Star Wars Zero Firm takes place proper on the finish of The Clone Wars, my favourite interval in Star Wars’ large timeline. That battle begins with the Battle of Geonosis in Assault of the Clones and concludes with the deaths of the Separatist leaders in Revenge of the Sith, however a overwhelming majority of the galaxy-spanning battle is roofed within the seven seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. As such, Zero Firm makes a number of references to the sooner seasons of the TV present that debuted in 2008. The largest one, of what I’ve seen of the sport up to now anyway, comes proper in the beginning of the story: Protagonist Hawks was made the scapegoat for a battle that went very fallacious whereas working beneath Normal Pong Krell.
And, man, that identify does a super quantity of narrative heavy lifting in characterizing Hawks. With one identify, Bit Reactor principally gave me all of the proof I wanted that Hawks had not solely seen some actually horrendous battle crimes, however that no matter they have been accused of was nearly definitely not true.
“The meant impact of the road labored, then,” Bit Reactor narrative director Aaron Contreras informed me. “Like, [Republic Intelligence] is speaking about whether or not they can belief this man, as a result of he is a washout and a loser–he labored for Pong Krell. And so each [player] who is aware of this man is like, ‘It isn’t [Hawks’] fault then. That is the worst boss ever.”
So even in case you do not want to know Pong Krell to play Zero Firm, I extremely suggest you become familiar with him beforehand. And the easiest way to try this is by watching The Clone Wars. Or, on the very least, one particular arc: Season 4’s four-episode Umbara Arc.
The Clone Wars is at all times a tricky present for me to suggest as a result of it has some completely stellar episodes of tv hidden in between mind-numbing episodes which are too foolish or just excruciatingly uninteresting. I can solely see Jar Jar Binks on my display screen for therefore many minutes earlier than I ponder punching my TV.
However the present’s gems are actually, actually good, largely for the way they toe the road for what’s usually acceptable for a kids’s present and embody storylines that respect that youngsters can deal with darkish materials in what’s a present all about battle, baby troopers, and the autumn of a democracy. I am nonetheless floored by a number of the stuff that the showrunners have been in a position to embody, particularly because the present departed from its sillier tone extra typically post-Season 2.
For instance, Season 5, Episodes 17-20 is the Temple Bombing Arc, during which the Jedi Temple is bombed in a terrorist assault, and in a storyline that feels tremendous 9/11-coded, each the federal government and the Jedi Council leap to assumptions, suspect and rapidly imprison harmless individuals, and betray the belief of allies all within the identify of catching the bomber.
After which there’s Season 7, Episodes 9-12: the Siege of Mandalore Arc. That sees Ahsoka lead a military of Clones to free Mandalore from the management of Maul in a storyline that happens concurrently with Revenge of the Sith, with scenes from the film slotting into occasions of the present for a tense battle story the place you are simply ready for the bombshell of Order 66 to drop.
There are a ton of different improbable arcs moreover these ones: the Second Invasion of Geonosis, Mortis, Asajj Ventress making an attempt to assassinate Depend Dooku, Maul taking on the legal underworld, Fives making an attempt to unravel the Clones Conspiracy, Obi-Wan Kenobi pulling a Face/Off to go undercover as a legal bounty hunter, Anakin coping with his PTSD relating to slavery whereas on a particularly pro-slavery planet. However none come near the Umbara Arc, which I take into account to be the most effective 4 episodes in the complete present.
The arc sees Anakin Skywalker needing to assist Chancellor Palpatine on a particular project and leaving his legion of Clone Troopers beneath the command of Pong Krell, a Jedi with a fame for fulfillment at the price of the troops beneath his command. We study that no different Jedi has misplaced as many Clone Troopers as he has, and as quickly as Anakin leaves, Krell instantly begins treating the clones as subhuman.
What follows is an arc during which the clones argue amongst themselves over easy methods to take care of Pong Krell. Do they proceed performing loyally to him like good troopers do? His disregard for his or her lives and therapy of them as dispensable chess items makes it laborious to observe him, however he does get optimistic outcomes and achieves victories by way of his reckless techniques, like a crueler and fewer passionate Anakin Skywalker. Wouldn’t it be higher to behave within the spirit of his orders and obtain his targets however not accomplish that precisely as he says? That would work but additionally carries some threat as a result of he threatened to kill a clone only for daring to precise an opinion, so any clone would wish to bend the principles secretly to observe that plan. Do they insurgent towards Krell totally? That is an act of mutiny which may result in all of them being court docket martialed upon Anakin’s return.
The arc goes into how, beneath the legal guidelines of the republic that they serve, the clones aren’t individuals. They’re property. The one cause a few of them have opinions in any respect is as a result of most Jedi inspired them to embrace their distinctive personalities and categorical themselves. Among the clones argue that Krell is not evil; he is simply treating the clones as they’re speculated to be handled. The different Jedi are the bizarre ones, they are saying. Others argue it would not matter–they know that they are individuals deserving of respect now because of the Jedi’s affect, and you may’t simply flip that line of pondering off so simply.
Each clone has a distinct opinion on the matter, fracturing the legion in the midst of an invasion that sees them combating on a planet blanketed in everlasting darkness and infinite forests, the place the locals use guerrilla techniques to withstand these republic invaders, chipping away on the clones’ numbers and their sanity.
Then Krell does one thing actually unhealthy. It is a kind of moments within the present that makes me go, “This can’t be a present for teenagers anymore.” It isn’t overly violent. It is simply disturbing to understand what’s occurring, after which the present lingers for a couple of further seconds on the horror of the aftermath so you possibly can actually come to phrases with Krell’s cruelty.
So when Zero Firm begins off by telling me that Hawks is a disgraced ex-Republic soldier who as soon as served beneath Pong Krell, all I can take into consideration is The Clones Wars’ Umbara Arc and what Krell did throughout it. And it fully reframes my understanding of Hawks’ previous as a supposed failure. I do not suppose Hawks is utilizing Zero Firm to attempt to make up for a previous mistake as a result of I do not suppose there is a mistake for them to make up for–they have been more than likely framed.
Which is why, in case you’ve bought the time and a Disney+ subscription, you must take a look at The Clone Wars (particularly Season 4, Episodes 7-10) earlier than selecting up Star Wars Zero Firm. That arc does loads to tell what might need occurred to Hawks previous to the occasions of the sport and makes them a much more attention-grabbing protagonist than simply one other generic disgraced battle hero. And also you may as effectively watch the remainder of the present too in case you have the time, in addition to its spin-offs (The Dangerous Batch, Tales of the Jedi, and Maul – Shadow Lord) as a result of it seems like Zero Firm might be making loads of references to the Star Wars universe at giant.
“My writers are actual [into] the Clone Wars period,” Contreras stated. “I am an previous man, so I am type of like a Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia fan. I really like the Clone Wars as effectively, however they’re actually into it in an unhealthy approach, so in case you like a deep dive, [the lore] is there. I believe so far as the unfold, I imagine nearly all of our places existed already in lore. A few of them it’s possible you’ll be seeing for the primary time [fully] realized, however like we’ll seize a reputation.”
Zero Firm’s first mission happens on Serolonis, for instance, a planet first launched into Star Wars in The Dangerous Batch. A later mission takes Hawks and their squad to Courtsilius, a planet within the Hosnian system. That is a spot we have by no means seen earlier than, save for at an awesome distance because it was being destroyed in The Pressure Awakens. And, because the gameplay reveal trailer for Zero Firm already identified, Anakin Skywalker (who is probably going mere months, if not weeks, away from turning into Darth Vader) may also be within the sport.
Star Wars Zero Firm is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X|S, and PC on August 27.
