‘Star Wars: Squadrons’ And ‘LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’ Gameplay Revealed At Gamescom

A lot of video game announcements have been pushed back after the cancellation of E3 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that things have been relatively quiet on the announcement front. Lately, it was announced via virtual convention DC FanDome that Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (the latter being a game set in the popular Batman: Arkham universe) will be the upcoming games coming in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Now, gamescom has given us glimpses at the gameplay for upcoming Star Wars games.

Star Wars video games are some of the most popular versions of the (mostly) beloved film series. Between the original Battlefront II, Rogue Squadron, and, perhaps most notably, the Knights of the Old Republic games (fans are still hoping for a third one that will never come), the Star Wars license has created some of the most popular and well-received games of all time.

Two of the most highly-anticipated games coming up are Star Wars: Squadrons and Lego Star Wars. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. The latter is particularly exciting, given that it is a known property that has already been shown to be successful. Between its wit and humor, simple gameplay to allow all generations to enjoy it, and just enough challenges that it is worth replaying levels, the first Lego Star Wars game from 2005 kickstarted the wave of other Lego games, including those based on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Batman, Harry Potter, and The Avengers. The argument could even be made that we might not have the critically and commercially acclaimed The Lego Movie if it had not been for the massive success of Lego Star Wars.

Thanks to Gamescom, we now have a trailer for LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, and it includes gameplay. The music for the trailer is the same music that was used for the final The Rise of Skywalker trailer, which had many viewers feeling very emotional last year. Despite the music having been recycled in a similar fashion (albeit with comedic interruptions), it still seems to work at making viewers feel emotional.

While the Lego game is a guaranteed hit, even for people who have played the original a hundred times, Star Wars: Squadrons is another point of interest here. From initial looks and what we can now see in the gameplay that came out of gamescom, it appears to have drawn from the aforementioned Rogue Squadron and the space sections of Battlefront II. As familiar as the Galactic Civil War era is, there is no denying that the visuals are stunning.

COVID-19 has shaken up a lot of life in the past few years. A lot of the entertainment industry has been shaken up. Movie release dates are continually pushed back, large conventions such as San Diego Comic-Con have gone virtual instead of in-person, and creation of new media has been made more complicated under the yoke of social distancing. Having new video games especially from a property as beloved as Star Wars is a breath of fresh air. They give us something to look forward to. Movie theater release dates for movies can be pushed back under the fear of the virus spreading. A video game, however, does not require a large group of people in one space. Most games these days are either ordered online or downloaded directly onto a gaming system, especially in regards to PC games. The showcases for these Star Wars games at gamescom are a positive development in the craziness that is 2020.

Star Wars: Squadron has a release date of October 2. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, on the other hand, has been delayed to the offically confirmed release time of spring 2021. As long of a wait as that may seem, this gives gamers a chance to appreciate each game at separate times, rather than have to buy and play both within a shorter span of time. Either way, we will be playing some Star Wars very soon.

Written By Tommy Durbin

Syndicated from Culture Slate