Star Wars: Republic Commando

Star Wars: Republic Commando is a first person shooter Star Wars computer and video game, released in the US on March 1, 2005. It was developed and published by LucasArts for the Windows and Xbox platforms. The game uses the "Unreal Engine" developed by Epic Games.

Synopsis
Star Wars: Republic Commando follows the tale of 'Delta Squad', an elite group of clone commandos, through three missions during the Clone Wars. Trained in squads of four by Mandalorian mercenaries such as Walon Vau and Kal Skirata, the commandos were more capable than their rank-and-file clone brethren, having undergone live-fire training as opposed to mere computerized simulations. All clone commandos were proficient with a large variety of weapons, computer systems, and demolitions equipment.

The game covers Delta Squad’s activities in three locations, the planet Geonosis, a derelict Acclamator I-class assault ship designated the Prosecutor, and the planet Kashyyyk. In each location, the player leads the squad through a series of objectives while battling against enemy forces ranging from droids to Trandoshans. The player is assisted throughout the game by a clone adviser designated CC-01/425, who regularly updates mission objectives as each level progresses.

The game was designed partly to bridge the gap between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III:  Revenge of the Sith. The developers stated that whereas the novels and movies are seen from the point of view of the Jedi, Republic Commando is told from the point of view of the troops.

Plot Summary
The game begins as you, a clone, are assigned your designation as a clone commando by a Kaminoan. After going through a few clips of training, you begin your mission to kill a high-ranking Geonosian named Sun Fac on Geonosis. After making your way through the battlefield and meeting up with your fellow commandos, you enter their bunker and kill the official. After wards you are instructed to destroy a droid factory located right beneath you. Once that task is accomplished, you are ordered to destroy a droid Core Ship. On the way you destroy a droid anti-air bunker. Once inside the core ship your squad splits up to sabatoge critical systems and destroy the core ship. The completion of this mission signifies the end of your time on Geonosis. After the Battle on Geonosis, you receive a transmission about a lost Republic Cruiser that has recently appeared again. You and your squad are sent to investigate. Initially, the four of you must split up. As you enter the torpedo bays, your squadmate Scorch is attacked by an unknown "bag of bolts" and you lose communication with him. After making your way through droid access shafts and defeating scavenger droids, you see from a viewport Sev attacked by a Trandoshan. As the level continues you must kill countless Trandoshans and save your squadmates with the help of Fixer. You will all be back together again and learn that the Trandoshans sold out the ship to Separatists to buy battle droids. After destroying a Trandoshan dropship, a Trade Federation battleship will appear from hyperspace outside the ship's hangers. It will send multiple droid dispensers into three hangars which you must defeat. You are also tasked with destroying the shield regulators to stop more from getting in. After clearing the hangars, you will go to the ship's bridge to radio for help. A certain Captain Talbot, of the RAS cruiser Arrestor responds. Your squad heads to gunnery station 12B, where you open fire on the ship. 12B and the Arrestor destroy the lucrehulk-class battleship. The ship then goes back to the Republic, where the vast stores of data it gained about Trandoshans is analyzed to help the Wookiees of Kashyyyk.

On Kashyyyk, you and your squad are assigned with the extraction of the Wookiee leader named Tarfful. General Grievous arrives and takes Tarfful for questioning, but Delta squad stops him and destroys 2 Magnaguards in the process. Then you go to destroy a camp the Separatists are using as a staging ground for their assault on Kashyyyk. Directly after, Delta Squad travels to the Kachirho bridge and destroys it to prevent separatists from advancing on Kashyyyk. Later, Delta Squad goes to a large worshire tree and clears it of Trandoshans, Separatists, and Geonosians. Then the squad splits up to head to 4 dual missile turrets used to bring down the Separatist Capital ship. The plot ends in tragedy with Sev being attacked and becoming MIA after the destruction of the cruiser.

Soundtrack
Republic Commando is notable for being the first official Star Wars game to feature licensed music. The song "Clones," performed by the band Ash, is played during the credits roll at the end of the game. Ash are known for their Star Wars fandom; their debut album was entitled "1977", and contained numerous Star Wars references.

The main bulk of the soundtrack is a break from convention of previous Star Wars games that use abridged versions of John Williams' original score, instead using a combination of Williams' music and new music composed by Jesse Harlin. This new music takes on a high-paced, gritty, and vocal theme compared to the traditional Star Wars score, helping to immerse the player even further in the game.

The Mandalorian battle song Vode An (Brothers All) is also heard throughout several parts of the game, including the main menu and several battle sequences. Other Mandalorian battle songs such as "Gratua Cuun" are played throughout segments of the game, corresponding to the current actions undertaken by Delta Squad.

