There's a disturbance in the Force concerning LucasArts new Star Wars game. Apart from being designed to fit the constraints of a living room console, Republic Commando is being coded internally. As we all know, it's rare for a shooter to impress as wildly as it might when designed to work on lesser hardware. In addition, LucasArts' home record these last few years has not been as consistent as when it's recruited specialist p from outside - such as with BioWare's recent magnificent RPG Knights Of The Old Republic.

More pertinently, the game is obviously not set around events of the classic but specifically in between theclimactic Geonosis battle from Episode II and the introduction of General Grievous, said to be a major antagonist in next year's missing link in the Star Wars saga. Going by the quality of the last two films and the games tied in to promote them, the worry is that Republic Commando will follow much the same path.

Yet, despite these reservations, we remain not only optimistic but really rather excited - aroused even - about the prospect of a new first-person Star Wars shooter. A game that not only enables you to step inside the white armour of those soon-to-be stormtroopers, but one that will require you to command a full squad of toughened clone warriors as they conduct secretive behind-the-lines missions where others - Jedi aside - would fear to tread.

STAR WARS™ Republic Commando. The most lethal weapon in the galaxy. Chaos has erupted throughout the galaxy. As a leader of an elite squad of Republic Commandos, your mission is to infiltrate, dominate, and ultimately, annihalate the enemy. Your squad will follow your orders and your lead, working together as a t.

Using the Unreal engine, heavily adapted from the 2003 edition to include its high detail models, ragdoll physics, cool lighting and confined level design, we can rightly expect Republic Commando not only to be the best prequel title to date, but one of the most tense Star Wars games ever.

Alien Resurrection

1. Death comes often in Republic Commando—but it isn’t the end. So long as at least one of your squadmates remains on his feet, the game continues. And you get to watch the fight.
2. Star Wars Republic Commando - PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer. The Biggest Game Releases April 2021. Xbox Games With Gold for March 2019 Announced.

We were inspired by movies like Black Hawk Down' says Steve Matulac, producer of Republic Commando. 'We wanted that same sort of military feel, to move away from the high gloss of Attack Of The Clones and introduce a real sense of foreboding, where alien worlds feel very creepy and the game itself stylistically looks very de-saturated.

Matulac also puts forward Aliens as another influence - and after being treated to a view of some early levels, it's easy to spot why. As one mission begins, we see our squad descend into the bowels of Geonosis, steam rising from rocky pores and organic goo casting familiar spires that jut out from the dank and dim walls.

Static interference crackles menacingly across the teams' visors, making it hard to penetrate the gloom ahead. As a scout is sent forward, the familiar shrill of blaster rifles opens up as swarms of Geonosians (those insect-like winged warriors) set about the lone trooper. If there were motion trackers and corrosive body fluids, it could possibly pass as an official Aliens title: if nothing else, the change of mood and pace should make a nice change from the familiarity of the Jedi Knight series.

But it's the game's tactical aspect that most deliberately separates it from the other games in the Star Wars series, with your four-clone squad able to advance through 15 levels of close-quarter action as they fight back the separatist hordes of, among others, Battle Droids, Trandoshan slavers and elite bodyguards.

Run The Gauntlet

Defensive and aggressive stances will affect the speed of movement, with soldiers able to stand, crawl and even inch along the ground, covering the backs of their comrades and securing tactical hotspots in readiness for any counteroffensive. Also, instead of a tactical overview present in games such as Hidden & Dangerous, we're promised a simple dynamic interface that sees you responding to threats quickly and easily.

It's challenging to strike a balance between action and hardcore tactics, admits Matulac. However, we definitely don't want you to have to micro-manage your squad. We've yet to nail down the full range of tactical commands and options, but you'll be able to order your troops to 'leapfrog' through the world, where one guy moves up while another covers. You'll also be able to order 'stacking', where two guys can share a cover point, with one taking a high shot and the other guy the low shot.'

Dark Forces

Of course, the game's success will depend squarely on the strength of the Al. It's too early to cast judgement on 1 that right now, but from what we've seen, your comrades will certainly be able to think for themselves (Unreal Al being about the best in the business).

The Al will be intelligent, but the characters will also look intelligent while they're carrying out orders to help reinforce the military aspect of the game,' adds Matulac. There wasn't much to see of the enemy's intelligence, but then the game's uber-badasses - Grievous's retinue of men - are yet to be unveiled for obvious reasons.

