The Old Republic Improved New Hope in a Poignant Way

An element of A New Hope is improved by Star Wars: The Old Republic in a moving way. A New Hope – initially called Star Wars – always had particularly entertaining auxiliary materials, especially in the Star Wars Continuity of legends. The film’s novelization and Marvel Comics adaptations added new scenes and lore to the film a year after its theatrical release (with the novel preceding it by months) and the 1981 radio drama gave it a vastly expanded prologue. I find the radio drama scenes on Alderaan particularly enjoyable, as they make the destruction of the planet all the more tragic.

I don’t criticize A New Hope for not portraying Alderaan, however. The film does a great job of showing the planet’s importance to the Rebellion and to Princess Leia herself through dialogue. Part of the appeal of Star Wars After all, movies are just parts of a larger story in a vast and surprisingly immersive universe. Not surprisingly, Alderaan has been explored extensively in the Star Wars Continuity of Legends – formerly known as the Expanded Universe – and I think 2011 The Old Republic does a particularly good job of representing the planet.

The Old Republic immerses you in the history and culture of Alderaan

Star Wars: The Old Republic is one of the last sources of Star Wars Legends content, with the game continuing to receive updates and new content even more than a decade after the Star Wars the franchise underwent a partial reboot – which saw Legends move from the official canon to an alternate timeline. Since its launch in 2011, Alderaan featured prominently, with the planet playing important roles in the respective stories of all eight of the game’s playable classes.. In my time playing The Old RepublicI found Alderaan to be easily one of the most fun locations in the game.

THE Star Wars the franchise draws inspiration from a multitude of genres and is much better described as science fantasy than science fiction. The fantasy-inspired side Star Wars is particularly prominent in The Old Republic representation of Alderaan, which immerses players in a picturesque environment of snow-covered grasslands, mountains and high-tech castles. Equally engaging is the planet’s history and culture, with Republic-aligned players allying themselves with the noble House Organa, while the Sith Empire classes aid the once-exiled House Thul. Even long-distance travel is unique to Alderaan, with players riding Thrantas instead of the usual speeders or Skyhoppers.

Alderaan truly became the soul of the Republic

The Old Republic The site notes that although Coruscant is considered the “heart” of the Republic, Alderaan is seen as its “soul.” Even in its war-torn state during the Republic and the Sith Empire’s Cold War, I agree with this perception. Alderaan – and the Jedi Order’s home world of Tython, for that matter – truly embrace the medieval fantasy side of Star Wars franchisedepicting a fantastically scenic world in which the Jedi truly embrace their title of Knights and the Sith their title of Lord. Given Alderaan’s symbolic status within the Republic, the Sith Empire’s attempt to corrupt it seems much more sinister.

Alderaan’s status as “soul” Likewise, it recontextualizes its Clone Wars-era story in Legends continuity. Initially, Alderaan was not a pacifist world and became a battleground during the CIS attacks on the Core Worlds, led by General Grievous. Although Grievous was unable to conquer one of the Republic’s most beloved planets, the battle was so devastating to Alderaan society that the planet demilitarized after repelling the CIS, becoming a pacifist world. Sadly, Alderaan’s symbolic importance would make it a frequent target of the Republic’s enemieswhich undoubtedly sought to deal a devastating blow to the morale of the Republic.

The Old Republic makes Alderaan’s fate even more tragic

By endearing players to Alderaan – arguably more than any other Star Wars property – The Old Republic destroys the planet in A New Hope more tragic than ever before. For most Star Wars viewers, the most famous element of Alderaan is its destruction, and this knowledge hangs over players as they fall in love with its setting and become engrossed in its history and culture. The Galactic Empire perpetrates countless atrocities across the world. Star Wars The timeline of legends (and the modern canon), but destroying Alderaan – the soul of the Republic – is by far one of the worst.