Cast

 * RC-1138 (Delta Three-Eight or "Boss"), voiced by Temuera Morrison
 * RC-1140 (Delta Four-Oh or "Fixer"), voiced by Andrew Chaikin
 * RC-1207 (Delta Oh-Seven or "Sev"), voiced by Jonathan Cook
 * RC-1262 (Delta Six-Two or "Scorch"), voiced by Raphael Sbarge
 * Taun We, RAS Ship Computer, voiced by Rena Owen
 * Trandoshans, Trando Multi-player announcer, Clone trooper sergeant, Republic voices, Radio chatter voiced by David W. Collins
 * Automated ship voice, Clone troopers, Clone trooper lieutenant, Gunship pilot voiced by Roger Jackson
 * Yoda, Captain Talbot, Trandoshan slaver #2 voiced by Tom Kane
 * Battle droid, B2 super battle droid voiced by Clint Young

Crew

 * Director&mdash;Tim Longo
 * Writers&mdash;Ryan Kaufman, Michael Stemmle, John A. Hancock, Justin Lambros

Behind the scenes
The main character's number in the game is 1138. This is paying tribute to one of George Lucas's pre-Star Wars projects, THX 1138.

There are several references to the original trilogy quotes. When you approach B1 battle droids, Scorch says "Ah! These must be the droids we're looking for!" and "Look sir, droids." and when you approach the Core Ship, Sev says, "Look at the size of that thing," both references to A New Hope. When Boss is pointing his weapon at a lightsaber, he says, "An elegant weapon for a more civilized time, eh? Well, guess what? Times have changed!" is another reference to "A New Hope."

Whenever the enemy kill a squadmate, another member mutters something insulting them. This also occurs if you kill a squadmate via explosives or rifle fire. 38 needs to go back to basic training OR maybe 38 is a copy of a copy of a copy... OR maybe you should let 62 handle the explosives, sir

If playing online and on the Ghostship level you can find a lightsaber under the stairs of the republic base by where the flag is in CTF/Assault.

Another lightsaber can also be found on the ship in campaign mode when the player has not yet regrouped with his squad. The second time the player has to burst away a barricade, he can turn right and crouch through a little tunnel. If he then turns right again, he will encounter a dead clone trooper and the lightsaber. This also triggers a comment by 38 on Obi-Wan description of a lightsaber in episode IV as a "noble weapon of a more civilized age."

Several holograms in the game display Aurebesh text which reads "I hate computers so much."

Despite the fact that it means "Curse" in game the word, "Fierfek" acts as a cheat code that refills all your ammo and grenades.

The game features high levels of violence, an uncommon occurrence in a Star Wars game. For example: when the player punches an enemy to death or kills them any other way when they're at very close range, it (the enemy) essentially spills blood (or oil in the case of droids) over the clone commando's helmet visor, which subsequently cleans itself automatically. The Geonosians (having the most violent death graphical sequences of organic enemies) can explode if enough damage is dealt. Also, if a Geonosian is shot at somewhere on the head with the DC-17m Sniper Attachment, the head of the Geonosian's head will fall off. Another example of heavy violence is that the player can venture through a Geonosian birthing chamber and kill Geonosian infants. Also, if a player shoots his Wookiee allies, they bleed red blood.Also if you kill a wookiee ally by means of gunfire your squad will turn on you and all friends in the game become enemies. even if you manage to defeat your squad when revived your squad will continue to attack you. This violence is not only limited to alien species, but extends to Humans as well (as the clones are Humans). This is more apparent in the Acclamator-class assault ship raid, where at least in two sites of the ship some clone troopers are torn apart with a little spill of blood near them. Due to this, it was given the equivalent of an M rating in Germany due to the fact that Germany has less tolerance for blood in games. As said by game designers in the "Making Of" section of the bonus material. For years players almost always played as Jedi, what they wanted to do was give the player a different view of Star Wars universe, through the eyes of "A hardened Clone Commando".

On the second part of the level "Attack of the Clones," during the ride down the booby trapped elevator, a piano remix of the Imperial March can sometimes be heard.

The Chaykin Cluster could be named after Andrew Chaikin, the man who voices "Fixer." Another possibility is that of Howard Chaykin, artist of the adaptation of Episode IV published by Marvel Comics.

Various voices/sounds used for the B2 super battle droids were later stocked and reused for the ones in the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (video game) as well as for the IG-100 MagnaGuards that are encountered in the game.

A map editor was released with one of the patches to Republic Commando. It uses the Unreal engine, UnrealEd.

Canceled sequel
During development a sequel was already being planned but was canceled in 2004 with only as far as concept art and sketches made.