Star Wars: Republic Commando

Added August 29th, 2004 by Derby

I loved the Jedi Knight series, especially the last one, and I was a big fan of the first Knights of the Old Republic game. But what if I wanted to be a clone trooper? In the original trilogy they’re the bad guys we all (by we here I mean mid 20 year olds to mid 30s) grew up watching, hating, and loving. In the new prequel trilogy they’re the good guys, the only army standing between the republic and the dreaded separatists. You’ve heard of Navy SEALs, the Rangers, the SAS, and Rainbow Six. How would you like to play a member of an elite forces branch of the clone army? Behind enemy lines, fighting Geonosians and Trandoshans? Lucasart’s new FPS is banking that you’d like to do just that.

Star Wars Republic Commando could be the next biggest thing for Lucasarts. Set to be released around February of 2005, coincidentally just before Episode III, Republic Commando has a lot to offer. The game’s mechanics are squad based, first person shooter. You’ll lead a four man contingent of Commandos who will struggle to complete various missions through three campaigns featuring ten plus enemies, including Trandoshans and Geonosians, and fourteen levels. You’ll have an extensive array of weapons at your disposal but the most innovative feature of this game will be the One Touch Squad Control system. I don’t know about you guys but the original Rainbow Six got frustrating for me, designing routes, having to command the troops, checkpoints, eventually I just went in solo on every mission. Lucasarts designed the One Touch system to simplify this problem, with the touch of a button you can engage the enemy. Looks like I won’t have to go in solo anymore.

The screenshots for Republic Commando are all beautiful, it looks like they’ll be a fair share of Doom style darkness as you sneak through enemy territory to fulfill mission objectives but it doesn’t look like that will detract from the gameplay at all. The forest settings on Kashyyyk (Wookiee homeworld for the Star Wars uninitiated) are excellently done and will leave you roaring like a Wookiee as you fight beside them. Screenshots are up at Lucasart’s own site for the game as well as some interesting videos including a walkthrough of Kashyyyk narrated by one of the game’s producers. If this game looks appealing, and if it doesn’t then you’ve never picked up a wrapping paper tube and declared yourself someone’s father, then the videos are definitely worth some time to check out. Seeing the crisp graphics and level design does far more justice than my ability to describe them here.

Are their problems with the game? Not that I’ve been able to discover with the modest amount of information I’ve been able to dig up so far. Will there be disappointments? The only one I can see is for all the people who will constantly ask when you get your lightsaber, there will be no lightsabers. Accept it now and enjoy the game for what it is. I’ve been looking forward to Republic Commando since I heard of its announcement quite some time ago and I’ve been chafing over the 2005 release date ever since. Maybe I don’t agree with Lucasart’s marketing ploys but I can’t argue with the quality of games that they make.