For some time now, I’ve had a little pipe-dream; making a Wing Commander prequel focused on the Pilgrim War.
Granted the likes of this actually coming to fruition are nearly nonexistent, but indulge me for a moment as I spell out the CliffsNotes version.
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THE LOOK:
This game would be a hybrid of sorts. Ideally I would want to go with the graphical style of WC1 and 2. Not only since it would be easier to make (in theory) but since it’s a prequel, it would match the “look” (in terms of graphics). The flying portions would be familiar, with a return to the elaborate cockpit designs which helped create a beautiful sense of atmosphere.
However, the rest of the game (on board a ship, on a planet, cinematic, ect.) would be done in the style of a visual novel.
For those of you not in the know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_novel
While this would be art intensive, it would cut down on the amount of animating needed.
Now I release that this might put some folks off at first, but remember that there is fundamentally little difference between dialog boxes and sprites denoting the speaker, and the “talking heads” as seen in WC 1 and 2.
GAMEPLAY
Using ship in service in that era, thus a mixture of ships we (the player) have flown before, and those only mentioned in writing:
Ferret
Scimitar
Rapier
Merlin
Wildcat
Gotha
Hurricane
Raptor
Minotaur
Gladiator
Trident
Broadsword
Granted the final list would probably only be half of these.
MUSIC:
I would deliberately choose NOT to use Wing Commander songs. While they are awesome, they are a little two iconic, and in some fan projects, overused.
While I don’t want to get into particulars, I have amassed an impressive collection of potential song tracks for this hypothetical game (most if not all will be unrecognizable to North American and European audiences). And to be perfectly honest, some of the songs are only a few notes off from those songs given to us by The Fat Man or George Oldziey. Hell, I found two songs that sound like stylistic versions of the WC theme!
Want evidence, or an example? Try the opening theme to the Xenosaga animated series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E18xoJu7mK0
Or how about the opening theme to FLAG:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPMWv80KPdU
Try listing to those theme songs while watching the opening “Map” cinematic to the Wing Commander movie. Now tell me that these aren’t appropriate Wing Commander-ish theme for the Pilgrim Wars.
CHARACTERS:
The protagonist of this story is Daimon Karns, a newly graduated cadet from the Accademy who is eager to serve his country. He will fly and fight alongside some familiar faces, including Arnold Blair and a young Geoffrey Tolwyn. (I realize that this creates the impression of a “small universe”, but look how often are characters reunited in the games and novels. Come on.)
THE STORY:
The game would span from 2633 to 2634, beginning with the launch of the Confed Grand Fleet and ending with the conclusion of the Siege of Peron.
As the story progresses, you begin to see the darker side of the Confederation (with hints of shadowy hands of a proto-Belisarius Group.
NOTE: -No Kilrathi!
The only presence we have of the Kilrathi comes from stories and news report. They are the unknown, unseen element threatening the Confederation form the frontier. For the people involved in the war, the Kilrathi are either a non-issue, or a threat haunting the back of their minds.
I was also toying with the idea of the game’s perspective jumping back and forth between both sides, not unlike what was done in Halo 2 with mission sets alternating between Confed and Pilgrim.
From the Pilgrim side, (as a young and idealistic pilot) you see what begins as a holy crusade, fueled by religious dogma and wide-eyed idealism, ultimately spiraling into desperate madness akin to the last days of Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan. The plight of this Pilgram pilot (presumably male) could be further compounded by a tragic relationship with a female Confed pilot in a true Romeo and Juliet fashion. Extra points if its one of Karns (and the player's) wingmen.
The Pilgrim Alliance always reminded me of a combination between the Morons and the Principality of Zeon (The Pilgrims are pretty much just Newtypes). Give that the Kilrathi War is pretty much World War 2 (IN SPACE!), historical parallels to the Pilgrim War might be found in the Mormon Wars and the Utah War, and even the “Mexican Expedition”.
The story’s climax comes with the Siege of Peron. This series of mission would be the most intense and dramatic in the game. Karns is unable to protect his mentor, Arnold Blair, who is trying to save Devi Soulsong. The star-crossed Pilgrim and Confed pilots do battle with one another. The female Confed pilot, in true tragic fashion, is killed by the male pilgrim pilot, and in a roaring rampage of anger and sorrow, has to be taken out by Karns. Overall, things go to shit for many people on a personal level.
In the end, the war is brought to a close. Arnold Blair is made into a hero and a martyr of the Confederation, and
Daimon Karns becomes a living legend. However, Karns’ faith in the justice and humanity of the Confederation is deeply shaken. He begins to question the things he once believed in, and begins to entertain thoughts of leaving the Confederation.
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As I said before, this is just a pipe dream. However, if this is enough to inspire someone else to start a similar fan project, more power to them. I would gladly add my writing talents and attention to detail to such a project, but then again, fan projects are such fickle things.
Anyway, thoughts?