Summary
The Acolytemay not be the most critically-pannedpiece ofStar Warsmedia under Disney’s banner, but it is perhapsthe most divisive. Though the show has been taken apart from a wide variety of perspectives,The Acolytecould still have its flaws redeemed through the lens of a different medium.
To sayThe Acolytehas been controversialwould be an understatement. Not only has the show’s second season been canceled, butits merchandise was pulled from Disney’s online store. Despite the great deal of argument surrounding the series' quality, especially when compared to how some problematic entries likeRise of SkywalkerandThe Book of Boba Fettwere received, it’s undeniable that reception errs towards the negative overall.
The Acolyte’s Fantastic Lightsaber Action Could Make For A Great Video Game
However, there’s one part of the series that almost all fans can get behind, andthat’sThe Acolyte’s lightsaber fights. After years of lackluster lightsaber fights from Disney’sStar Wars,The Acolytebrings fans high-octane, kinetic action that pays real attention to lightsaber forms and physics. Now that lightsaber fights have been brought back to their prequel-period prime (in an era largely untapped by Disney, no less), a video game adaptation that can really go back and iron out the show’s flaws could get fans back on board.
The Acolyte’s Lightsaber Fights Would Really Fit A Jedi: Survivor-Style Game
Jedi: Fallen Orderreally advanced how lightsaber combat is handled inStar Warsgames,andJedi: Survivoronly pushed things further. With this game infrastructure already in place, one that supports a wide variety of lightsaber techniques and dueling methods, it would make sense to map anAcolytegame onto it.
The Acolytenot only features some flashy 1-on-1 fights, but also mass lightsaber combat—with both types being very well choreographed. No matter the number of combatants,The Acolyteconsistently manages to balance intensity and downtime, incorporate force powers, and keep everything well-shot. The complexity and speed demonstrated in these fights make them a perfect match forJedi’s system, all while offering opportunities for innovation.
That’s all without mentioning how thelightsaber fights inThe Acolytehave video game roots. In an interview with Inverse, showrunner Leslye Headland stated that the character Qimir, a fan-favorite, was inspired byElden Ringplayers like Let Me Solo Her. To that point, this furthers the case for usingJedi’s blueprint—since those games also take cues from the Soulslike genre.
Mixed-Media Storytelling Is Great For Fleshing Out Star Wars Media
Star Warsis a series defined by the use of multiple mediums—in fact, the first sequel ever planned for the franchise was a novel continuation ofA New Hope. Looking at the series' stories through different mediums has often been a great asset forStar Wars, with the prequels being a great example. Though the prequel trilogy tells a strong and memorable story by itself,series like 2008’sThe Clone Warsdo a lot to flesh it out, granting individual moments and characters more weight. That’s without even mentioning the books, shows, and games from the ‘Legends’ canon, which carried much of the fictional timeline for decades.
The Acolyte’s cancelation betrays its lack of popularity, but it’s nonetheless a show with potential—as demonstrated by its excellent action sequences. A video game adaptation wouldn’t just be a way to take advantage of everything the show does with lightsabers, but it could serve as a way to flesh out its parts and revise things that didn’t work.
