Star Wars: Republic Commando is a 2005 video game created and released by LucasArts for the Xbox and Microsoft Windows. It is set in the Star Wars Legends expanded universe and follows Delta Squad, a special unit in the Galactic Republic's Clone Army. This unit includes four genetically enhanced clone soldiers called "Clone Commandos." In the game's single-player story, players control RC-1138, known as "Boss," who leads Delta Squad during the Clone Wars. Players can also guide their squadmates—RC-1262 ("Scorch"), RC-1140 ("Fixer"), and RC-1207 ("Sev")—by giving them commands to complete missions in different ways.

At its release, the game received mostly positive reviews for its story, characters, and gameplay. However, some critics noted that the game was short and its multiplayer mode was average. Over time, it has been recognized as one of the best Star Wars video games ever made and has gained a dedicated fanbase. In 2021, a revised version of the game was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 by Aspyr. This version had a small technical issue that was later fixed with an update.

Gameplay

The game includes gameplay features similar to those found in other first-person shooter games. The heads-up display (HUD) shows the player's helmet with a tactical visor. The player controls a squad leader of four elite soldiers. A squadmate order system lets the player give general tactical commands to the three non-player character (NPC) squadmates, completing the four-person team. Objects in the game environment light up when the crosshair is over them. The player can press the "use" key to automatically issue an order linked to the object. For example, a sealed door might show a command for a synchronized team breach-and-clear, a computer console might show a "slice" (hacking) command, and a pile of cargo boxes might show a "take up Sniper/Anti-Armor position" command. Squadmates usually take their preferred roles (sniper, demolitions, and technical). The player can order the squad to move to secure a position (wherever the crosshair is pointed) or perform search-and-destroy actions. The player can also command squadmates to group up or spread out based on the situation.

In single-player mode, the player and squadmates do not die when they run out of health; instead, they become incapacitated. If the player is incapacitated, the squad can attempt to revive them or continue with their tasks. The game ends only when the player and all squadmates are incapacitated at the same time or if the player is incapacitated in a location the squad cannot reach, such as a chasm. Some missions require squad members to split up to complete separate objectives. If the player is alone and loses all health during these missions, the game ends. Reviving a downed squadmate restores a small amount of health, but bacta charging stations are needed to fully restore health.

Weapons can be obtained in both single-player and multiplayer modes. Throughout the campaign, the player always carries a compact DC-17 and a blaster pistol with unlimited ammo. The DC-17 can be changed into an assault rifle, sniper rifle, or grenade launcher. The player can also use weapons dropped by enemies.

Multiplayer on Xbox Live was available until April 15, 2010. The game is now playable online again on new Xbox Live servers called Insignia.

The game uses a first-person perspective, showing the story from the viewpoint of Delta Squad's leader, RC-1138 ("Boss"). His squadmates include RC-1262 ("Scorch"), an explosives expert who talks a lot; RC-1140 ("Fixer"), a skilled hacker and dedicated soldier; and RC-1207 ("Sev"), the squad's sniper who enjoys earning kills. Information is given through radio commands from a clone officer ("Advisor") and a text-based objective list with a pop-up arrow pointing to the next goal.

Synopsis

The game starts with a scene showing how Delta Squad was created, trained, and prepared on Kamino. At the beginning of the Clone Wars, the four squad members—Delta-38, 62, 40, and 07 (called "Boss," "Scorch," "Fixer," and "Sev")—are sent to fight in the Battle of Geonosis. Their mission is to kill Sun Fac, a top officer working for the Separatist leader Poggle the Lesser. After completing this task, Delta Squad is given new missions that were originally assigned to other teams that had been lost in battles. The squad then sabotages a battle droid factory under Sun Fac’s headquarters, disables a powerful anti-aircraft bunker harming the Republic’s air forces, and sneaks onto a damaged Separatist ship to sabotage it and steal important codes. They barely escape the ship before it is destroyed.

A year into the war, Delta Squad is sent to investigate the abandoned Acclamator-class Republic Assault Ship (RAS) Prosecutor. The squad splits up to explore the ship but loses contact with command because of unknown communication interference. Inside, they find the ship empty and in poor condition. Scorch loses contact after his visor is affected by electrical interference, and Boss is attacked by scavenger droids. Boss checks the ship’s logs for clues. As Boss prepares to reunite with Sev, Sev is captured by a Trandoshan who is part of a group of slavers and mercenaries controlling the ship. Boss and Fixer regroup but are attacked by droids sent by the Trandoshans. After rescuing their captured squad members from the ship’s prison, Delta Squad takes control of the ship’s bridge and destroys a jamming device, restoring communication with command. It becomes clear that the Trandoshans plan to sell the ship to the Separatists in exchange for battle droids.

