There have been few revelations in Star Wars that have baffled fans more than that of Starkiller's return. Starkiller met his heroic death in The Force Unleashed, sacrificing his life for the safety of the Rebel leaders. But in the sequel, Starkiller was alive and battling Vader all over again, and everyone wondered whether Starkiller was a clone. The truth about his existence was finally revealed through the video game, but many questions still remained. Could he somehow have survived? Was he really Galen Marek? This article tells you all about clones and Vader's experiments.
Why Fans Thought Starkiller Returned From the Dead
In The Force Unleashed, the hero was killed by absorbing Palpatine’s lightning inside the Death Star. However, the sequel introduced a new plot that made fans scratch their heads. How could Starkiller be alive after such a fatal blow? The answer to this mystery wasn’t resurrection; it was even scarier. The man who was admired and loved by the fans was not the real Galen Marek; rather, it was just a clone made by Darth Vader.
Is Starkiller a Clone in The Force Unleashed 2?
Yes. The character of Starkiller in The Force Unleashed II is actually a clone created by Darth Vader. Galen Marek died irreversibly on the Death Star, and Darth Vader, hoping to create an exact copy of his strong apprentice, started a cloning experiment. Thus, the protagonist of the game is one of these clones with inserted memories and abilities of the real Starkiller. The answer to whether Starkiller is a clone in Force Unleashed 2 or not is clear – he is not the real one; he is a copy of him.
This is revealed gradually in the game. The clone Starkiller faces difficulties because of his fragmented memories. Despite the fact that Starkiller thinks that he is Galen Marek, the truth comes out. It becomes clear that the hero did not return; he is just created.
Why Did Darth Vader Clone Starkiller?
Vader still needed a competent apprentice to assist him in destroying the power of Palpatine. Starkiller was already capable of defeating Vader in battle. No one else could match his skills. It would be easier to clone Starkiller than find another apprentice.
Vader's ambitions did not diminish even after the death of his first apprentice. The problem of the threatening power of Palpatine and Vader's thirst for power were still there. Vader needed a worthy adversary of the Emperor. This clone was the key Vader needed to succeed in his plans.
Why Did Most Starkiller Clones Fail?
Force-users created through cloning were highly unpredictable and unreliable. The cloning process would hardly yield any viable results. Some clones could not use the Force at all; hence, they could not be of any use to Darth Vader. Most of them would have physical issues due to their body not being able to hold on to the power.
Fragmented memories would cause the greatest harm to the Force-user clone. They would find it difficult to deal with the memories that they had been made to have. Either the Force-users would go mad and not be able to distinguish between reality and fantasy, or they would lapse into catatonia.
There was something different about the clone that turned out successfully. The Force-user clone had the abilities of Starkiller while being sane at the same time. He had enough memories to function properly.
Why Did Vader Keep Trying After So Many Failures?
However, Vader was not just trying to find another replacement for his dead disciple. The case of Starkiller proved that one person could become sufficiently strong in order to pose a threat to both Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. This was the motivation for Darth Vader to keep trying despite failures because Vader had seen what Galen was capable of.
One more thing that motivated Darth Vader to clone Starkiller was his desperation. He spent many years training Starkiller, and when he lost him, he felt he was unable to do anything else to dethrone Emperor Palpatine. In other words, Darth Vader was desperate because he felt that everything he did before went in vain.
Why Did the Clone Retain Galen's Memories?
But it was not only about finding another Force-sensitive being. Vader needed someone who would think and act just like Galen Marek did. And by providing him with a lot of his memories, Darth Vader wanted to recreate the former apprentice who had worked for him. The Sith Lord was sure that similar memories meant similar loyalty.
However, on the contrary, all these memories helped the clone to start thinking for himself and questioning his own purpose. The implanted memories made him think he was Galen Marek; but at the same time it created conflicts in his head because of the fact that he was not actually a real person.
And besides, these memories caused emotions and connections between characters. For example, he fell in love with Juno Eclipse because of the same feeling the former had towards her. It made him doubt the orders of Darth Vader. And the creation taht vader put his heart into became his downfall.
The Clone's Journey Through The Force Unleashed II
The game starts with the clone running away from the Kamino cloning facilities. He does not remember anything about his creation; only some vague fragments of his past. He thinks that he is Galen Marek, saved from death. He tries to find out the truth about his origin as he battles against Vader's minions.
All through the game, the clone encounters people who can feel that there is something strange about him. General Kota, who knew the original Starkiller, says that he feels changed. Juno Eclipse finds it hard to trust him because there is something wrong about him. This creates tension for the final scene where the truth is exposed.
The confrontation between the protagonist and Darth Vader unveils the truth. The Sith Lord tells him that he created the clone from the DNA of Starkiller and implanted Starkiller's memories in his mind. He should learn how to accept himself and decide who he really wants to be.
Original Starkiller vs His Clone: What's Different?
The original Starkiller had a story that revolved around transitioning from the dark side to the light side of the Force. This story enabled him to gain meaning out of the sacrifices he had made. On the other hand, the story of the clone involved him in trying to find out who he really was.
The two characters had different personality traits too. While the original character was confident about his skills since he had trained to earn them, the clone was insecure due to uncertainties regarding his past. This has resulted in him being more reserved than the real Starkiller.
