Star Warsgames are well into their new frontier following the end of EA’s exclusivity deal in 2023, leading to the release of games likeStar Wars Outlawsand the upcomingEclipse. However, with more studios able to take a swing at the franchise, there’s one trend (followed by games likeStar Wars Outlawsand theJediseries) that future titles need to buck.
Following the fallout ofBattlefront 2’s lootbox fiasco, fans became incredibly critical ofEA’s exclusivity deal overStar Warsgames—which began in 2013 and ended in 2023. These critiques were of both the quality and quantity of games being released, with many viewing EA’s control as a problem for the IP. The release ofFallen Orderin 2019, a single-player game in the midst of many multiplayer titles, softened the blow somewhat—and its position in the twilight years of this deal made it the signpost of a new era inStar Warsgaming.
Future Star Wars Games Need To Bench Darth Vader For A While
Following theend of EA’s exclusivity deal, new Star Warsgames are starting to spring up left and right. While games likeStar Wars Outlawshaven’t been as warmly received as other titles in the franchise, the greater variety in genre and studio is very much welcome. Now, a trend has started to pick up with these games: the repeated inclusion of Darth Vader. The Empire’s ruthless chief enforcer, undoubtedly the single most recognizable character in the franchise, saw a bombastic appearance in the climax ofFallen Order. Still, his appearances have become consistently less and less justified, leading to some oversaturation.
From Unstoppable Threat To Cameo, Vader Should Return To The Shadows
One of the most memorable moments in anyStar Warsgame is the boss fightagainst Vader inJedi:Fallen Order—precisely because calling the battle a ‘boss fight’ would be a misnomer. Fans were impressed with how Vader was represented as an unstoppable Sith lord that young Cal Kestis couldn’t hope to scratch. The player’s only option is to run from Vader, before eventually needing to distract Vader with the weight of an ocean’s worth of flooding (which the dark lord is still able to hold at bay). It’s an incredibly impressive send-off to the game, one which saw near universal acclaim.
Unfortunately for any follow-up attempts, this moment inJedi: Fallen Orderonly worked because of theunlikely crossing between Cal and Vader. Cal’s effort is insignificant to Vader and certainly isn’t characterized as something the Sith villain passionately pursued. Rather, future Vader moments (such as those seen inSurvivorandOutlaws) live in the shadow ofFallen Orderdue to their inevitable proliferation of the character; it seems absurd to suggest that Darth Vader would involve himself with every other going-on in the Empire, especially when it comes to the events of a game likeOutlaws.
Not everyStar Warsstory can have the fate of the galaxy rest in its hands, and that’s a good thing. This means, though, that not every storyshould use a central antagonist like Darth Vader. His ubiquitousness throughoutStar Warsgames has made the incredible breadth of the galaxy feel smaller, which is a problem the mainline franchise already struggles with.
FutureStar Warsgamesshould avoid bringing in Vader, as using him anymore would make him feel like a mere cameo as opposed to the gravitas he carried back inFallen Order. Darth Vader’s appearances in these games still feel in character for the dark lord, but the risk of character dilution from overexposure is high if his overuse continues.
