8 Star Wars Video Game Franchises EA Should Reboot

3. Pod Racer

Republic Commando
LucasArts

Ham-fisted dialogue, overreliance on CGI and unnecessary dross concerning Midichlorians aside, there are positives to be taken away from the Prequel Trilogy, one of which being The Phantom Menace's terrific Pod Race set piece. Anakin's favourite hobby is the saving grace of a film otherwise marred by the presence of a particular Gungan and, as it turns out, translates pretty well to video games, too.

LucasArts tacked all of the usual bells and whistles expected of an arcade racer onto its own, though it's the mechanical extras that bumped it above its peers in 1999. Mid-race management of engine temperature, as well as sacrificing speed on the track for hasty repairs just about overwhelmed with its authenticity to the 'real' theatrical deal in 1999, helped in no small part by the delightful smoke-chugging sounds produced by each pod as if they were a gear change away from self-destruction.

That EA hasn't attempted to replicate its success is maddening, especially so, given that it owns Burnout developer Criterion. What better studio to handle such a frantic action than it?

Contributor
Contributor

Joe is a freelance games journalist who, while not spending every waking minute selling himself to websites around the world, spends his free time writing. Most of it makes no sense, but when it does, he treats each article as if it were his Magnum Opus - with varying results.