A lot of Star Wars games exist. From the Atari 2600 and the Vectrex to modern systems, Star Wars games have graced every generation of systems. Every generation of Star Wars fans has its own games with which they have fond memories. Many end up getting lost in the shuffle as well. Yet in the history of the franchise, one game stands out as an anomaly in tone, story, and gameplay.
Star Wars: Republic Commando was developed by Lucas Arts and released in 2005 for the Xbox and PC, then later released for PS4 and Switch in 2021. Even if it is not the perfect game, it has developed a cult following, and it still receives mods today. Here are some things that make the Force strong with Star Wars: Republic Commando.
6 The Game Shows The Clone Wars From A Clone’s Perspective
Many Star Wars games cast the protagonist as a gifted, heroic Jedi or a street-smart smuggler, but Republic Commando tells the story of the Clone Wars from a Clone’s perspective. Star Wars: The Clone Wars would later have multiple clone-centered stories, but few games or media before then saw the war from a boots-on-the-ground perspective.
The initial premise of Republic Commando, according to game composer Jesse Harlin, was to create a game that told a story from the perspective of “‘disposable grunts’” who did not know “anything about galactic politics or the Force.” It is not the typical Jedi power trip. This creates a greater sense of vulnerability.
5 No Opening Crawl
The tradition in Star Wars is that the movies and games begin with the famous opening crawl, describing the backstory surrounding the coming adventure. Republic Commando bucks that trend, instead describing the story with one simple statement: "War has come to the galaxy."
From the beginning, the game lets everyone know that this isn’t going to be a high fantasy adventure with the same kind of optimism as previous Star Wars adventures. This was going to be a more serious, somber tale than other games in the series.
4 Putting The War In Star Wars
While Star Wars media does cover the Clone Wars, much of it is from the perspective of the Jedi, who are usually commanding the troops or doing their own thing. Republic Commando, in contrast, puts soldiers in the trenches, and it is brutal.
In the very first mission of Geonosis, the Delta Squad commander flies into a combat zone as ships are blown from the air. Explosions shake the ground, and Clone troopers are dying left and right. A Clone’s body ends up falling from the sky. There is no romanticizing of war here.
3 It Is Essentially Star Wars’ Version Of Rainbow Six
While the game is in first person, it is not what would be called a run-and-gun shooter. Clone Trooper RC-1138, A.K.A. “Boss”, commands his Delta Squad, an elite team of soldiers who can hold their own in a fight. The missions will see him direct his troopers to hack computers, set charges, and target enemies from afar. The premise is essentially Star Wars’ take on Rainbow Six.
It is tempting to go into battle and be the big hero, but unless Boss relies on his team and has some kind of strategy going in, he’s bantha fodder. Each scenario should be approached with a degree of caution, and all soldiers should get their bacta while they can.
2 The Music Is Haunting
Star Wars: Republic Commando has a beautiful soundtrack. While classic pieces are sprinkled throughout, much of the music is far heavier. It consists of a male choir giving a bassy chant in the earliest elements of the Mandalorian language, Mando’a, which would later be further developed in Karen Traviss’s Republic Commando novels.
Composer Jesse Harlin took inspiration from the Emperor’s theme and communist chants, to fit the mindset of the Clone Soldiers who would be laying down their lives for the Republic. The development team’s goal was to make a game that didn’t feel “‘too Star Wars-y’” while, at the same time, not being “‘too far from Star Wars.’”
1 The Squad Leader Has To Make Tough Decisions
In order to succeed in Star Wars: Republic Commando, team management, and tactical decision-making are essential. Each squad member has unique strengths that will be required in tackling missions. So the question is how does one best manage their squad?
For instance, it is possible to order them into sniping and grenade positions behind cover. They may also be low on health. So should one of them go get healed up while the rest of the squad handles the opposing forces?
Suppose someone needs medical attention on the field. Should the Squad leader heal him at risk of his own health, or focus on clearing out the threat first? If the leader goes down, should he call someone in the middle of the fight, or let them carry out their mission in the hopes that one will get to him? These are some tense situations that test the Delta Squad under intense pressure.