No Jedi. No lightsabers. Just four hardcore Republic Commando clone bros with a long row to hoe.
What makes a good Star Wars game? Judging from Luke Plunkett’s declaration of the best video game from the franchise and my own personal pick, the first step is getting rid of the space wizards altogether. Just toss them out of the airlock and watch them pop like microwaved grapes in brown and black robes. In fact I’d pay several dollars for a mobile game featuring exactly that.
Star Wars: Republic Commando is four guys with guns on a mission. They’re normal folks (well, normal augmented clones) like you or I, clad in armor and outfitted with ordinance. They could be real people, which in turn makes their corner of the universe feel a bit more terrestrial in relation. If Star Wars is a space opera, they’re the space rock opera, more accessible and easier to cheer on.
Here’s the description for Star Wars: Republic Commando on Steam, where it costs a measly $2.99.
Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. As leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately, annihilate the enemy. Your squad will follow your orders and your lead, working together as a team - instinctively, intelligently, instantly. You are their leader. They are your weapon.
As we prepare for the next round of Star Wars films to hopefully erase the memory of the prequels from the collective consciousness, I will cling to Boss, Sev, Fixer and Scorch with everything I have. They will not be forgotten.
The First Five is the first five minutes of a game with light commentary. Once the five minutes are up, so are we.