TheStar Warsfranchise has always been built on its vast range of characters. Whether it’s household names like Luke Skywalker or Princess Leia, or a more obscure Clone Trooper that was in two episodes ofThe Clone Wars,Star Warsfans have had no shortage of characters to cling to over the years.Star Warsvideo games are responsible for a handful of these fan-favorite faces, and the upcomingStar Wars: Hunterslooks like it’s going to contribute a host of new characters for fans to build an attachment to.
Star Wars: Huntersjust revealed its first cinematic trailer, and the game already looks like it’s going to have one of the most colorful casts of characters in aStar Warsgame. Of the nine that have been announced for the arena fighter, some include a Wookie that uses the arms of a droid as a weapon, one Jawa standing on the shoulders of another Jawa like children in a trench coat, and a droid that’s programmed to believe it’s a Jedi. The creativity of these fighters is unparalleled compared to many otherStar Warscreations, and it would be a missed opportunity if they were kept within the confines ofHunters.
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Building The Lore Of Star Wars: Hunters
The premise ofStar Wars: Huntersis certainly unique from many otherStar Warsvideo games. The game takes place on a sporting planet with massive arenas that emulateother planets throughout theStar Warsgalaxy. Based on the cinematic trailer, the fighters seem to be competing of their own volition, instead of actively rebelling against fighting for the entertainment of others.Star Warsis known to build up its lore with all kinds of comic books, novels, and television shows, and some kind of supplemental material onHunterscould really help players get more invested in its diverse cast. With how much effort has been put into their designs, they deserve some kind of attention greater than short cinematics.
Giving Star Wars: Hunters An Edge
The inspirations behindStar Wars: Hunters’cast of characters are a little too obvious to ignore. In the wake of popularhero shooters likeOverwatchandValorant,Huntershas built its own ensemble of fighters with unique abilities and personality traits with aStar Warscoat of paint. Its similarity to well-established games could giveHunterssome difficulty at launch, but if the game invests in its characters, it could have an advantage. ManyStar Warsfans love getting into the lore of smaller characters, and if more casual fans seeHunters' creative cast outside of the game, it could give them a reason to seek it out.
Setting A Precedent For All Of Star Wars
The creativity ofStar Wars: Huntersis something that has rarely been seen from the franchise before. While there have been moments whereStar Warsgoes in a direction that fans don’t expect, one singular piece of media has never taken as many risks asHuntersappears to be. IfHunters' characters receive support outside of the game, it could be very encouraging for other creatives that want to do something new withStar Wars. Disney is starting to show that it’s willing to take certain risks with the upcomingStar Wars: Visions, so that same attitude should be extended to video games.
Star Wars: Huntershas been mostly dormant up to this point, so it’s encouraging to see that the game is starting to take shape. There may not be any gameplay that’s been officially revealed just yet, but meeting the cast of fighters throughHunters' first cinematic trailer made for an exciting introduction. Time will tell if this new direction forStar Warsgamingpays off in the way Lucasfilm Games and fans are hoping.
Star Wars: Huntersis set to release in 2022 for Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS devices.
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