Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the latest bridge from the prequel era of the Jedi Order and the more desperate and dangerous period of the original Star Wars films. Focusing on one of the survivors of the Jedi purge, the game gives players the chance to explore a period of the galaxy that has only slowly been revealed over the years. This era opens the door for players to encounter all sorts of enemies -- including some pretty iconic prequel movie villains.

Some of the basic enemies that players will battle while playing as Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be familiar to fans of the franchise. It turns out that the enemy faction known as the Bedlam Raiders has repurposed some Battle Droids, setting up players to face off against many of them in the game. It's a fun, new basic enemy type, and a fitting means of bringing the prequel villains back for a new adventure.

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How Battle Droids Appear in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Battle Droid Artwork

One of the big threats of the Star Wars prequels was the Droid Army. Introduced in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the robotic soldiers were commissioned by the Trade Federation to help carry out their attack on Naboo. When the Federation allied with the Separatist movement and went into open war against the Republic, the Droid Army became the primary foot soldiers for their forces. These droids became the consistent enemy of the Jedi and Republic during the Clone Wars, and their sheer numbers were meant to allow them to match the power of the Force-wielding warriors.

The Droids were largely deactivated following the ascension of Darth Vader and the execution of Order 66, with Palpatine shifting to using the Clone Army to carry out his galactic decrees. However, some pockets of the droids continued to exist in the greater Star Wars universe, and it turns out an entire organization has been using them years into the Empire's rule.

After reaching the planet Koboh in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Cal discovers that the Bedlam Raiders -- a group of deadly scavengers and marauders -- have set up shop on the planet at the order of their leader, Rayvis. To bolster their numbers, the Raiders actually reprogrammed and repainted several droids, including the skinny B1-Series and the bulkier B2-Series Battle Droids. Other footage for the game released in trailers indicates that the dangerous BX-Series Commando Droids will also appear. They now serve the Raiders as their grunts.

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Why the Battle Droids Are Perfect for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - one-on-one combat with a Battle Droid

It makes sense for the Battle Droids to appear in this kind of function, serving as simple fodder for players to cut through with their lightsaber. However, their appearance in the game is a fun in-universe turn, with the once-feared army now reduced to grunts in a far smaller organization. Their kooky nature, evidenced in the prequel films with their unexpectedly chatty personalities, extends to Jedi: Survivor as well. Cal can overhear the B1-Series Battle Droids as they frequently wonder about their place with the Raiders, and they will celebrate their "promotion" if their superior officers are killed. Even the more taciturn B2-Series Battle Droids have a bit more personality. It's similar to the comically put-upon nature of the Stormtroopers players can encounter in this game and the previous one, providing a bit of charm to the numerous nameless enemies players are tasked with taking out.

It's also a quietly fitting final fate for the Battle Droids, especially in light of their place in the history of Star Wars. Following the prequels and during the rise of the Empire, the Battle Droids became largely indicative of the collapsed Separatist Army. The Droids had failed in their mission and were largely decommissioned. In an age when the Jedi are more or less wiped out, one of their great enemies has been reduced to scrap metal and menial labor for criminals. It's another reminder of how much the galaxy changed in the time between the prequels and the original films, and a perfect way to tie Jedi: Survivor to the general era from which it hails. It's a terrific little touch that connects the game to the rest of the franchise -- all while providing the proceedings with a fun, goofy kind of enemy to dispatch without feeling too guilty about it.