EA and Respawn Entertainment recently announced a new Star Wars FPS, and though no further information regarding the project has been released, it would be great if it focused on the ARC troopers during the Clone Wars. Clone Wars content helped galvanize the much-maligned Star Wars Battlefront 2 following its launch in 2017, and clones themselves have become a fan-favorite fixture of the galaxy far, far away. As the clone army's elite troopers, an ARC trooper FPS would be exciting for players to work alongside or even become.
ARC troopers were first introduced in the 2003 Clone Wars micro-series and then fleshed out more fully in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which ran for seven seasons. ARC troopers, or Advanced Recon Commandos, were seen as the best soldiers in the Grand Army of the Republic, with many clone cadets setting their sights on becoming one. Like the Republic's clone Commandos, ARC troopers were outfitted with the best equipment, a unique armor set, and the Jedi often sent them on missions deemed too dangerous for the average clone.
It has been a long time since a Star Wars game was set exclusively in the prequel era, with the last being the Clone Wars Adventures MMO in 2010, so now feels like a good time to revisit this period. The missions seen in the Clone Wars series lend themselves easily to game missions, and storylines from the series could be interwoven with gameplay. Due to the nature of the ARC troopers being elite soldiers, it makes perfect sense to have them the basis of EA's new non-Battlefront Star Wars FPS.
ARC Troopers Were A Highlight Of The Clone Wars Series
With a Clone Wars FPS, players would experience the Clone Wars like never before, enabling them to see the conflict through from beginning to end. Playing as a clone trooper, the player could work their way up through the ranks to become an ARC trooper working alongside their legion and Jedi commander. As the game progresses, the player would experience the devastating fallout of Order 66, making an ARC trooper Star Wars game more intriguing and emotional.
If Respawn does set the new Star Wars FPS in the Clone Wars, then players would get to interact with and perhaps do missions alongside famous ARC troopers such as Fives, Echo, or Rex. Potential assignments could include assisting them on their mission to rescue Jedi Master Even Piell from the Citadel on Lola Sayu. Including established characters like Rex (who many had hoped would be added as a hero in Star Wars Battlefront 2) could make for some interesting and emotional content due to the fate of Fives and Echo, the latter of which is now regularly featuring in The Bad Batch animated series.
Clone Wars Content Resurrected Battlefront 2
Star Wars Battlefront 2 had one of the most controversial launches in gaming history, with its story described as mediocre and many criticizing the use of microtransactions and loot boxes. Even so, over time, Battlefront 2 was able to reverse its fortunes - thanks largely to its focus on Clone Wars-era content in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Battlefront 2 added Clone Wars content during the game's third season in 2018, and many critics credit this as the reason for the game's comeback.
Another Star Wars FPS that gained good reviews was Star Wars: Republic Commando, which released in 2005. This game saw players play as the clone trooper leader "Boss" of Delta Squad, an elite commando unit, and follows the squad through various missions throughout the war. Star Wars: Republic Commando is a Clone Wars classic, and has gained a cult following among fans. Commandos are different to ARC troopers, as the latter worked more closely with Jedi, but it does illustrate that an FPS focusing on elite clone troopers can be successful.
Previous prequel era games have tended to focus on Jedi and the overarching battle of good versus evil. However, the original Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which released in 2005, was well received by both fans and critics, and featured a gripping single-player that told the story of the 501st from the beginning of the Clone Wars through to the height of the Empire. The Clone Wars era is ripe with potential for future canon Star Wars games, and using ARC troopers seems like the right step for EA and Lucasfilm Games.
