The Star Wars games that fell into oblivion
, by Quentin
We often talk about some great games that the Star Wars license has left us. These are great hits for many, with some unforgettable titles such as Star Wars: Battlefront, The Force Unleashed, Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Knights of the Old Republic and many more. However, the franchise has also protagonised some forgotten games. It's there we are talking about today.
Star Wars: Obi-Wan
We start with an Xbox exclusive. We're talking about Star Wars: Obi-Wan. Released back in March 2002, the game lets us embody the famous Jedi along five chapters that follow the story of Episode 1. It was a third person action-adventure title, which was good fun but ended up falling short of greatness.
It didn't shine, be it in graphics, gameplay or story. What's more, the fact that it was an exclusive didn't make it any favours. In the end, it ended up falling into oblivion.
Star Wars: Lethal Alliance
Next is Star Wars: Lethal Alliance, a game released on DS and PSP in December 2006. We took control of Rianna Saren, a Twi'lek mercenary accompanied by a droid named Zeeo that had to steal the Death Star's plans, and then take control of it.
The title was pretty good on the technical front, but it lacked on story and lifespan. Like Obi-Wan, this adction-adventure failed to garner a loyal fanbase and was quickly forgotten.
Star Wars: Starfighter
When thinking of Star Wars, there's always combat and spaceships, isn't it? Numerous games have tried their hand at it, sometimes with great success. Such is the case of Star Wars: Starfighter, released in March 2001 on PC and PS2.
Although the game was successful, be it in the technical aspects, gameplay or soundtrack, it didn't get to stay relevant over the years. Nevertheless, it's some great fun, and we urge you to play it if ever given the change.
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
We've flirted with the good and the average so far, and it's time to take a detour into the bad. Let's see what Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, out on PC in 2014, is all about.
Here's a curious mix of MMO and party game. It uses the Free Realms graphics engine, adapted to George Lucas' universe, of course. However, everything here is wonky. Graphics are mediocre, with mini-games on 2D being outright bad, and the 3D world isn't any better.
The game was available both for free and by paying, but even those who tried it without paying a cent ended up disappointed.
Star Wars : Super Bombad Racing
Up until now, all games have tried to keep up a semblance of seriousness. This is definitely not the case with Star Wars: Super Wombad Racing, released in 2001 for the PS2. It's just an hilarant and fun experience, an offbeat racing game featuring plenty of characters with a very particular aesthetic.
Indeed, they almost look like a Funko Pop, with a small body and really big head. The universe is colorful, the gameplay is fun and the general atmosphere got plenty of humor. All in all, it's a great experience worthy of being here.
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
Let's take stock: we've covered a wide genre of games, with racing, space sims, action adventures and even an MMO. What we're missing is a strategy game, and that's what Star Wars: Galactic Battleground, released on PC back in November 2001, is all about.
Based on the Age of Empires II engine, it's got a great foundation for the genre, and the maps are faithfull to the George Lucas universe and filled to the brim with detail. What's more, the game's story lets you reliev some of the franchise's most iconic momentos, through a series of gripping battles. You also have a wide choice of units of all kinds to use.
Star Wars : Masters of Teräs Käsi
Let's end with a fighting game. Because yes, Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi tries to rival Tekken or Street Fighter without having anything going for it at all.
Released back in 1998 exclusively for PlayStation 1, the game has never been ported to other platforms. Some even say it's for the better this way, though. The title is bad, the graphics wonky, the sound design is made of the stuff from the nightmares and the combat is sleep-inducing. We wouldn't recommend the game to the most hardcore fans, so bad it is. The images speak for themselves, yes, so take a look at it.
The Star Wars IP has seen many games since its inception. We've made this small selection, but there's still plenty to discover here. Which forgotten Star Wars games do you think deserve a place here?