Frank Klepacki took a break from commanding and conquering to score a Star Wars RTS, and he threaded the needle between Williams reverence and his own style perfectly. Empire at War leans heavily on the original trilogy's musical DNA, but Klepacki's original contributions bring this grittier, more tactical edge.
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"Volcanic Assault" has that Klepacki intensity, all driving percussion under orchestral strings. "Space Pursuit" captures the tension of fleet combat in a way that feels earned rather than borrowed. The whole score sits at about 80% John Williams arrangement and 20% Klepacki originals, but that 20% is doing serious work.
"Vader's Presence" nails the menace without just replaying the Imperial March. If you're an RTS fan who also loves Star Wars, this one threads both needles at once.