Clearly then, there's much to look forward to with Republic Commando, especially after the success of recent Star Wars titles. LucasArts seems more confident in trying out new ideas instead of shoehorning its expansive universe into tried and tested genres, and that can only be good news. Republic Commando may not be the most tactical shooter, nor the dark undertones as tempting as the Dark Side itself, but the new timeline is promising to be as enjoyable as those set during the original trilogy.

There's a disturbance in the Force concerning LucasArts new Star Wars game. Apart from being designed to fit the constraints of a living room console, Republic Commando is being coded internally. As we all know, it's rare for a shooter to impress as wildly as it might when designed to work on lesser hardware. In addition, LucasArts' home record these last few years has not been as consistent as when it's recruited specialist p from outside - such as with BioWare's recent magnificent RPG Knights Of The Old Republic.

More pertinently, the game is obviously not set around events of the classic but specifically in between theclimactic Geonosis battle from Episode II and the introduction of General Grievous, said to be a major antagonist in next year's missing link in the Star Wars saga. Going by the quality of the last two films and the games tied in to promote them, the worry is that Republic Commando will follow much the same path.

Yet, despite these reservations, we remain not only optimistic but really rather excited - aroused even - about the prospect of a new first-person Star Wars shooter. A game that not only enables you to step inside the white armour of those soon-to-be stormtroopers, but one that will require you to command a full squad of toughened clone warriors as they conduct secretive behind-the-lines missions where others - Jedi aside - would fear to tread.

Using the Unreal engine, heavily adapted from the 2003 edition to include its high detail models, ragdoll physics, cool lighting and confined level design, we can rightly expect Republic Commando not only to be the best prequel title to date, but one of the most tense Star Wars games ever.

Alien Resurrection

Star Wars Republic Commando Gamecube

We were inspired by movies like Black Hawk Down' says Steve Matulac, producer of Republic Commando. 'We wanted that same sort of military feel, to move away from the high gloss of Attack Of The Clones and introduce a real sense of foreboding, where alien worlds feel very creepy and the game itself stylistically looks very de-saturated.

Matulac also puts forward Aliens as another influence - and after being treated to a view of some early levels, it's easy to spot why. As one mission begins, we see our squad descend into the bowels of Geonosis, steam rising from rocky pores and organic goo casting familiar spires that jut out from the dank and dim walls.

Static interference crackles menacingly across the teams' visors, making it hard to penetrate the gloom ahead. As a scout is sent forward, the familiar shrill of blaster rifles opens up as swarms of Geonosians (those insect-like winged warriors) set about the lone trooper. If there were motion trackers and corrosive body fluids, it could possibly pass as an official Aliens title: if nothing else, the change of mood and pace should make a nice change from the familiarity of the Jedi Knight series.

But it's the game's tactical aspect that most deliberately separates it from the other games in the Star Wars series, with your four-clone squad able to advance through 15 levels of close-quarter action as they fight back the separatist hordes of, among others, Battle Droids, Trandoshan slavers and elite bodyguards.

Star Wars Republic Commando Game

Run The Gauntlet

Star Wars Republic Commando Gameplay Pc

Defensive and aggressive stances will affect the speed of movement, with soldiers able to stand, crawl and even inch along the ground, covering the backs of their comrades and securing tactical hotspots in readiness for any counteroffensive. Also, instead of a tactical overview present in games such as Hidden & Dangerous, we're promised a simple dynamic interface that sees you responding to threats quickly and easily.

It's challenging to strike a balance between action and hardcore tactics, admits Matulac. However, we definitely don't want you to have to micro-manage your squad. We've yet to nail down the full range of tactical commands and options, but you'll be able to order your troops to 'leapfrog' through the world, where one guy moves up while another covers. You'll also be able to order 'stacking', where two guys can share a cover point, with one taking a high shot and the other guy the low shot.'

Star Wars Republic Commando Gamestop

Dark Forces

Of course, the game's success will depend squarely on the strength of the Al. It's too early to cast judgement on 1 that right now, but from what we've seen, your comrades will certainly be able to think for themselves (Unreal Al being about the best in the business).

The Al will be intelligent, but the characters will also look intelligent while they're carrying out orders to help reinforce the military aspect of the game,' adds Matulac. There wasn't much to see of the enemy's intelligence, but then the game's uber-badasses - Grievous's retinue of men - are yet to be unveiled for obvious reasons.

Clearly then, there's much to look forward to with Republic Commando, especially after the success of recent Star Wars titles. LucasArts seems more confident in trying out new ideas instead of shoehorning its expansive universe into tried and tested genres, and that can only be good news. Republic Commando may not be the most tactical shooter, nor the dark undertones as tempting as the Dark Side itself, but the new timeline is promising to be as enjoyable as those set during the original trilogy.