Quantic Dream, the creators of Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, are working on Star Wars: Eclipse, which is the first video game set in the High Republic. Since the beginning of 2021, these new stories have been unraveled in a series of interconnected novels to which comics and manga have also been added. With Phase 2 already underway, the future includes even a series for Disney +, The Acolyte. What is that period known as the High Republic like?
To date, in the old canon, we had known several eras: that of the Old Republic, the one that coincides with the events of the classic trilogy and the prequels, and the one that takes place after the fall of the Galactic Empire. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, the products set in the Old Republic were no longer canon, although some of their elements were rescued. For its part, the sequel trilogy has rewritten what happened after the death (in quotes) of Emperor Palpatine.
The time of the High Republic is situated chronologically about 200 years before the Skywalker saga, although as in any period, it is difficult to draw an exact line. Episode I, for example, portrays a moment in history when this Republic begins to crumble. However, two centuries ago, the situation was very different: the Jedi were the guardians of the peace and had a high number of troops. It was an era of splendor, in which the political structure and the Order shared in their intention to rid the galaxy of evil.
New heroes and villains
How could it be otherwise, the characters we knew from the movies are not present, simply because they were not born. The only one who appears is Master Yoda (seen in the Eclipse trailer), who already looks somewhat aged. It is not surprising, considering that it lives about 1,000 years, which means that it is already in the sunset of his life. The first phase of The High Republic features Lina Soh as the Supreme Chancellor, as well as other characters outlining what the Jedi Order is at that time.
Despite the fact that it is a period of peace, the books feature a group of villains, nothing. These intergalactic bandits represent a growing danger in the galaxy, because they are capable of manipulating special jumps. They dress in strange tube-filled masks and function under a hierarchical structure in which only the strongest survive. We don’t know if Star Wars: Eclipse will pick up this group, as exactly where in the High Republic they will be located is still unknown.
If it is set in a period similar to The Acolyte, we will witness how darkness begins to fade to light. Do not forget that in The Phantom Menace the Jedi believe that the Sith are already history, an unequivocal sign that corruption was already spreading, with Palpatine (Darth Sidious) manipulating wills in the shadows.
Star Wars: Eclipse was announced during The Game Awards 2021 and will be a narrative adventure with touches of action. It is still in an early stage of its development.
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