Games such asStar Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderandStar Wars: The Force Unleashedare beloved for several reasons. One of those reasons is undoubtedly the fact that players are able to wield the Force and brandish a lightsaber. But being able to play as a Jedi is not the only metric for a goodStar Warsgame, and there are many other characters whose stories should be told. The greatest and most recent example of this is inDisney Plus’Andor, which examinesStar Warsin a much more intimate and grounded take.
Andorfollows the eponymous Cassian Andor through backwater planets amidst a neo-noir backdrop, and its gritty drama is already a unique take on the franchise. This may not come as a surprise to some fans who understandAndorto be a prequel toRogue One: A Star Wars Story, but it is refreshing nonetheless afterStar Warshas lent so much of its attention to Jedi adventures.Andor’s dark atmosphere is ripe with dramatic intrigueand scoundrel antics, making it a compelling template that should inspire futureStar Warsgames.
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Andor’s Intimate Drama is a Good Canvas for Game Storytelling
AndorshedsStar Wars’ whimsical fantasyand centers solely on a suspenseful political drama. This could be an exciting premise in a third-person action-adventure game, especially if its playable protagonist was shrouded in mystery. If a newStar Warsgame introduced an unknown scoundrel protagonist, for example, fans could learn about this character’s backstory throughout the game. Branching dialogue choices in an RPG could determine which path players head down, but each decision would need to be comprehensive and morally dubious to avoid being too binary.
That is somethingAndorachieves well, where the Empire’s grunts are as morally ambiguous as the Resistance’s scoundrels. The reason why scoundrel characters are so captivating inStar Warsis because they are supposed to be unpredictable in their motivations, or at least behave like anti-heroes whose own personal goals often outweigh the needs of others.
In gameplay, this would translate to fun gunplay through tight corridors and open warehouse locations, such as fans have seen thus far inAndor. Gunplay inStar Warsgames was last seen throughStar Wars Battlefront’s epic warfareandLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’s blaster-wielding characters. However, such gunplay has yet to be seen in a single-player action-adventure game, at least in a way where the stakes were dire and characters felt like they were in peril as they struggle to flee from the Empire.
Menial Scoundrel Struggles Would Make for Great Side Quests
This is why aStar Warsgame where fans play as a bounty hunter is so desirable, as it would allow for these unique planet-hopping adventures with an emphasis on gunplay. Likewise,Andor’s narrative of a fugitive on the run who is aiding and abetting the Resistance would establish a wonderful foundation for aStar Warsgame.
Interestingly, these motifs have been echoed throughoutStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, andStar Wars Jedi: Survivormay be even more representative of what a scoundrel-ledStar Warsgame could be like. Seemingly on the run again,Cal Kestis will wield a blaster pistol inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Therefore, depending on how satisfying those gunplay mechanics are, it is possible that futureStar Warsgames will implement something similar.Andorhas certainly had action sequences, but again what makes it compelling is its atmosphere and neo-noir drama in a science-fiction landscape. If nothing else, traveling to different planets and carrying out menial side quests would be great for world-building, where players may have to interact with a crew to initiate a heist or to find a buyer for a potentially problematic artifact.
Players would meet shadowy, untrustworthy characters in dingy nightclubs, then race away on a speeder as an old rival approaches them about loaned money they are owed. Many developers would be capable of achieving this, and it will hopefully be what futureStar Warsgames strive to accomplish in their narratives.