Delta Squad fights through the Trandoshan forces until they reach the ship’s hangars, where they destroy the Trandoshan dropship. Just then, a Lucrehulk-class Trade Federation Battleship appears from hyperspace to complete the deal with the Trandoshans. As Republic reinforcements arrive, Delta Squad defends the ship against waves of battle droids attacking through the hangars. After repelling the droids and sealing the hangars, the Separatist Battleship realizes the Republic has regained control of the Prosecutor and begins attacking the ship. Delta Squad fights through the droids to reach the gunnery deck and activates the ship’s turbolaser batteries for defense. The arrival of a second Republic ship, the RAS Arrestor, gives Delta Squad time to activate the turbolasers. Together, the two Republic ships destroy the Separatist Battleship, which also stops all remaining battle droids on board.

As the war continues, Delta Squad takes on more dangerous missions. When the Wookiee leader Tarfful, a key Republic ally, is captured by Trandoshan slavers on Kashyyyk, Delta Squad is sent to rescue him. While navigating the Trandoshan camp, they see General Grievous arriving in his ship, the Soulless One, and are ordered to capture him if possible. The squad saves Tarfful but fails to capture Grievous, forcing them to fight his MagnaGuards. Later, Delta Squad discovers the Separatists and Trandoshans are working together and sabotages a Trandoshan supply depot, which was actually a Separatist staging area for an invasion of Kashyyyk. After destroying the depot, the squad is sent to the city of Kachirho, starting the Battle of Kashyyyk. There, they secure key locations and fight large groups of advanced battle droids. Delta Squad splits up to operate four anti-aircraft turrets to help destroy a Separatist destroyer hovering over Kachirho. After the ship is destroyed, Clone Advisor CC-01/425 orders the squad to regroup at Boss’ position. However, Sev reports being under heavy attack before losing contact. Boss, Scorch, and Fixer prepare to rescue Sev but are ordered to evacuate immediately. As they leave on a gunship, they are debriefed by Jedi Master Yoda. A large Republic fleet is seen outside the gunship as the now-three-member Delta Squad prepares for their next mission.

Soundtrack

Republic Commando is important because it is the first official Star Wars game to include music that was officially licensed. The song "Clones," performed by the band Ash, plays during the end credits. The band Ash is known for being fans of Star Wars; their first album was named 1977 and included many references to the Star Wars movies.

Most Star Wars games use short versions of the music composed by John Williams. However, Republic Commando uses a mix of Williams' music and new music created by Jesse Harlin. This new music has a fast, rough, and vocal style that is different from the usual Star Wars soundtrack. Harlin explained that the goal was to show a dark and military version of the Star Wars universe, focusing on soldiers who are not the main characters. He said that much of Williams' music is more romantic and focuses on characters that were not the main focus of the game.

A key part of the soundtrack is the "Vode An" theme, which plays in the main menu and during important moments in the game, such as when the player's clone soldiers defeat a large group of enemies. The "Vode An" theme and other important music pieces include lyrics sung in the Mandalorian language. These lyrics helped inspire author Karen Traviss to create a complete version of the Mandalorian language.

Reception

Star Wars: Republic Commando received "mostly positive" reviews, according to the review website Metacritic. In the United Kingdom, the Xbox version of the game sold more than 60,000 copies by the end of 2005. In France, 85,000 copies were shipped when the game was first released.

Sequels

A sequel called Star Wars: Republic Commando: Order 66 was released in August 2005 for mobile phones that used Symbian OS. Magellan created the game, and THQ Wireless published it. Another sequel was planned before Republic Commando was made. This game, titled Star Wars: Imperial Commando, would have shown the Republic’s change into the Galactic Empire from Delta Squad’s point of view. However, the project only reached the concept art stage before being cancelled. Karen Traviss wrote the fifth and final book in the Republic Commando novel series. She named it Star Wars Imperial Commando: 501st, after the cancelled sequel.

• Star Wars Republic Commando: Hard Contact (October 26, 2004) Book 1
• Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero (February 28, 2006) Book 2
• Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors (October 30, 2007) Book 3
• Star Wars Republic Commando: Order 66 (September 16, 2008) Book 4
• Star Wars Imperial Commando: 501st (October 27, 2009) Book 5

Legacy

In April 2014, after The Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm, most licensed Star Wars novels, comics, and video games created since the 1977 film were renamed Star Wars Legends and no longer considered official stories for the franchise. The video game Republic Commando was affected by this change, as the events in its story were no longer seen as part of the official Star Wars timeline. However, the game’s characters remained official because Delta Squad, a group from the game, appeared in "Witches of the Mist," an episode from the third season of the 2008 animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This series remained official after Disney’s acquisition. The series’ supervising director, Dave Filoni, said the game inspired the design of the clone characters in the show. One character, Scorch, later appeared in "War-Mantle," an episode from the 2021 sequel series Star Wars: The Bad Batch. The helmet display design from the game was also briefly shown in the series.

The idea of Clone Commandos, introduced in the game, has appeared in other Star Wars works. The fifth season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars includes an episode called "Missing in Action," which features Captain Gregor, a former Clone Commando who has lost his memory. The seventh season of the same series introduces Clone Force 99, a group of four (later five) genetically enhanced clones similar to Delta Squad. Clone Commandos are also playable in the 2017 video game Star Wars Battlefront II. This game also introduced the term "clanker," which became widely used outside the Star Wars community in the 2020s as a term for artificial intelligence.