Star Wars. One of the biggest franchises in the world and one with the most video game tie-ins. From arcade racers to fighting games, there’s so much to experience and plenty of creative concepts to experiment with. This list isn’t meant to talk about the highly acclaimed titles like Knights of the Old Republic, Battlefront 2 (2005), or even Lego Star Wars, rather these are titles which weren’t very well received or are often forgotten.
The Force Unleashed 2
Back in 2008, LucasArts created a new entry into the Star Wars universe with The Force Unleashed. Players took control of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller, as he conducted training under the Sith Lord. It was a unique entry into the franchise and showcased just how dark the Sith could be, however, we’re talking about its 2010 sequel, not the 2008 original. The Force Unleashed 2’s story picked up six months after the events of its predecessor but was not as loved by those who played it. Many cited the game as being too short, repetitive, and a “cash grab” that was unable to live up to what came before it. The game is a bit short and doesn’t feature any plot which effects the main series, but its gameplay is incredibly fun. Running around and slashing through waves of different types of stormtroopers in order to ultimately fight Darth Vader is a really good time. Its soundtrack and visuals are also great and help make this a memorable experience.
Battlefront 2 (2017)
2017 was a rough year for video game publisher EA. From the start, the company was ridiculed over the launch of Bioware’s Mass Effect: Andromeda but this wouldn’t be the worst to come. Battlefront 2 came out at the tail-end of the year and was immediately bombed over the number of microtransactions the game offered. Its Metacritic user score dropped to 0.8/10 for PlayStation 4 and received no higher than a 7 from major publications. Yet, this game was actually really good despite the microtransactions issue. Its single-player story followed the Empire after the events of Return of the Jedi. The combat and narrative were excellent and made for a high-quality Star Wars title. Multiplayer in this entry was also very good and felt like a huge step forward from its predecessor. Thankfully, DICE fixed the problem of grinding and has added content from The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and The Clone Wars, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles
Taking place during The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles mixes together the beat ’em up combat with platforming sections. It’s a title often forgotten especially since there were much more critically acclaimed games to release during this era. Players can choose between five Jedi from the movie and make their way to defeat Darth Maul. Its plot is mainly focused around the events of the film but the combat is incredibly fun. Hacking through various droids and environments are the highlight but can be hindered by the multitude of platforming challenges in order to progress. It isn’t the best Star Wars game nor is it the best featuring Episode 1, yet it’s enjoyable nonetheless.
Shadows of the Empire
There is no way an underrated Star Wars games list can exist without the Nintendo 64 classic, Shadows of the Empire. Developed by LucasArts, the game follows mercenary Dash Rednar as he helps Luke Skywalker save Princess Leia from Prince Xizor. Its plot takes place in between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and also features some familiar faces. Gameplay switches between a third-person shooter and vehicle sections but the main hook is definitely its story. Four chapters make up this experience with the best being the opening Hoth level. A common complaint found for this was that its gameplay was mediocre and ran poorly due to it being on a cartridge rather than a CD. Granted the title doesn’t look and play as great as Dark Forces, which released a year earlier, it’s still a fun game for what it is.
Super Empire Strikes Back
The final entry on this list is a favorite here at VGCultureHQ. Super Empire Strikes Back for the SNES is the second entry into the Super Star Wars trilogy. This 32-bit game features everything that made this era in gaming great from its soundtrack, platforming, and even difficulty. It’s a tough-as-nails experience but very much worth it. What makes it much better than its predecessor is how a password system was implemented helping users reach the ending easier instead of being forced to restart. Players familiar with Contra will feel right at home with this entry even though it uses a lightsaber rather than a gun. What makes is underrated is how little the game is talked about today. The Super Star Wars series was fantastic despite its difficulty and is deserving of being mentioned among the most underrated games to feature the franchise.
There’s a ton of other underrated entries that could have made this list, however, these five are some of the best of those. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how much love and attention LucasArts put into the Star Wars games they created. It’s unfortunate that only a handful have been released since Disney’s acquisition of the franchise. Hopefully, Respawn Entertainment’s Jedi Fallen Order can bring another great experience to gaming especially during this console generation.
Happy Star Wars Day 2019 and May the Fourth Be With You!