Sam Witwer is very famous for his performance as Starkiller in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. He has previously talked about his interest in the 2020 hit game Ghost of Tsushima in an interview. He talked about how he finds a connection between The Force Unleashed and Ghost of Tsushima.
He compared the lightsaber fights of Star Wars to Ghost of Tsushima, saying that he admired the combat system of the hit game. Witwer has an extensive history of working with Star Wars, and has a lot of experience with the brand.
Witwer’s Comparison of Star Wars and Ghost of Tsushima
In an interview with StarWars.com, Witwer stated his continued interest in gaming, despite his hectic schedule. He recounted his early gaming days with the Atari 2600 and his active gaming hobby, as the gaming industry progressed.
So when it comes to gaming, I’ve been around for a little while — my first gaming console was the Atari 2600. I have watched this entire industry grow up. I’ve watched it go from its infancy, and I was an active participant in it.
Ghost of Tsushima stood out to him as his favorite at the time, combining his love of gaming with a strong respect for the cultural origins that inspired the Jedi.
Witwer’s admiration for Ghost of Tsushima goes beyond its plot.
I loved Ghost of Tsushima. And I guess maybe it’s sort of a Jedi wish fulfillment, that game, in a way with Jedi having been spawned out of samurai.
He spoke in appreciation of the game’s combat system, comparing it to classic lightsaber duels. The fluidity and accuracy of both samurai and Jedi fighting styles appeal to Witwer. He based his viewpoint on the fact that Jedi were largely influenced by real-world samurai.
Witwer’s Experience With Star Wars
Ghost of Tsushima shows players the story of Jin Sakai, a samurai fighting against Mongolia’s invasion of Tsushima. The game’s combination of ancient samurai traditions and modern storytelling charmed many players, including Witwer.
He observed that the game’s depiction of Jin’s internal strife is similar to the hardships that Jedi Knights deal with in the Star Wars universe. Witwer’s comparison between the two highlights the thematic connection between samurai and Jedi, who both have a strong sense of honor and duty.
Witwer depicts Starkiller as the antithesis of Luke Skywalker. The game takes a new approach to the events between the original and prequel trilogies, following Darth Vader’s actions through the eyes of a troubled apprentice. It’s a story of self-discovery and redemption set in the heart of a chaotic galaxy.
So Starkiller is the photo negative of Luke Skywalker. It’s like you’re sitting around the campfire and you’re-telling the story of the Sith that turned good, you know, kind of a cautionary tale to Sith everywhere: “Be careful, you might turn good.” It’s that type of thing.
The impact of samurai on the Star Wars series is well-known and Ghost of Tsushima shows exactly why this is so with its gameplay and plot.
Ghost of Tsushima has received widespread acclaim for its story and gameplay and is now considered an iconic title of modern gaming. Witwer’s conclusions about The Force Unleashed and Ghost of Tsushima provide a unique viewpoint on how games might capture the spirit of great stories and characters.
