empire's latest project. Amidst the initial wave of TIE fighters, laser blasts emerge from an unseen source, causing Kirby's craft to crash. Rookie One, now alone, lands on the planet Dreighton, embarking on a mission to rescue the captured transport and secure its escape.

Upon returning to Pinnacle Base, Admiral Gial Ackbar aids the pilots in deciphering the freighter's message. The Alliance discovers a secret Imperial mining operation within the Belt of Arah asteroid field through the Corellian Transport's logs, prompting a squadron of X-wings to mobilize for its destruction. During this operation, the X-Wing squadron uncovers that the Empire's activities extend beyond simple ore extraction. They are procuring rare metals essential for constructing a stealth variant of the TIE Fighter: the V38 "Phantom". This new fighter is equipped with a cloaking device, a creation of Grand Admiral Sarn, enabling it to traverse space undetected by sensors or pilots until it is ready to engage. After the facility is destroyed, Maarek is killed along with Rookie One's wingman. Rookie One barely makes it to hyperspace. Back at Pinnacle Base, Admiral Ackbar devises a strategy for two individuals to infiltrate the Phantom P-38 manufacturing facility located on Imdaar Alpha.

Rookie One undergoes intensive TIE piloting training under Admiral Krane. Following this, they proceed towards the designated jump point. On the planet Imdaar, Ru Murleen and Rookie One collaborate. They travel to an Imperial Landing Platform situated on the opposite side of the swamp using Swoop Bikes. Disguised as stormtroopers, they infiltrate the Super Star Destroyer Terror. By commandeering a TIE Phantom, they are successful in destroying both the Terror and the TIE Phantom manufacturing plant.

Despite successfully recovering the stolen TIE Phantom to a nearby base, the Rebellion was unable to exploit the stealth technology due to a self-destruct mechanism that obliterated the captured vessel.

(including their Beginner Mode codes):

• 1 - The Dreighton Triangle ( available from the start )
• 2 - The Corellia Star ( JABBA )
• 3 - The Mining tunnels ( ENDOR )
• 4 - The Asteroid field ( LACHTON )
• 5 - Interceptor Attack ( BORSK )
• 6 - The Mining Facility ( KROYIES )
• 7 - TIE Training ( AURIL )
• 8 - Flight to Imdaar ( KAMPL )
• 9 - The Mine field ( FERRIER )
• 10 - Speeder bikes ( GALIA )
• 11 - Aboard the Terror ( DENARII )
• 12 - The Sewers ( SADOW )
• 13 - Escaping the Star Destroyer ( ONDERON )
• 14 - TIE attack ( ALEEMA )
• 15 - Imdaar Alpha ( CATHAR )

This installment in the series primarily utilized original filming techniques, incorporating both actors and stunt work. The scenery and space sequences were created using 3D rendering. According to LucasArts' publication, The Adventurer, this particular game marked the initial instance (excluding Caravan of Courage) of integrating live-action actors and footage within the Star Wars universe since the release of Return of the Jedi.

Mirroring the filming approach later adopted by the prequel trilogy, the actors were predominantly filmed against bluescreens. The majority of the environments featured in Rebel Assault II were digitally generated; even the starfighters' cockpits were not constructed as physical sets. Instead, the actors were positioned on a moving seat-like apparatus and filmed, with the cockpit (along with the appropriate ship movement) being added during the post-production phase.

The stormtrooper armor, weaponry, helmets, and suits, alongside Darth Vader's attire worn by the actors, were authentic props from the original trilogy rather than being specifically created for the game. These items were retrieved from the Lucasfilm Ltd. archive and donned for the first time in 18 years.

While Star Wars: Rebel Assault had one section of gameplay (Rookie One's trench run) designated as S-canon, its sequel circumvented similar issues by presenting a completely novel storyline. Rookie One's accounts of certain events from the game's initial two levels were featured in "Excerpts from the Journal of a Rebel Pilot," published within Star Wars Insider 27, whereas the TIE Phantom has since been incorporated into other sources, and detailed in Star Wars Insider 66.

The game also solidified the player character Rookie One as male, a detail left ambiguous in its predecessor. He pilots ships absent from the previous game, such as a YT-1300 light freighter, a B-wing starfighter, and a BTL Y-wing starfighter, and encounters new adversaries, including TIE/IN interceptors.