There are a plethora of Star Wars games out there: some are instant classics, some are duds. From the Force Unleashed series to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, there are so many games of different styles and qualities; each providing something unique. Even the bad ones can provide memorable experiences for the players.
In the case of Star Wars: Republic Commando, it was a game that was mildly successful. However, over the years it became one of the most beloved cult classics of Star Wars. Still to this day, it holds up in many ways but it's also not flawless.
10 Yes: The Score Is Pure Fire
Before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim blew people's minds with epic choirs, Republic Commando had its score. Rivaling the works of John Williams in the movies, Republic Commando features some of the best music in Star Wars games.
It's both militaristic and fantastical at the same time, giving off that dark and gritty tone that Republic Commando has. From the action to just the main menu theme, Republic Commando's soundtrack is worth having on a playlist.
9 No: Useless Blaster Pistol
In most first-person shooters, a starter pistol is there to give the player an emergency backup. In Republic Commando, there is a blaster pistol but the player also starts with the blaster rifle which mows through enemies quickly.
The pistol has very little damage and purposes throughout the game. Even the Commando's wrist blade is used more than the pistol.
8 Yes: Commandos Are Now Canon
They aren't your typical clones, they are created to be unique spec ops agents. This results in Boss, Sev, Fixer, and Scorch each performed brilliantly with unique personalities. Each Commando is fun to listen to and it's easy to grow attached to them.
Fans grew to love the Commandos so much that they joined Star Wars canon later on. A commando was featured in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and even became a class in EA's Battlefront II.
7 No: The Multiplayer Is Broken
With older games, the multiplayer mode is usually a flip of the coin. Either it remains fun, balanced, and well maintained or it's neglected to the point of becoming a mess. In Republic Commando's case, it is the latter.
It is impossible to find anyone playing it and if one does find another player, the matches are so glitchy with poor net code. Players teleporting, hits not landing properly, and tons of crashes. Stick to the single-player mode.
6 Yes: The HUD Is Perfect
Taking notes from Metroid Prime, Republic Commando utilizes a dynamic visor as the player's HUD. It gives it a nice clean look that was very new at the time and the way it interacts with the environment gives it realism.
Blood from aliens will be wiped off by Boss and the same goes for fuel from droids. It's a kind of HUD system not used in many games and should come back. It's an example of a small touch that can go a lot way.
5 No: Okay Visuals
When it comes to games from the early 2000s, they can either look really good or really bad. Republic Commando's graphics, while not bad, are definitely dated. Granted, graphics don't always matter if the gameplay is fun. In this case, Republic Commando is so fun that it's easy to dismiss the visuals.
Still, some of the enemies don't really match what is seen in the movies and the lighting can be really bad. Although, it is appreciated that Republic Commando embraces the darker and more gritty look of the original and sequel trilogies.
4 Yes: Multi-Tool Blaster
In a neat twist, the player is only given one weapon to use through most of the game. This sounds lame for a first-person shooter but then mods are added. Similar to games like Doom Eternal, Boss can equip different mods to the blaster for different uses.
These range from a machine gun mod, sniper mod, grenade launcher mod, etc. So it's a clever way of having the huge array of guns without explaining why the main character's backpack isn't the size of a mountain. Plus, all mods have great functions.
3 No: Bland Levels
While the gameplay makes traversing the levels fun, the actual levels themselves are forgettable. The only slightly memorable level is the abandoned cruiser which gives off almost horror game vibes.
Other than that, it's mostly just a series of dark tunnels and covers. Nothing really stands out by the end which is a shame for a universe as unique as Star Wars.
2 Yes: Squad Commands
Boss is an awesome Commando but he's not Doom Slayer: taking on an army of droids alone is suicide. Republic Commando requires the player to master the art of commanding the squad of Commandos.
While one hacks a door, another uses grenades on a certain enemy type, and then the player snipes farther enemies. Or any other commands: Boss can do any job as the others, just like the others. This kind of strategy is what makes Republic Commando such a refreshing shooter.
1 No: Too Short For A Clone Trooper
Even when Republic Commando was first released, there was always one giant flaw: the campaign is laughably short. Four levels, each about an hour-long with no boss battles. The game ends so abruptly that even The Force Unleashed II feels more fulfilling in comparison.
This has led to many fans hoping that Republic Commando gets a proper reboot, sequel, or remake. Add extra levels and enemy types to give it a proper campaign with even more polish to the gameplay. Maybe show what the Commandos go through when Order 66 is executed.