As far as their powers were concerned, the clone had shown that he could do all that the cline had done as well as use Force lightning, telekinetic powers, and powerful shockwaves. It is the difference in their stories and personalities that has led to the creation of unique individuals despite their similar looks.
Was the Clone Really Galen Marek?
The question comes down to how one defines identity. The clone had all the memories and skills of the original. He felt the same emotions and built the same relationships. He fought with the same tactics and ferocity. Many would believe he was Galen reborn.
Memories do not automatically make someone the way they were before. After all, he was cloned in a laboratory, not born. His memories were not his own, but rather implanted. His confusion between memories and reality is a result of this basic disconnect. He could not make sense of his memories when they did not fit his artificial existence.
The clone also made different decisions from the original. He faced problems Galen did not have to face. His story followed a parallel path, but not an exact one. Thus, he must be seen as a separate individual, even if he is very similar. Most Legends source material considers the clone a separate individual, though fans argue about how much of Galen Marek remained inside him.
The Symbolism of the Clone
Just like Darth Vader, the clone suffers from the identity created for him by another person. Whereas Darth Vader is the man that Palpatine molded into the villain that he is now, the clone wonders if he is really Galen Marek or if he is actually a totally new individual. This parallel provides the sequel with more emotion than just the action alone provides.
There is also the issue of free will that exists within both characters. While Darth Vader is a man who is bound by his own actions, unable to change his ways, the clone has a chance to do things differently. It is a reflection of what could have become of Darth Vader if he had done things differently.
The conflicts of the clone add to the game on a philosophical level because it addresses basic human nature. What are we without our memories? Does our identity come from our history or does it come from our actions?
Did the Dark Apprentice DLC Change the Story?
Dark Apprentice showed another "what if" scenario in the DLC. In this case, the hero accepts the dark powers and sides with the Emperor. He kills all the Jedi he finds and turns into the Emperor's executioner. This is not the main story line from the Legend, but an alternative one.
This DLC does not influence the clone story. The Light Side ending is the main one and the official one as well. Starkiller's sacrifice and his redemption defined his character.
Sam Witwer's Performance
A lot of the emotions of the clone are communicated through the performance of Sam Witwer. Even though there are some similarities between the appearances of the two, small differences in their voices and actions separate the clone from the original Starkiller. It was Witwer who gave the clone his vulnerability and made him seem very different from the original one.
The actor emphasized the emotions of the clone through the use of his voice and actions. There were a few cracks in his voice and hesitation during the delivery of important lines. All of these contributed to the performance of the actor and made the clone very special.
This is important to understand because the clone is not a copy of Starkiller. He is a totally different person with some similar features.
What Happened at the End of The Force Unleashed II?
The ending of The Force Unleashed II was ambiguous. The clone saved Juno Eclipse from Vader's clutches. He left with her, without knowing where he was heading. The game ended with both of them flying off into the sunset. The fate of the clone remained unsolved.
The Force Unleashed III had been conceptualized but not published. Hence, the fate of the clone has not been established. Fans can only wonder about what became of him. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest mysteries of Legends.
Why the Story Remains Unfinished
The Force Unleashed was intended to be a trilogy. The first game was where Starkiller went through his redemption process. The second was where the clone was introduced, and the third one would see the end of the clone's identity and fate. However, the cancellation of the sequel meant that the story was left unfinished.
The unresolved ending disappointed many fans. The fate of the clone is left open-ended, and he still has unfinished business. This is why many speculations on his identity and role remain to this day.
Why the Clone Story Still Divides Fans
It caused a lot of debate because memories seem very real, feelings are true, and the appearance is completely identical. The problem is that the origin is completely different. It is this dichotomy of similarity and dissimilarity which causes the debate. Some people consider the clone an extension of Starkiller himself. But there are others who see the clone as a completely different person altogether.
The sequel being cancelled also caused a lot of confusion. It became difficult to come up with any conclusions regarding the clone. The uncertainty surrounding the clone is a reflection of the uncertainty of the audience itself.
The Legacy of the Clone Story
Despite the fact that no conclusion was ever provided for the story of the clone, Galen Marek remained one of the most discussed Star Wars Legends characters. The clone's storyline, as well as the death of Starkiller, is discussed years after the games came out. It should be noted that the popularity of the character is maintained regardless of the status of his storyline.
Moreover, the story of the clone added to the lore of the game series. It allowed exploring the topic of cloning Force users in a new way. In addition, the story opened some philosophical aspects concerning identity and memory.
Finally, the legacy of the character can be seen in fans' admiration. There are various illustrations devoted to the different versions of Galen Marek, while the debates on his nature keep him alive in the community.
FAQs
Where was the clone created?
On Kamino, the same planet where the Republic's clone army was produced.
Did the clone have all of Galen's memories?
He had many, but they were fragmented and incomplete, causing confusion about his identity.
Did Vader control the clone?
No. The clone developed free will and turned against Vader, just like the original.
What was the clone's relationship with Juno?
He genuinely loved her, believing himself to be Galen. Juno eventually accepted him despite knowing he wasn't the original.
Could the clone use the same powers as the original?
Yes. He demonstrated identical Force abilities including lightning, telekinesis, and lightsaber combat.
