Top Five Star Wars Game Series

It was announced yesterday that Electronic Arts has a multiyear deal giving them the ability to exclusively develop and publish Star Wars games. While some think this is a really bad thing (those who don't like yearly releases, microtransactions, those who only own a Wii U, etc.), there is some good that can come from it.

Fresh off yesterday's announcement, it seems like a perfect time to take note of the greatest Star Wars game series that the franchise has seen. There were A LOT to sift through, but we at SuperPhillip Central have come up with the top five Star Wars game franchises that made us become in love with George Lucas's galaxy far, far away even more than we were already.

5) Super Star Wars

This Super Nintendo-exclusive trilogy consisted of 2D platforming, running and gunning gameplay, and the occasional 3D section, where Luke Skywalker or another playable character piloted a landspeeder or even an X-Wing to mix things up. For instance, the final level of Super Star Wars featured young Skywalker speeding through the Death Star's trench to blow that baby to kingdom come. The actual trilogy (Super Star Wars, Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) followed the plots of each of the original movie trilogy rather well. The games got a second life when they were released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii. If you have the money, you should definitely check these excellent games out.

4) Jedi Knight

A first-person shooter Star Wars series, Jedi Knight is one of those Star Wars franchises that has been consistently terrific. It originated in 1995, and featured characters from the expanded Star Wars universe of characters and settings. Levels are primarily made up of multiple missions and objectives that need to be completed before the player can head to the next. Dark Forces II incorporated an optional third-person shooter camera view to spice things up. If you ask us, though, Jedi Knight didn't need any spicing up, because the games always kicked serious Sith ass. The addition of being able to use a lightsaber in combat only made the games even more fantastic than they already were. Case in point, we at SuperPhillip Central would absolutely love to see the franchise's return into relevance once more.

3) Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, or as it's more fondly known as KotOR, is a role-playing video game that was developed by BioWare, the same studio that is now owned by Electronic Arts. Small world, no? Taking the Star Wars universe and basing a game of off Wizards of the Coast's own Star Wars Roleplaying Game (which itself is based off of Dungeons & Dragons), Knights of the Old Republic started off with giving players three simple classes of characters to choose from. These classes could later in the game be upgraded to one of three Jedi classes. The game offered round-based combat where levels could be gained to expand the player character's attributes and ability range. The tale BioWare told is one of the best in a Star Wars video game. Amazing how BioWare could go from Knights of the Old Republic's fantastic story to Mass Effect 3's ending. Bah. We're just beating a dead horse here.

2) Rogue Squadron

A third-person flight-based Star Wars series, Rogue Squadron first debuted on the PC before making its own home console debut on the Nintendo 64. The original Rogue Squadron took place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, sending players right into the cockpit of an X-Wing. The subsequent sequels were released exclusively on the Nintendo GameCube, one of which being a launch title for the system. Not only were the games technological marvels (like the original Rogue Squadron was), but they allow players to relive and participate in their favorite moments of the original Star Wars trilogy. Not only that, but there were completely original missions to take on in the games as well. It is a darn shame that Factor 5 is no longer with us, as they could not only provide awesome graphical feats, but generally their games were of the utmost quality.

1) Battlefront

The Star Wars series that SuperPhillip Central selects as our favorite franchise of the galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: Battlefront puts players right into some incredibly epic confrontations. Players are placed within action-packed battlefields set in familiar locations such as Endor, Hoth, Naboo, and Coruscant. One can man vehicles and sentry guns, or opt to take the battle on foot to lead their side to victory. Star Wars: Battlefront II introduced the option to play as Jedi characters, participate in space combat, and contained Revenge of the Sith content. What followed the console and PC releases of Battlefront II was one PSP-exclusive entry in the series and one for both the PSP and Nintendo DS, marking the first and only time the series hit a Nintendo platform. Sadly, Battlefront III was canned mid-development, disappointing aspiring Jedi and Sith across the globe. Who knows, perhaps EA could bring this favorite Star Wars franchise of ours back from the grave. They certainly have the power and money to.

===

Did we overlook your favorite Star Wars franchise? We probably did, young Padawan, but no worries. You can make the case for your favorite franchises in the comments section below (perhaps by using a Jedi mind trick). Just remember to use the force, of course.