The Force Unleashed: The Unparalleled Power of Lightsabers in a Star Wars Soulslike

Article Key Points

The RPG genre has been greatly influenced by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, leading to a strong demand for a contemporary Star Wars Soulslike game that features innovative action-RPG mechanics.

The Star Wars games have consistently portrayed lightsabers as the ultimate and most formidable weapon. This portrayal has created a challenge in achieving a fair balance between other weapons such as blasters and vibroblades.

However, in a Soulslike game, lightsabers possess the potential to offer a distinctive and demanding gameplay experience, particularly due to their connection with parrying and deflecting enemy attacks.

Although RPGs have undergone numerous changes over time, the impact of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic can still be felt in the modern era. The emergence of Soulslike games, inspired by the success of FromSoftware's Soulsborne titles, has become a significant subgenre in recent years. However, the Star Wars franchise has yet to produce a game that truly embraces the style pioneered by titles like Dark Souls, particularly in terms of allowing players to freely experiment with action-RPG builds. This poses a challenge for any Star Wars game attempting to adopt this style, given the overpowering presence of Jedi and their iconic lightsabers, a challenge even KOTOR couldn't avoid.

The status of the KOTOR remake has remained unknown for quite some time, but the anticipation surrounding its return has never diminished. With many fans now speculating about the potential for a Soulslike game set in the Star Wars universe, there could be an opportunity to fulfill the desire for a KOTOR-style adventure. However, there are distinct differences between the approaches taken by BioWare and Obsidian in the past and the requirements for creating an authentic Soulslike experience. In addition, there is still one major problem that persists to this day: the overwhelming dominance of lightsaber builds.

The Issue of Lightsabers in KOTOR and Beyond

Lightsabers Left Blasters and Vibroblades Outclassed in KOTOR

Being an RPG franchise, KOTOR has always placed a significant emphasis on player choice as the core aspect of its gameplay. In addition to the moral alignment and narrative decisions that players can make, customizing a unique build for the protagonist can greatly enhance the replayability factor. Although there are alternatives available in terms of blasters and vibroblades, both of which play a crucial role in the early sections of the KOTOR series, lightsabers ultimately take the lead when it comes to combat potential. Considering the power of various upgrade crystals and components, along with the different forms showcased in The Sith Lords, it is difficult to argue that even the finest vibroblade can match up to the sheer strength of a lightsaber.

Star Wars Game Releases Have Always Struggled with Weapon Balance

Before the release of KOTOR, games like Jedi Outcast and Jedi Knight showcased lightsaber combat that remained faithful to the cinematic lore, enabling players to effortlessly dispatch foes with a single strike. Although this element of lightsaber prowess previously offered an ideal power fantasy, it has gradually been dialed back in recent times, evident in games such as the recently launched Jedi: Survivor.

The Power of Lightsabers May Be an Inescapable Reality in a Star Wars Soulslike

Although depicting immediate dismemberment would be the most precise representation in a contemporary version, the gameplay experience of Cal Kestis typically revolves around vanquishing adversaries and gradually depleting their health as if he were brandishing conventional swords.

Lightsabers Almost Always Invalidate Other Weapons

The Potential for a Soulslike to Utilize Lightsabers in a Challenging Way

Even though Soulslikes like Elden Ring are praised for their extensive customization options, the focus on Jedi weapons in a Star Wars version of the game may overshadow other possibilities. Blasters offer unique ranged abilities in combat, while Jedi can also throw their lightsabers. Including alternatives like vibroblades from KOTOR could enhance the game's genre, but their effectiveness may not compare to lightsabers if the adaptation remains faithful.

It is possible that lightsabers could potentially diminish the significance of combat and customization, but their connection to parrying could have a unique synergy with a Soulslike game. Jedi are renowned for their ability to deflect blaster shots and counter the strikes of other lightsaber-wielding adversaries in a duel, making them a perfect fit for the genre's formula. Given that Soulslike games often incorporate challenging boss battles and elusive equipment that can be highly rewarding to acquire, the iconic weapon of Star Wars might still find its rightful place in a future title.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Franchise: Star Wars

Platforms: Xbox (Original), iOS, Android, Switch, PC, macOS

Release Date: July 15, 2003

Developed by: BioWare

Published by: LucasArts

Genre: MMORPG

ESRB Rating: T for Teen - Violence

Estimated Gameplay Time: 30 Hours

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of both Star Wars and Soulslike games, I am thrilled by the prospect of a Star Wars Soulslike game that fully embraces the action-RPG genre. The potential for a challenging and rewarding lightsaber combat experience is particularly exciting, as lightsabers are iconic weapons with a rich history in the Star Wars universe.

However, I also recognize the challenge of achieving balance in a game where lightsabers are the dominant weapon type. Blasters and vibroblades, for example, would need to be carefully balanced to ensure that they remain viable options for players who prefer a different playstyle. One possible approach would be to give these weapons unique abilities or advantages that make them more effective in certain situations. For example, blasters could be more effective at range, while vibroblades could be more effective against armored enemies.