The Story So Far

Before the 3.0 update arrived, I'd no idea what to expect.

I'd hoped beyond hope that 3.0 would include a continuation of the storyline, as was the case with previous updates. We received Lando Missions and Raids instead. Which isn't at all bad, in my opinion. But, with a growing number of cantankerous speculations posted on the Uprising forums that we will never  see a continuation of the storyline, I began to wonder more about character arc than plot per say -- especially considering how, on this blog, I've briefly discussed becoming a Jedi, which is itself arguable. As far as I'm concerned, though, these two points are inextricably linked.

For those not in the know, a character arc is the transformation of a character over the course of a story. That much is simply put. The question is, though, how does the character arc of Uprising unfold? Let's begin with the Uprising Launch trailer:

So, the galaxy needs a new hero. That would be you. How does this unlikely hero begin their journey? Well, the Chapter 1 crawl describes you as a "young smuggler" now in the employ of a gangster named Happy Dapp. And your first action in the game is to shoot an Imperial Officer in the face with a Rat Stunner. Consider the stage set.

Or not so simply. The hero -- or protagonist, if you will -- progresses through levels, gaining power and notoriety in the process, but, in the main, stays a scrappy upstart with either a blaster or vibroblade in tow. What's more, we begin with the character in a questionable place in their life, unsure of their meaningful identity and purpose in this Star Wars universe, while generally on the run from the Empire.

Does this begin to sound familiar? If it doesn't, take what I just said and apply it to this guy:

A down-and-out farm boy leaves his desolate, unexciting home to fight the Empire and, in doing so, he discovers his purpose: "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi, like my father," Luke says. We begin as a down-and-out child of a deceased miner from Burnin Konn. Through as series of fortuitous events -- as though the Force itself were at work -- we, too, join the fight against the Empire. Who is the protagonist's father, again, by the way? It's worth noting that this, ahem, father issue is a highlighted feature of the Force quests, specifically the Force missions.

Now, Uprising didn't begin with the promise of Force Powers and wielding a Lightsaber. The closest we see of such a promise in the release trailer is Deathstick's badassery. But, by the time we reach Chapter 2, the Force Power quests are runnable side stories. In fact, here's the official Kabam announcement for the appearance of the Data Broker, who ultimately sells you the Force Power Rumor Crates:

Note the date. From early on, Kabam had the Force Sensitivity of our protagonist -- you -- squarely in mind. The parallels between Luke Skywalker and Uprising's Hero are fundamental. Some of the details may change, in other words, but if the archetype ain't broke, don't fix it too much. As the saying goes, that is. Very well, then. If the protagonist of Uprising doesn't begin the journey as a farmer, like Luke, then who? A smuggler, just like another beloved Star Wars character, Han Solo. But Solo isn't Force Sensitive. That would be Luke.

It's worth noting that, while Obi-Wan introduces Luke to a lightsaber in the original Star Wars film, the point in doing so is basically demonstrative. In other words, the training scene in the Falcon, for instance, demonstrates the Force. Luke feels it. He senses it. He isn't told about experiencing it,  save for Obi-Wan's original explanation of the Force, which also serves to inform the film's audience. But whatever the Force is or is not, though, you need to experience it -- to know it -- for yourself. Obi-Wan only need prompt Luke at the end of the film to reconnect with the Force, to "let go" of a targeting computer's bloodless, deadly logic.

In this and other ways, the original Star Wars film stages the transformations that Luke undergoes in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.  While I won't belabor this point, the end of Empire  finds Luke having undergone some training by Yodi, but he is hardly a Jedi. Arguably, Darth Vader engages Luke in a saber "duel" merely feel out his potential future apprentice. In fact, Luke uses a blaster while carrying the lightsaber for much of the movie:

But let's return all this to our protagonist, shall we? While Uprising's Chapter 1 Smuggler gear is meant to invoke the appearance of Han Solo, at the end of Empire -- Chapter 2, essentially -- Luke looks like he's wearing Ultimate Adventurer gear:

Remember, the lightsaber that Luke carries in Empire  is blue, not green, as it is in Episode VI. And at this point in Luke's character arc -- and our own, I contend -- he has undergone a number of identity developments. He's officially part of the Rebel Alliance, seeks out training in the Force, and ultimately confronts Vader against the wishes of Yoda. In Chapter 2, our protagonist officially forms an alliance  between different Factions, seeks out training in the Force, and ultimately confronts the very deadly Commander Bragh, who, in a Vaderish symmetry, tries to let you off the proverbial hook to circumvent your, ahem, certain death.

While there are symmetries between the two character arcs, as I've tried to show here, they aren't the same. If they were, we'd get bored and stop playing. Or, at least, many players would. But the fundamental transformative arc is so formally  akin that it makes me wonder about the next installment of Uprising's storyline. I mean, Episode VI is called Return of the Jedi.  Was Luke officially inducted into the Jedi Order? Nope. He just shows up on Tatooine dressed in Jedi robes, wielding a lightsaber of his own construction, and letting the Force flow through him like a badass.

And this is why I think many players have reached a point in their own story where they can legitimately call themselves Jedi. But lightsabers, Force Powers, and cool duds do not necessarily make a Jedi. The choices that a character makes will, in turn, make that character a Jedi. That said, the structure of Uprising is such that the protagonist becomes a Jedi akin to Luke, whether the player wants to do so or not.  The choice, in other words, seems out of our hands. As Vader might say, it is your destiny. Search your feelings, you know it be true.