Summary
Quantic Dream’sStar Wars Eclipseis an exciting change of pace for the developer. Well known for its original stories, likeDetroit: Become HumanandHeavy Rain, venturing into major franchise territory withStar Wars Eclipseis a surprising leap. In traditional Quantic Dream fashion, the developer aims to craft an expansive tale with connecting narratives in order to form a huge story. The developer makes interconnecting stories incredibly well, but the cinematic nature of its previous games could presentStar Wars Eclipsewith a big problem.
Although the game is a compelling concept,Star Wars Eclipsehas potential issueswaiting on the horizon. The world ofStar Warsis vast, and due to the massive popularity of the franchise, there are high expectations for any adaptation. There are some key mechanics and features that manyStar Warsfans expect from its video games, and Quantic Dream’s new approach could make some moments feel underwhelming.
Star Wars Eclipse’s Potential Cinematic Approach Could Hurt the Game’s Immersion
Losing In-Game Interaction Would Be a Big Risk
Quantic Dream is incredibly talented at crafting rich stories, but the gameplay mechanics of the studio’s games are lacking. Despite the great narratives, the lack ofadditional mechanics in Quantic Dream gamescan make them feel more like interactive movies than actual video games. That doesn’t make these games bad, by any means, but it’s hard to imagine this concept working well with theStar Warsformula.
Through the years,Star Warsgames have been incredibly interactive. Whether playing as a Jedi or a Stormtrooper, much of what makesStar Warsgames so much fun is the ability to truly step into the shoes of these characters through combat and action. Even when games in the franchise aren’t focusing on action, they still manage to allow players to interact with their surroundings. A good example of this is spacetraversal in theStar Wars Jediseries. While boarding the Mantis, players may not actually be flying the craft, but it’s still an immersive way to experience traveling to new destinations since Cal can interact with characters and objects to help pass the time.
If Quantic Dream goes full-on cinematic like it usually does, moments like this may not feel as immersive, since they will simply be shown through an elaborate cutscene. Of course, there may be some QTE mechanics thrown into these moments, but they will have to be more intense than usual for it to feel truly immersive. Becausethe stakes are high inStar Wars Eclipse, since any character can die, QTEs feel like a given, but Quantic Dream will really have to make these mechanics robust if the studio wants players satisfied. QTEs aren’t always popular, so the developer would be taking a big chance if this is the chosen route for gameplay.
Star Wars Eclipse Offering Something New in the Franchise
Steering too far off course from the established features inStar Warsgames could make or break the project.Star Wars Eclipse’s ambitions will hopefully pay off, but it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where some players might feel cheated because they don’t get to truly dive into the mechanics of the various characters. However, having a completely different approach to telling aStar Warsstory within a game could be a breath of fresh air.
Only time will tell if Quantic Dream is able to turn its vision into a success. It’s been a longtime sinceStar Wars Eclipsehas received a substantial update, but hopefully, that will change in the coming months. Quantic Dream is likely to stick to its guns, and it will be fascinating to see if the developer is able to make it work withStar Wars' world.
