In the tactical title Star Wars Zero Company, players briefly step into the boots of Anakin Skywalker during a mission involving a failed prisoner exchange. while his time on the battlefield is short, the appearance offers a glimpse into how the legendary Jedi could be integrated into modern gameplay.
Anakin’s brief deployment alongside Hawks and Luco
The game primarily follows a mercenary squad, but the report notes that Anakin Skywalker joins the group for a specific mission. Following a botched prisoner exchange between the Republic and the Separatists, the player takes control of the Jedi to assist the Zero Company leader,Hawks, and an Umbaran named Luco.
According to the source, playing as Anakin fundamentally shifts the game's tactical nature. While most missions require careful movement and caution, Anakin's mastery of the Force allows him to fling enemies across the battlefield and ignore incoming blaster fire. This power makes the character feel distinct, even if his presence is limited to a single narrative arc before he exits the story.
Mitigating Jedi dominance with bombing runs and civilian stakes
A significant challenge for developers is preventing a character as powerful as Anakin from trivializing the game's difficulty. The source suggests that rather than relying on combat alone, designers can use the "weight of being a Jedi" to create tension.
One way to achieve this is by designing levels around protecting innocents or managing time-sensitive crises. For example, the report mentions that while Anakin can easily defeat battle droids, he cannot instantly save civilians in immediate peril. Similarly, missions involving outrunning a bombing run or managing a viral outbreak provide a different kind of pressure that requires strtegy beyond simple Force usage.
The industry's pivot from Skywalkers to Cal Kestis and Kay Vess
Modern Star Wars gaming has largely moved away from the central Skywalker family in favor of fresh perspectives. The report points to recent successes like Star Wars Jedi, featuring Cal Kestis, and Star Wars Outlaws, which follows Kay Vess.
While this trend helps the franchise avoid over-reliance on nostalgia, it leaves a gap for players who want to experience the era of the Prequels or the Original Trilogy through its most iconic figures. The source argues that while new characters make the universe feel larger, there is still immense potential for a dedicated Anakin or Luke Skywalker experience.
The question of Disney's control over Skywalker narratives
Despite the clear demand for more Skywalker-centric content, several questions remain regarding how these stories will be told. It is unclear if Disney will allow major video game developers to explore significant plot points involving Anakin or Luke, or if they will reserve those characters for film and television.
The report notes that while characters like Luke have been relegated to minor roles, there is space between the original and sequel trilogies to tell more meaningful stories. Whether this happens through a dedicated prequel-era game or through more significant cameos in series like The Mandalorian remains to be seen.
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