Star Wars Games Are Best When They Let the Weird Jobs Matter [Guest Article]

Star Wars games have always had one very obvious problem.

The Jedi are standing right there.

They have laser swords. They have magic space instincts. They get dramatic robes, ancient temples, moral crises, and the sort of destiny speeches that make everyone else in the galaxy quietly check their schedule and wonder whether they still have to pay rent.

So naturally, a lot of Star Wars games end up orbiting the Jedi fantasy. And fair enough. When it works, it works. Jedi Knight, Jedi Outcast, Jedi: Fallen Order, and Jedi: Survivor all understand that swinging a lightsaber around while the galaxy collapses is, scientifically speaking, quite fun.

But the strange truth is this: Star Wars games are often at their best when they let someone else have the controls.

Not the chosen one. Not the last hope. Not the robed person in the middle of the poster.

The bounty hunter. The clone commando. The pilot. The smuggler. The soldier. The mercenary. The doomed fool in a cockpit wondering why the Empire brought that many TIE fighters.

That is where Star Wars games get interesting.

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EXODUS – Extended Gameplay Reveal [Gameplay trailer]

Is EXODUS the new Mass Effect? If we go by this twenty-minute narrated gameplay demonstration, there is a pretty good chance it is. Before watching this video, I honestly thought EXODUS was a semi-dead AAA project (like most of them). You know how it is—while it got the mechanics and gameplay down, it’s looking absolutely soulless yet here we are now. It actually comes off as genuinely fun, with a strange future to explore (sentient animals, anyone?), good third-person pop-a-mole combat (even has stealth), and classic choices & consequences to ponder.

Now, this could be a highly curated slice of gameplay, which it probably is, but I can’t help getting a bit hyped. I need a new massive third-person space-opera shooter to explore! Check out the video after the jump!

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The Most Esoteric Video Game Ever Made | Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages [Video]

This deep-dive video about the very strange and legendary game Drowned God: Conspiracy of the Ages (1996) was dropped a few days ago by YouTuber Hey Peter. And so far, from what I’ve watched, I can’t do anything but praise it. It’s impressive, packed with information and weird lore both about the game in question and its eccentric creator, Harry Horse.

The reason I’m posting about it here is that Drowned God has been a fascination of mine for a few years, due to what the game is about (aliens, alternative history, and conspiracies) and the fate of its maker. I’m not going to spoil what here, but it involves murders and the esoteric cloak-and-dagger stuff fit for a King of conspiracy theories. It’s over 5 hours long, so make sure to bring a lot of coffee going in!

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The Expanse Beta Left Me Worried… [Video]

Not the typical video I usually post about, but like the title of YouTuber Professor Khury‘s video—after seeing it, I become a tad worried myself. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a game by Owlcat Games that I’m very much looking forward to. It’s the sci-fi show The Expanse, made into a Mass Effect inspired RPG—so, what’s not to like? Well, except the writing, that is, as shown in the video. Hit continue to watch it!

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