The Star Wars franchise is home to some of the most iconic characters in all of fiction. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and even the infamous Jar Jar Binks have all cemented a place in pop culture history, becoming recognizable household names. Boba Fett hasn't had nearly as much of a presence in the mainline Star Wars franchise compared to others, yet has still managed to captivate audiences for decades.
Boba's undeniable "cool factor" is strong enough that the rogue Bounty Hunter has landed himself a Disney Plus series later this month, aptly titled The Book of Boba Fett. Bringing the character back into the spotlight may be a good way to capitalize on his popularity and explore other avenues, namely the world of video games. Star Wars games are also a hot commodity, with Jedi: Fallen Order being received incredibly well as an upcoming Ubisoft open-world title is in development. Boba Fett provides an opportunity to craft a different experience entirely, something more gritty, mature, and hard-hitting like the underrated Mad Max game from 2015.
The Promise of an 'M' Rated Star Wars Game
The notion of using Boba Fett as the star for a more grounded, mature Star Wars game was attempted in the past. Star Wars 1313 was revealed at E3 2012, with fans and critics alike intrigued by its more violent and gritty take on the galaxy, far, far away. Little is known about the game, as it was cancelled in 2013, but it would have followed Boba Fett in his young adulthood as he navigated the grungy underbelly of Coruscant.
Although Star Wars is generally presented as family friendly entertainment, when thought about realistically this universe isn't a nice or safe place to be. Freakish alien species, lethal blaster weapons, and ruthless crime organizations permeate the far reaches of the galaxy, something Boba Fett knows all too well. The gameplay that was shown for Star Wars 1313 teased a visceral interpretation of the franchise with a sense of danger around every corner. Boba Fett lives a life surrounded by threats, something a video game adaptation would need to capture.
The Brutal Open World in Mad Max
Mad Max was a 2015 video game adaptation of the action film franchise developed by Avalanche Studios. Despite being generally well received, the title released alongside Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, one of the most-anticipated games that year and was overlooked in a sea of similar open-world titles. However, there are many elements it nailed that are worthy re-examining when considering how to adapt Boba Fett for a standalone video game.
For starters, the world feels alive and dangerous, with moment-to-moment gameplay like a constant struggle for survival. It's a dog eat dog world in the wasteland, as the player constantly has to scrounge for scraps, supplies, and gas to keep themselves and their vehicle in shape. Hand-to-hand combat took a page from the Batman: Arkham system, with a hint of the brutality from Sleeping Dogs. Furthermore, vehicular combat was flashy and entertaining but very tense, with one wrong move resulting in a damaged car and falling prey to the harsh desert.
Boba Fett's Potential in an Open-World Action Game
Swapping out Max for Boba in a similar open-world action game could be the right direction for the character. While the seedy criminal underbelly on Coruscant is a compelling concept, there is something about the harsh, unforgiving world of Tatooine that would lend itself well to a gritty Star Wars story. Narratively, the story can be placed not long after Boba escapes from the Sarlacc Pit, which he fell into during Return of the Jedi.
From here, Boba is stranded in the middle of nowhere with damaged armor, no equipment, and nothing but his wits and will to survive. With the seemingly endless desert available, players should be encouraged to discover the world at their own pace, similar to exploration in Breath of the Wild. An oasis on the horizon, or small town in the distance, would be beacons of hope in a difficult world to traverse. Boba would take on odd jobs and challenges in exchange for parts and new gear upgrades to help him move forward, with the eventual goal being to find a way off the planet entirely.
Mad Max excelled at making the act of scavenging locations for new materials fun, a concept that could be useful again here. Boba Fett would have to make good use of anything he finds across Tatooine, creating makeshift weapons or gear to be better in combat or better suited to explore. This can bring a level of freedom to the overall experience, with a multitide of different customization options for players to tinker with.
The interest in creating a more mature Star Wars video game was clearly present at one time, and the potential to do so remains. The gritty side of this fictional universe has proven to be popular with the success of The Mandalorian, something Disney has hopefully taken note of. If a new gritty Star Wars game were ever tackled in the future, Boba Fett would be a good character to look at as the potential main character.