The Star Wars universe is packed to the brim with possibilities for video game material. From the blistering speed of the Pod races, to the deadly lightsaber showdowns, nearly every aspect of this fictional universe is unique and perfect for established video game genres. From racing games, flight simulators to full on multiplayer warfare, the Star Wars saga has lent itself to numerous, well-regarded game releases over the years. However, one genre that the Star Wars series has yet to truly tackle are the spine tingling chills found in the world of horror.
Audiences may not immediately think of horror when Star Wars is the subject of conversation, but take a step back and it becomes abundantly clear how well it could work. Although the movies depict the scenarios as exciting and of high fantasy, being attacked by a Rancor or sucked into a Sarlaac pit would be quite terrifying. EA still has some swaying power when it comes to Star Wars video games, and with a brand new Dead Space on the way, what better way to capitalize on the hype than combine its survival horror gameplay with the worlds and monsters of Star Wars.
Horror Themes in Star Wars
A fictional world set in a galaxy far, far away is near limitless for the freakish creature designs that developers can come up with. There are quite literally no rules or boundaries due to the infinite number of variations and possibilities that aliens can look like in such a vast universe. From the cute and cuddly Ewoks, to the haunting shrieks of Tusken Raiders, Star Wars is filled with creatures prime for video games. To focus in on the horror element would be no stretch either, as plenty of monsters, characters and locations are perfect for the tone, its just a matter of the studio pushing it to a darker edge to fit this particular style.
Mustafar is a fiery, red hot planet with every square inch being extremely dangerous. The underwater depths of Naboo are chock full of monstrous reptilian and amphibious species. Even the Swamp like planet Dagobah from The Empire Strikes Back has an eerie presence to it, thanks to all the fog and fiendish things lurking in the dark. All this is to say, that there is no shortage of material for developers to look to for a horror theme in a Star Wars game. The more important distinction to make would be in how these are presented to players, removing that usual sense of wonder and adventure in Star Wars and replacing it with a palpable sense of dread.
The Dead Space/Star Wars Connection
While the Dead Space series clearly has many inspirations from the Alien film franchise, there is still plenty of room for Star Wars here as well. Although the mainline films often show off the more high tech, slick technology present in the Star Wars universe, there is in fact a more gritty underground world to the franchise that isn't as easy on the eyes. Back in 2013, the now cancelled Star Wars 1313 was planning to explore this nastier side to the Star Wars mythos, delivering a more grungy tale that players hadn't experienced before from the series.
Star Wars 1313 additionally looked to be much more violent than other stories in the universe, something uncommon for the franchise. While there was certainly action and lots of death, it was usually depicted in a more "clean" manner, with lightsabers immediately cauterizing chopped off limbs or lasers disintegrating foes into thin air. Realistically, with such advanced weaponry and gear, more damage would naturally be done, which is where gameplay similar to what is seen in Dead Space would be a perfect fit.
Isaac Clarke's many clashes with the Necromorphs aren't exactly the nicest of moments, with the encounters usually escalating into bloodbaths in a matter of seconds. If a Star Wars game were to truly push the horror angle with harsh gameplay that encourages the player to do whatever it takes to survive, things may get nasty very quickly. It would be a shock for players to see action so gruesome in a game from this universe, but that may be what would set it apart as being something incredibly unique for the Star Wars IP.
Possible Star Wars Horror Premise
With all this theorizing about themes and gameplay in mind, the biggest question of all remains: what exactly would a horror Star Wars game be about. To continue with the Dead Space comparison, EA could do very well to simply make a spiritual successor set in the Star Wars world. In other words, just Dead Space but with a Star Wars face lift. Although the Dead Space remake is good news, its a sign that the company isn't fully confident in doing a proper sequel just yet, and wants to test the waters to gauge how much interest is left in the franchise.
EA making a new horror action game but with a Star Wars skin would be a clever way to satisfy both fanbases all at once. Perhaps an Imperial Star Destroyer was carrying an alien species aboard to be tested upon, but the subjects get loose and wreak havoc on the ship. As a long surviving Stormtrooper, the player must then navigate the many hallways and cabins of the Star Destroyer to find a way out, all while avoiding the monstrous creatures roaming the inside of the ship. This is but one possibility in the infinite number of options that the imaginative Star Wars universe can deliver to gamers. It is up in the air (or stars in this case) if EA were to ever truly pursue something like this.