The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 One of Best Adaptations 20 Years Later

2005 stands out as one of the most exceptional years in gaming history, particularly for aficionados of the Star Wars franchise. This was a golden era for Star Wars video games, as PC and console gamers were treated to an array of extraordinary titles. Among these were the critically acclaimed releases such as Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords, Star Wars: Republic Commando, the family-friendly Lego Star Wars: The Video Game, and the immersive Star Wars: Battlefront 2.

Though not all Star Wars games released in 2005 saw extraordinary sales at the time, many of them would later be recognized as classics. However, one Star Wars game often overshadowed by its 2005 counterparts is The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith, which has been less celebrated than it truly deserves.

The Enthralling Development of The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith

After the launch of “Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones” in 2002, the number and diversity of Star Wars video games exploded as the quality of sixth-generation console games reached its peak. Games ranged from role-playing games like “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,” which focused on storytelling, to vehicle-oriented titles such as “Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter” and massively multiplayer online games like “Star Wars Galaxies.” Essentially, Star Wars was being incorporated into almost every video game genre. While some games had their own unique stories, most were either based on or related to the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy films. This trend persisted until 2005, with many games leading up to the release of “Revenge of the Sith” on May 19th.

As per Jon Knoles, who was LucasArts Director at the time, LucasArts and The Collective started developing the game adaptation of Revenge of the Sith even while the movie was still being shot, edited, and conceptualized at Fox Studios and Skywalker Ranch. In the 2005 documentary, Star Wars Episode 3 Making the Game, Knoles stated that LucasArts and George Lucas aimed to make the gaming experience for Episode 3 as comprehensive and authentic as possible. This was achieved by collaborating with George from the project’s inception. Since the game was developed early, it includes some scenes and characters cut from the final film along with introducing its own unique creations. For instance, parts of the An Explosive Development level can be found in Episode 3‘s deleted scenes.

Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith Game’s Masterful Combat Explained

Apart from the 1997 release “Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi,” Star Wars hadn’t really delivered a fighting game like the renowned Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat series. To bridge this gap and make the combat in Revenge of the Sith as authentic as possible, LucasArts and The Collective sought advice from the film’s legendary stunt coordinator, Nick Gillard, to guide their animators in mastering lightsaber combat. They even invited Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker, for consultations on lightsaber combat and his character’s movements within the game. However, Christensen didn’t reprise his role in the game; instead, Mat Lucas, who previously voiced a Jedi Knight in the 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series, lent his voice to Skywalker.

LucasArts and George Lucas aimed to ensure that the game experience for Episode 3 was as comprehensive and accurate as feasible.

Revenge of the Sith’s Film and Game Compared

In essence, the video game titled Revenge of the Sith closely follows the film’s action-packed scenes, but any parts that don’t involve fighting are not included. Interestingly, Padme Amidala is completely absent from the game. To increase the gameplay duration, certain events were extended beyond what was shown in the movie. For example, Darth Vader’s assault on the Jedi Temple is fully playable and detailed, including the demise of Jedi Master Jocasta Nu and a boss battle against Jedi Master Cin Drallig, who was briefly portrayed by Gillard in the film but given voice by Tom Kane in the game.

In the game version, some scenes from the movie were modified to enhance the gaming experience, particularly battle sequences involving boss characters. For instance, instead of Obi-Wan Kenobi pursuing General Grievous on a varactyl and ultimately being killed by blaster fire, the game depicts a three-phase fight between them, ending with Grievous’ demise at the hands of Kenobi’s lightsaber. Similarly, in contrast to Anakin Skywalker slicing off Jedi Master Mace Windu’s hand and forcing him out of Coruscant’s sky, the game presents a four-phase battle between them, concluding with Windu’s death by another lightsaber strike. One notable difference from the movie is the game’s unique ending, where Skywalker defeats Obi-Wan Kenobi and subsequently assassinates Emperor Palpatine, taking control of the Galactic Empire for himself.

Revenge of the Sith’s Gameplay and Extras Explained

Instead of just boss fights reminiscent of Mortal Kombat and player-versus-player multiplayer, the main gameplay in Revenge of the Sith primarily consists of third-person combat against various enemies such as battle droids, clone troopers, Jedi Knights, Neimoidian guards, and automated turrets. Pausing these combat sequences, players frequently encounter environmental puzzles that require using the Force to move heavy objects, damaging generators or power sources, and cutting through doors and wall panels with a lightsaber.

Every now and then, I get to take control of cannons in the epic battle of Revenge of the Sith, where I destroy infantry, huge vehicles, even a Munificent-class star frigate, LAAT gunships, and Eta-2 Actis-class Jedi starfighters. But what’s really exciting is that in some boss battles, it’s Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi who take down colossal droids and ships, like the LM-432 crab droid and a Sheathipede-class transport shuttle.

Upon finishing the primary game, players will gain access to a rich collection of concept art associated with the “Revenge of the Sith” movie and video game, in addition to extra single-player and cooperative missions. These bonus missions allow players to assume roles other than Skywalker or Kenobi, such as an IG-100 MagnaGuard battling clones on Utapau or Jedi Master Yoda fending off clone waves in the Jedi Temple. One of these single-player missions even reenacts the iconic duel between Darth Vader and Kenobi from “Star Wars: Episode 4 – A New Hope” aboard the Death Star. The cooperative missions involve Skywalker, Kenobi, Drallig, and his apprentice Serra Keto battling waves of clones and droids together.

In The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith video game, players can swiftly unlock all playable characters and additional features using special codes like NARSHADDAA, TANTIVEIV, and ZABRAK which serve as cheats.

The Legacy of The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith Game

Despite not matching the sales records of games like Lego Star Wars: The Video Game and Star Wars: Battlefront 2, The Collective’s Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith Game managed to sell over 2 million copies by 2006. This game eventually became a fan favorite due to its engaging gameplay, additional features, and its expansion on the film’s storyline. For many fans, the Revenge of the Sith game remains the best fighting game in the Star Wars franchise. In fact, it was the only official Star Wars game from 2005 onwards that employed combat mechanics similar to Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and the Revenge of the Sith game, which could be experienced in the multiplayer mode of the Wii version of 2008’s Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Although the Revenge of the Sith game didn’t sell exceptionally well initially, components from it continue to be significant in the Star Wars universe today. For instance, the B2 grapple droid, originally planned for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series before its Disney cancellation in 2013, eventually found its way into the Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir comic, which was based on four canceled episodes of the series as well as the mobile game Star Wars: Galactic Defense. Interestingly, the Revenge of the Sith game has also been made accessible on more recent platforms, such as Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S consoles, thanks to backward compatibility and digital stores.

Revenge of the Sith’s Potential Gaming Future

If gamers don’t own an Xbox console or a PlayStation 2, they can’t legally play the Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith game as it is not available on modern gaming platforms. Most other Star Wars games from the early 2000s have been remastered and made accessible on all current gaming systems by developer and publisher Aspyr, except for Revenge of the Sith. The popularity of the film’s 20th anniversary re-release in theaters has increased interest in the game, leading to speculation that Disney and Lucasfilm may authorize Aspyr or another developer to update the game for modern platforms, although this might necessitate removing some film clips. This could provide both new and old Star Wars fans with the opportunity to enjoy one of the finest game adaptations ever created.

2025-05-05 12:57