TheStar Warsuniverse has built itself around strong characters.Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the Dark Sidewouldn’t be nearly as compelling if we didn’t care about his relationship with Padme and Obi-Wan, and Han getting frozen in Carbonite wouldn’t hit nearly as hard if we didn’t care about the dynamic between him and Leia, Luke, and Chewie. So it’s great to seeStar Wars Zero Companyput its colorful cast of characters front and center of its initial marketing push.
Coming from former Firaxis devs under the new banner of Bit Reactor,Star Wars Zero Companyis anXCOM-like tactics game that will see players commanding the titular squadron of elite for-hire soldiers set against the backdrop of the Clone Wars. They’ll do so as Hawks, an ex-Republic officer who will hopefully be the next in a long line of belovedStar Warsvideo game protagonists.
Star Wars Zero Company’s Hawks Has a Lot to Live up to
Hawks is the Face of Star Wars Zero Company
Being the lead of aStar Warsvideo game is no small task. It immediately encourages comparisons to fan-favorite heroes like Kyle Katarn and Dash Rendar, who have held a close place in manyStar Warsfans' hearts for decades now. It also sets a high bar off the bat, as more recent protagonists likeStar Wars Jedi’s Cal Kestishave delivered strong character arcs and stellar performances.
AStar Warsvideo game lead needs to be the heart and soul of the experience, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. Without a strong lead, aStar Warsgame can all too easily feel like a generic echo of the franchise’s more renowned stories.Star Wars Zero Company’s Hawksneeds to be something special.
Hawks Can’t Fall into a Common Gaming Pitfall
But there might be something standing in Hawks' way.Star Wars Zero Companyis putting character customization at the forefront of its current marketing. Players will be able tocustomize Hawks' species, physical appearance, voice, and class. Gameplay-wise, that sounds very promising. It’s been a very long time since fans were able to create their own fully-fledgedStar Warsvideo game character, and that could be a major boon forZero Company.
Star Wars Zero Companyneeds to tread carefully, however. A fully customized protagonist still needs to have a distinct personality, especially when it comes totheStar Warsuniverse, where the “leader of a ragtag group” archetype has been used countless times before. DuringZero Company’s Star Wars Celebration panel earlier this year, the developers stated that Hawks is a “disgraced former Republic officer” who’s been forced to lead Zero Company after a disastrous final mission.
This is a great starting point for Hawks' character, but it should be just that: a starting point.Star Wars Zero Company’s Hawks needs some kind of unique character arc and definitive personality, regardless of how players have customized them.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Has Already Paved The Way
Widely regarded as one of thebestStar Warsvideo games evermade, BioWare’sStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republicshould act as the guiding light forStar Wars Zero Company’s Hawks. The main protagonist inKOTORis fully customizable, from physical appearance to class and background, and their dialogue is all choice-based. But they still have a clear place inKOTOR’s story, with scripted twists and turns sprinkled throughout. The player drives their character towards certain moments, and makes key choices along the way, but the protagonist is far from a generic archetype.
