10 CLASSIC Video Game Commercials That Were Peak

Star Wars: Republic Commando follows a clone trooper group called Delta Squad, who are genetically hardwired for war and tasked with completing high-risk missions.

On paper, hiring a Britpop rock band to promote a Star Wars property sounds pretty left-field. But Ash's haunting track, Clones, couldn't have turned out better. 

Although blood-slathered troopers being overpowered by killer droids is a powerful visual in its own right, it resonates on a deeper level thanks to the melancholic melody and relentless bass raging in the background. 

The lyrics highlights how it feels to be brainwashed and replaceable, encapsulating the tragedy of being a clone trooper. Although rock music's popularity was on the decline during this period, it works perfectly here since the genre is tied to anti-war, disillusionment, and conformity - themes which are completely relevant in Republic Commando.

It's worth mentioning that this music video isn't just badass but surprisingly poignant. The troopers rarely interact with each other, making them come across as expendable automatons, which is how they're perceived in the Star Wars universe. The fact Ash made Star Wars purists care about these faceless, nameless characters in four minutes demonstrates the power of the band's work.

Ash's Clones may be a product of its time but the music video is just as impactful as ever.