I love this game. I haven't bought any of the other Shadows of the Empire stuff (novel, comic book, etc.), but you don't need them to enjoy the game. The story lacked some details which I assume are included in the book, but not so many that I felt lost. The cinematics struck me as looking a little dated even then, but the graphics when you're actually playing are pretty good. The levels are expansive without feeling too sparsely populated/decorated, as any Star Wars game should be. The game really encourages exploration. It's really challenging from beginning to end, which in my opinion makes it so much more rewarding when you finally do finish it.