Clones may be one of the most interesting aspects of Star Wars, but they are seldom the focus of video games. Most Star Wars games seem to follow Jedi on their adventures across the galaxy rather than the soldiers that fight alongside them. Very few games depict Clones as anything more than cannon fodder, but Star Wars: The Bad Batch helps show that they can be so much more than that.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars dove deeper into who exactly the Clones of the Republic were, and The Bad Batch has taken this concept further. The films depicted these soldiers as blank slates that were willing to turn on the Jedi with one simple command, but the animated shows have shown that there is so much more going on underneath the surface. These shows have proven pretty popular because of the concepts that they explore, and now it is time for a video game to follow their lead.
The Bad Batch Has Explored Post-Clone Wars Clones
Star Wars: The Clone Wars showed viewers that Clones were far more than factory-made soldiers. Each clone had distinct personalities, and they would often struggle against the system that kept them fighting. They were created for one purpose, but each Clone was far more than that purpose. The show continued to dive deeper into these characters throughout its eight seasons, and viewers had to watch as the Clones they had grown to love were forced to enact Order 66 and kill their most trusted allies.
Star Wars fans are slowly getting to see what happened to the Clones after Order 66, and it has seemed pretty grim so far. The Bad Batch has shown these loyal soldiers get cast aside and phased out for a different type of army that is supposed to ensure the safety of the new Galactic Empire. The Clones have been put in an impossible situation as they can no longer do the one thing they were made to do. It has made Clones like the Bad Batch lash out against the Empire, and others like Captain Rex do everything they can to ensure the safety of their brethren.
The Bad Batch is not the only show that has revealed the dark future that lay ahead for the Clones, and it will likely not be the last. Obi-Wan Kenobi had a brief cameo of a Clone that had been cast aside begging for money on the street, and Rebels showed clones taking up arms to stop the Galactic Empire. All of these shows have shed light on a very interesting time in the galaxy, and video games could take this clone story to the next level.
The Jedi Had Their Time in the Spotlight
Most Star Wars video games follow Force users adventuring across the galaxy. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic depicted Force users during the Old Republic era, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed put players in control of Vader's powerful secret apprentice Starkiller, the Star Wars: Jedi Knight series let players experience the life of a Force user after Return of the Jedi, and the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will continue the tale of Jedi Cal Kestis. Even games that put more of an emphasis on warfare like Star Wars: Battlefront have numerous playable Force users.
It's time for a break from Star Wars games that give players control of Force users. The Force is a very interesting aspect of Star Wars, but there is a lot more going on in the universe than that. Fighter pilots are taking to the skies, smugglers are sneaking around, soldiers are fighting in the trenches, and Clones are trying to find their place in the galaxy. All of these stories deserve to be in the spotlight through games like Star Wars: Squadrons, but none more so than clones.
The Clones Deserve Their Own Game
The Bad Batch has helped show a different side of the Clones of Star Wars, and a game could take that to the next level. There are numerous stories that game developers could tell with the Clones, and now may be the best time to tell them. The Clone story is currently being highlighted by the franchise, and some fans will be craving more. It is about time that players got to feel what it was like to be a Clone outside the Star Wars: Battlefront series.
A Clone game could take place during the height of the Clone Wars, depicting the darkest aspects of this conflict. It could follow a Clone squad as they grapple with doing the right thing against insurmountable odds. Players would have to fight through the trenches against the Separatist army, and they could grow closer to their squad as they pushed farther across the planet. The game could even lead to a devastating finale that sees the Clones turn on their Jedi generals. It would let players see the events of Order 66 from the eyes of those that enacted it, and that would make it unlike any Star Wars game that has come before.
A Clone game could also imitate The Bad Batch by depicting Clones during the dawn of Star Wars' Empire. Players could struggle against the system that wants to brush the Clones aside, and a galaxy that is tearing at the seams. The story could follow a loyal Clone who is actively assisting the Empire before being forcefully retired, or a Clone that has chosen to rebel against the new galactic leaders. Whatever story the developers chose, it would be an interesting look into this exciting chapter of the Star Wars story.
There is a ton of potential for a Star Wars game that follows the Clones, and now is a great time to make one. The series has begun exploring post-Clone Wars Clones a lot more, and video games could be the best place for that kind of story. It could lead to an experience unlike any Star Wars games on the market right now, and has the potential to expand the franchise in new exciting ways.