Star Wars Zero Firm takes place proper on the finish of The Clone Wars, my favourite interval in Star Wars’ big 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 struggle 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 to date anyway, comes proper firstly of the story: Protagonist Hawks was made the scapegoat for a battle that went very fallacious whereas working below Normal Pong Krell.
And, man, that identify does a great 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 really horrendous struggle crimes, however that no matter they have been accused of was virtually actually not true.
“The supposed 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 is not [Hawks’] fault then. That is the worst boss ever.”
So even for those who do not want to know Pong Krell to play Zero Firm, I extremely suggest you become familiar with him beforehand. And one of the simplest ways to do 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 can be too foolish or just excruciatingly uninteresting. I can solely see Jar Jar Binks on my display 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 sometimes acceptable for a youngsters’s present and embody storylines that respect that children can deal with darkish materials in what’s a present all about struggle, baby troopers, and the autumn of a democracy. I am nonetheless floored by among the stuff that the showrunners have been capable of embody, particularly because the present departed from its sillier tone extra usually post-Season 2.
For instance, Season 5, Episodes 17-20 is the Temple Bombing Arc, through 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 unexpectedly imprison harmless folks, 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 struggle story the place you are simply ready for the bombshell of Order 66 to drop.
There are a ton of different implausible arcs moreover these ones: the Second Invasion of Geonosis, Mortis, Asajj Ventress attempting to assassinate Depend Dooku, Maul taking on the legal underworld, Fives attempting 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 concerning slavery whereas on an especially pro-slavery planet. However none come near the Umbara Arc, which I think about to be the most effective 4 episodes in your entire present.
The arc sees Anakin Skywalker needing to assist Chancellor Palpatine on a particular task and leaving his legion of Clone Troopers below the command of Pong Krell, a Jedi with a fame for achievement at the price of the troops below 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 through which the clones argue amongst themselves over the way 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 remedy of them as dispensable chess items makes it arduous to comply with him, however he does get constructive outcomes and achieves victories by his reckless techniques, like a crueler and fewer passionate Anakin Skywalker. Would it not be higher to behave within the spirit of his orders and obtain his objectives however not achieve this 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 comply with that plan. Do they insurgent in opposition to Krell solely? That is an act of mutiny that may result in all of them being court docket martialed upon Anakin’s return.
The arc goes into how, below the legal guidelines of the republic that they serve, the clones aren’t folks. They’re property. The one purpose 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. A few of the clones argue that Krell is not evil; he is simply treating the clones as they’re alleged to be handled. The different Jedi are the bizarre ones, they are saying. Others argue it would not matter–they know that they are folks deserving of respect now due to the Jedi’s affect, and you’ll’t simply flip that line of considering off so simply.
Each clone has a distinct opinion on the matter, fracturing the legion in the midst of an invasion that sees them preventing on a planet blanketed in everlasting darkness and limitless 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 is not overly violent. It is simply disturbing to understand what’s taking place, after which the present lingers for just a few additional seconds on the horror of the aftermath so you may 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 below Pong Krell, all I can take into consideration is The Clones Wars’ Umbara Arc and what Krell did throughout it. And it utterly reframes my understanding of Hawks’ previous as a supposed failure. I do not assume Hawks is utilizing Zero Firm to attempt to make up for a previous mistake as a result of I do not assume there is a mistake for them to make up for–they have been most definitely framed.
Which is why, for those who’ve obtained the time and a Disney+ subscription, you must try The Clone Wars (particularly Season 4, Episodes 7-10) earlier than selecting up Star Wars Zero Firm. That arc does quite a bit to tell what might need occurred to Hawks previous to the occasions of the sport and makes them a much more fascinating protagonist than simply one other generic disgraced struggle hero. And also you would possibly as properly watch the remainder of the present too when you have the time, in addition to its spin-offs (The Unhealthy Batch, Tales of the Jedi, and Maul – Shadow Lord) as a result of it feels like Zero Firm might be making loads of references to the Star Wars universe at massive.
“My writers are actual [into] the Clone Wars period,” Contreras stated. “I am an outdated man, so I am kind of like a Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia fan. I really like the Clone Wars as properly, however they’re actually into it in an unhealthy method, so for those who like a deep dive, [the lore] is there. I believe so far as the unfold, I imagine virtually all of our areas existed already in lore. A few of them chances are 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 Unhealthy 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 Power 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) can even be within the sport.
Star Wars Zero Firm is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC on August 27.
