Unleash Your Dark Side: Experience the Ultimate Power as Darth Vader in a New Star Wars Game

Highlights

Darth Vader, with his imposing visual design and iconic voice, is the greatest villain in cinematic history and deserves his own video game.

Although Darth Vader has made appearances in numerous Star Wars games, he has never been playable for extended durations or at his full strength.

A game centered around Darth Vader could grant players the ultimate Sith power experience and take advantage of his everlasting fame by delving into his complete journey across various eras.

The Star Wars franchise boasts numerous memorable villains, including General Grievous and Count Dooku from The Clone Wars, Darth Maul from the prequels, Kylo Ren from the sequels, and Emperor Palpatine from the originals. However, while these characters are revered as some of the greatest villains in film history, none of them can surpass the sheer iconicity and popularity of Darth Vader.

From the moment he stepped into the stark white Tantive IV hallway in A New Hope, Darth Vader cemented himself as possibly the greatest villain ever portrayed on the silver screen. With his imposing and incredibly distinctive visual design, coupled with the commanding voice provided by James Earl Jones, Darth Vader consistently steals the show in every Star Wars medium, including video games. Surprisingly, despite his immense popularity, Darth Vader has never had his own dedicated video game. It is high time for this to change.

It's Time Darth Vader Got His Own Game

Darth Vader has made frequent appearances in various Star Wars video games, but he is not always a playable character. Often, he is portrayed as a challenging boss fight rather than a playable option. When he is playable, it is usually only for short periods or with reduced power. The Star Wars Battlefront series exemplifies this, allowing players to control Vader for limited timeframes and not fully showcasing his immense Sith abilities.

One standout example of a playable Darth Vader can be found in the 2008 game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. This game starts with a thrilling sequence where players assume the role of Darth Vader, effortlessly dispatching enemies throughout a Wookiee village on Kashyyyk. With a few simple button presses, players can throw Wookiees from treetops and effortlessly slice through them with a lightsaber, all while remaining virtually invulnerable. Although this version of Vader is only playable for one mission, it offers fans the ultimate power fantasy of being a Sith Lord. It is evident that this concept could be expanded into a fully-fledged game to satisfy the desires of fans.

A video game that allows players to embody Darth Vader, the galaxy's most feared Force user, can maintain restrictions and stakes while immersing players in the character's story. Darth Vader has remained a beloved figure for 46 years, with his popularity continuing to grow through movies like Rogue One, and recent shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka, where he makes memorable appearances.

While Darth Vader's enigma and backstory used to be his greatest assets, the Star Wars prequels, novels, and comics have extensively explored every facet of the character. Therefore, creating a game where fans can take full control of Darth Vader would not detract from his appeal. This game could tap into the current wave of nostalgia within the franchise and bring back Hayden Christensen to reprise his role as Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker. It could even offer the opportunity to switch between different Star Wars time periods to showcase the character's complete journey.