Star Wars heads back to the Clone Wars with Star Wars Zero Company, a new tactics game that lives up to its “Star Wars meets XCOM” moniker. It’s full of new faces, like your customizable player character Hawks, and familiar ones, like Captain Rex. One returning character is none other than Anakin Skywalker, who headlined one of Zero Company’s trailers.

I had assumed Anakin would just make a brief cameo in the game, long enough to earn his spot in that trailer to help sell the game. After about 15 hours with Zero Company, I’m delighted to discover I’m wrong. While Anakin doesn’t have an outsized presence in Star Wars Zero Company, he represents the classic Jedi power fantasy while also showing why one of your companions can’t live up to that fantasy.

[Ed note: This piece contains light spoilers about a mid-game required mission in Star Wars Zero Company.]

In Star Wars Zero Company, you lead a group of misfits investigating a weird cult on behalf of the Republic. Your companions include the Clone Trooper Trick, the Mandalorian Cly Kullervo, and the baroness Jae Mordant. Also along for the ride is Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea.

Before getting my hands........

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