Fan-favorite first-person shooter Star Wars: Republic Commando has gained the reputation of being one of the best Star Wars video games ever made. Now it's getting a second chance with an updated re-release on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, but it's not a remake or a remaster; instead, it's almost a complete 1:1 port of the original game. CBR was allowed an early chance to play Republic Commando on the Switch, and while it's not breaking any new ground, the title delivers on its promise to reintroduce the beloved game to a new generation of players.

Knowing Star Wars: Republic Commando is more or less the same game from 2005 should temper expectations for players interested in the title. The game looks and feels like something from 15 years ago, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable to play. In fact, Republic Commando succeeds in some areas that modern titles could learn a thing or two from. Namely in gameplay mechanics and creating an immersive experience.

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Introducing Delta Squad

Star Wars Republic Commando Ride in

In Republic Commando, players take on the role of RC-1138, the commander of an elite clone trooper squad of Clone Commandos. Together with three other Commandos, the group forms Delta Squad, a special ops unit that undertakes the Clone Wars' most demanding assignments. Far removed from the expendable clone trooper, Commandos were essentially super troopers. Delta Squad's members are the explosives expert RC-1262 ("Scorch"), the hacker RC-1140 ("Fixer"), the sniper RC-1207 ("Sev") and RC-1138 ("Boss"). There are no cutscenes in Republic Commando; instead, events transpire before the eyes of RC-1138 in-game.

Republic Commando creates immersion from the moment players start the game, as they experience everything through RC-1138's eyes. This includes an opening prologue detailing the birth of the Commando and the initial formation of Delta Squad. Squadmates are introduced and players are informed that together, they are four pieces that form a whole. Much akin to the narrative, character development happens live as Delta Squad embarks on missions. Players will get a feel for each squad members' personality through the chatter and comments that occur during tasks. Though the narrative development is a little light compared to today's titles, it still delivers the gritty war story that earned the game its stellar reputation when it was originally released.

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Length-wise, Republic Commando isn't something that'll tie players down for weeks on end, with the campaign averaging somewhere between eight and nine hours long. It certainly could be longer, and given the cliff-hanger ending, another mission might have offered some clear and fulfilling resolution to the plot. But knowing this title is essentially a re-release and that a sequel for the game was planned and then scrapped, odds were never in favor of more content being added to Republic Commando. There was a multiplayer mode in the original versions of the game, but it is not present in the PS4 and Switch versions. This leads to one of the most significant drawbacks of Republic Commando: replay value.

There is really only one trajectory through the campaign in Republic Commando. Without branching paths or choices in how to tackle each assignment, it creates a very linear experience. There are three major set pieces for missions: Geonosis, a derelict ship and Kashyyyk. Whenever the game lets Delta Squad out of the sterile halls of ships and facilities, it's like a breath of fresh air. The same can be said when encountering new types of enemies. Needless to say, the linear style can begin to grow old fast, engaging the same enemies in the same environments, but Republic Commando changes things up just as things start to grow stale. Once a player has gone through the campaign, they'll find very little reason to go back. In the original versions of the game, the multiplayer mode helped remedy this, but now players will only return when they want to go through the story again.

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Old Dogs, Reliable Tricks

Star Wars Republic Commando Slice

Functionally, Republic Commando plays as well as it did when it first released. Though some things, like aiming, feel a little clunky by modern standards, the whole experience is serviceable. That said, some elements, like the squad control system, still work flawlessly and could still have a home in modern titles today.

One of the strongest parts of Republic Commando is the system in place for commanding Delta Squad. A single push of the action button orders a squad member to action, and that's about it. The simple system just works without the need to bog down the game with additional menus or specific controls. Under the hood, Republic Commando achieves this by implementing an "if this, then that" array of rules to ensure the feature works dependably. For example, if you press the action button while looking at a Bacta Station (first aid station), the game will send the most injured Commando to heal up. Additionally, suppose the player orders someone to provide sniper support behind cover. In that case, the game will try to send the Commando who specializes in that task and send another only if they are down or undertaking a different job.

A large part of the game revolves around issuing orders to Delta Squad to complete mission objectives successfully. Common scenarios will find the squad pinned down by enemies while needing to hack the console on a nearby door or set up explosives to clear a path forward. Players will issue the command to hack the door or plant explosives while also tasking other squad members to take up positions sniping behind cover or offering ordinance support with grenades. It all works with a glance at the objective and a push of the action button; the game will figure out who needs to go where.

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What doesn't hold up as well in 2021 is the gunplay. As a first-person shooter, the action is in the spotlight, and that spotlight shows some age after 15 years. Aiming and shooting feels a little off, like the reticle is too large to represent where shots are actually going. Additionally, while there are settings for adjusting "Look Sensitivity," nothing feels like it works quite as well as strafing to line up a shot and only using the right stick for vertical adjustments. While there is an "Auto Aim" option present in the menu, it takes some joy out of a title that focuses so heavily on action.

Though the combat is a little rough by today's standards, there are plenty of neat touches that outweigh Republic Commando's gameplay faults. When something splashes onto RC-1138's helmet, usually enemy blood or robotic fluids, a pulse of energy glides across the visor and clears the obstruction. The majority of the game's weapons are variations of a blaster pistol, the DC-17. As new weapons are earned, players will get to watch their humble pistols transform into snipers and assault guns. Squadmates will yell out comments relevant to the player's actions, calling out sniper shots they like or where enemies are approaching from. Minor, cool additions like these add charm and character to the title.

Star Wars: Republic Commando is a 2005 game being re-released in 2021. If players can look past some aged visuals and clunky combat, there's a gem that still holds its own as a first-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe. The dependable and straightforward mechanics for controlling Delta Squad awe as much now as they did when the title first released, proving to be the most impressive piece of the short adventure. Criticized for its length originally, it's now an enjoyable quick romp into the Clone Wars era of Star Wars. With a $15 price tag, it's like finding a copy of the original game at a yard sale...only it works on a PS4 or Switch.

Originally developed by LucasArts, then developed and published by Aspyr, Star Wars: Republic Commando releases April 6 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. 

CBR was provided with a copy of this title by the publisher for review purposes.

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