7 Best ‘Star Wars’ Video Games Of The 2000s
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The first decade of the 21st century was an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan. The Phantom Menace was just released at the turn of the century in 1999, and the prequel trilogy brought a new wave of public interest in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars lore expanded beyond the three movies of the original trilogy through books, comics, and video games. The 2000s also saw an explosion of Star Wars video games across different genres and platforms. From MMORPGs such as Star Wars Galaxies to family-friendly games such as LEGO Star Wars, there was a game for every Star Wars fan. In this list, we count down the best Star Wars video games of the 2000s.
7. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008)
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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed aimed to immerse players to immerse in a cinematic experience of playing as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice Starkiller. This was facilitated by ILM’s involvement as motion capture and voice performances for the characters from talents like Sam Witwer. While The Force Unleashed saw a mixed reception from critics and players alike, it was notable for being a part of a multimedia project which included a novelization of the game (wherein Starkiller’s real name, Galen Marek, was revealed), a graphic novel, and toys. Even though The Force Unleashed is not as highly regarded as other entries on this list, it is undoubtedly part of “the last hurrah” for the Expanded Universe, now Legends, before Disney’s acquisition in 2012.
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6. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007)
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LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and its sequel LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy were both well received by fans and critics alike. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga was a compilation of the two games with some additions and upgrades such as a level that was initially cut from the first LEGO Star Wars game. While aimed at a younger audience, LEGO Star Wars has the unique charm of combining two childhood passions: LEGO and Star Wars. The Complete Saga also allows players to play as fan favorites from the original and prequel trilogies recreated in LEGO form.
5. Star Wars: Empire at War (2006)
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As its name implies, Star Wars feature mostly stories between warring factions in a galaxy far, far away. Yet, strategy games set in the Star Wars universe are a rare thing despite it being an excellent setting for strategy games. Star Wars: Empire at War is the latest of Star Wars real-time strategy games, following titles such as Force Commander and Galactic Battlegrounds. Empire at War featured a campaign and a sandbox Galactic Conquest mode with battles being played out in space and on planetary surfaces.
4. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (2002)
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Featuring fan-favorite mercenary-turned-Jedi Kyle Katarn, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast suffers from the Rambo title syndrome. As the third entry in the Star Wars: Jedi Knight series (which began with Dark Forces), Jedi Outcast was less focused on ranged combat and more on lightsaber combat. Players could perform lightsaber combos and deflect blaster shots like true Jedi. With different lightsaber styles and Force powers, Jedi Outcast provided players an outlet to play out their Jedi fantasies cutting down Stormtroopers and dueling dark side users.
3. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
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Not to be confused with the 2017 sequel to the Battlefront reboot, Battlefront II was released in late 2005 after Revenge of the Sith hit theaters. Its single-player campaign followed the 501st Legion during the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War up until the Battle of Hoth. Battlefront II also featured an expanded multiplayer experience with new vehicles, characters, and game mechanics. There were also Instant Action mode and Galactic Conquest mode which provided hours of multiplayer (or single-player) mayhem.
2. Star Wars: Republic Commando (2005)
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Before there was Clone Force 99, also known as the Bad Batch, there was Delta Squad. Playing as a clone commando nicknamed “Boss,” players led a squad of three other clone commandos, Scorch, Fixer, and Sev, in special operations missions during the Clone Wars. Reminiscent of other tactical shooters like Rainbow Six and SWAT 4, each clone commando had their own role and expertise as well as personality.
Delta Squad was finally brought back into canon with an appearance in The Clone Wars episode “Witches in the Mist.” Scorch was also featured in The Bad Batch episode “War-Mantle.”
1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
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Frequently named as one of the, if not the, best Star Wars video games of all time, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a single-player roleplaying game set 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin. With its unique setting, the team at Bioware had more freedom in developing their vision of the Star Wars universe. As a roleplaying game, players could customize their characters as well as choose to follow the light side or dark side endings.
Introducing fan-favorite characters such as Revan, Darth Malak, HK-47, and Bastila Shan, Knights of the Old Republic is still influential today. It also leads to the development of the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is set during the same time period.
A remake of Knights of the Old Republic has been announced in 2021, but the project is unfortunately on hold at this time.
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Source(s): Collider, GamesRadar, IGN, Kotaku, Polygon, Rock Paper Shotgun, Space.com, VG247