Why Darth Revan Should Remain Masked

All hail Revan, Dark Lord of the Sith, or should we say, hero of the Republic? Light Side or Dark Side? Hero or villain? Is Revan a man or a woman, or maybe an unknown entity? Revan is many things to many people. No one really knows what makes Revan, Revan. Revan is one of the Star Wars characters with a massive fan base and probably the most iconic character from the Expanded Universe (aka. Star Wars Legends) other than Grand Admiral Thrawn.

The story of a Jedi turned Sith is nothing new, but the idea of Revan becoming a Jedi again or becoming a Sith depending on the player’s choice is a fascinating one in the Knights of the Old Republic video game (KOTOR). Revan first went against the wishes of the Jedi Council in going to war against the Mandalorians. Then, the decorated war hero fell to the Dark Side and returned to wage war against the Republic. The maverick Jedi was willing to do things for what they thought were for the greater good. Revan was quite frankly a fascinating character from the ancient past.

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The joys of the first KOTOR game revolve around player’s choices. Nothing is set in stone. The events that unfold depends on what the player decides to do with the main character. You could be a complete jerk, and still help the Republic. On the other hand, you may choose to be the most pleasant person in the galaxy yet follow the path of the Sith. As the player, you get to decide how the fate and story of Revan plays out. In addition to the ultimate twist in the game, these choices are what make KOTOR so unique and exciting. Revan's history with the Mandalorian Wars prior to the events of the game is interesting from a lore perspective. However, moving forward, it is the player who makes Revan. This is why the character is one of the fan favorites. It is not because of anything they did specifically, but because we the player get to decide Revan’s path in the game.

It is a shame that later Star Wars Legends materials try to make Revan a canon character with canonical traits, and even a canonical gender. It is as if we have forgotten that the origin of Revan lies in choices. In literally becoming Revan, the player gets to decides the character design, race, gender, etc. By dictating canonical traits that are set in stone, we would be going against the very core of the character that speak to us all in the first place. When we essentially take away the mystery and aura of Revan, we will end up with just another regular character. It would take away what made Revan so special among Star Wars fans.

With the KOTOR remake on the way, there is a chance to return Revan to the original idea: Revan is the player, and the player is Revan. By keeping the mask on Revan, we keep the mystery of Revan alive and well. In fact, with today’s advanced gaming mechanics, the choices available to the player can be more sophisticated. The nuances of each action, and how that affects gameplay and the future outcome of the game would no doubt enhance this role-playing game.

Revan is one of the biggest names in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The mystery is what makes the character so intriguing to fans. The decisions you are able to make as Revan are an important aspect of KOTOR. Therefore, do not take off the mask. Do not reveal the person. Do not show who or what Revan is. Keep us shrouded in the dark so that we can all see ourselves in Revan.

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Written By Joel Davis

Syndicated From Culture Slate

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