Issuing squad commands are simple and extremely well implemented especially given the age of the game. Della squad are remarkably effective without you, not only that issuing this order is often meet by some great dialogue, my personal favourite being Sev saying “Hold on to your guts, while I rip out theirs”. You’d be forgiven for thinking given the age of the game that “Maintain Current Orders” would be a waste of time but surprisingly it isn’t. The super boring “Reload last autosave”, Recall and Revive which basically cancels all current orders and has Delta Squad battle their way to you and attempt to revive you (you can also revive them or order a squad-mate to do so) and the final option “Maintain current orders”. It’s not all plain sailing though, losing all your health isn’t a game over straight away, you’ll become downed (now a familiar occurrence in modern day gaming) and you you’re presented to with 3 options. However, in republic commando it serves to really set the commandos apart from their rank and file brethren.

In fact, effective use of squad commands can have you running rough shot through the game, in any other game this may be a problem. Making your way through a Geonosian droid factory, executing squad commands and slaughtering every clanker (droid) and bug in sight makes you feel every bit the special forces team that Delta Squad are. The game opens with a brilliantly disguised exposition dump as your player character is ‘born’ and your role in galaxy is related to you by a Kaminoan scientist and you’re treated to an 80’s style training montage before being thrust into battle on Geonosis. This was odd as is still had a burning rage directed at Yoda (you’ll see why if you play it) but the cause for said rage no longer existed. Now while the squad themselves remained cannon (thanks to an appearance in the Clone Wars series) but the adventure of the game did not. With the Disney acquisition of Lucas Film and the realignment of the Star Wars cannon many a fan could be heard grumbling…me, I didn’t mind, expect for Republic Commando.

Does anything say special forces more than a rappel into action? I’ve often been heard preaching the virtue of this game and you can finally play it “remastered” on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Such is the impression this game left on many including myself all the way back in 2005, at the time it was easily the second best Star Wars game ever released (The best being KotoR) and I’d argue it still is. Republic Commando is back, although to many it never left.

Star wars republic commando full screen