Game Character:
Darth Vader
Character Bio
Though second in command to Emperor Palpatine in the ranks of the Empire, there is perhaps no figure more feared throughout the galaxy than Darth Vader. A master of the dark side of the Force, he wields a red-bladed lightsaber with precision and is not afraid to express displeasure by using his power to choke even a high-ranking officer in his own army. Compassion and conscience have become foreign concepts to him, as he will stop at nothing to succeed in his goals. Vader's black costume and mask are enough to make anyone forget that a man lies beneath, a man once known as Anakin Skywalker.As a child and teenager, Anakin Skywalker (see separate entry) was taught the ways of the Force by his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. At some point, however, he was shown the ways of the dark side by Palpatine, a former Naboo Senator who manipulated his way to declaring himself Emperor of the galaxy. Once turned from the light side of the Force, the man once known as Anakin Skywalker was "killed" and became Palpatine's apprentice, a Dark Lord of the Sith known as Darth Vader.
Further speculation suggests that Vader did not attain his black suit of armor until he was thrown into a pit by his former master, the suit acting as a life-support system. During this time period, he also presumably left his wife Amidala, who would later give birth to twins, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, neither of which he would know about until years later. In addition, he played a great role in the extermination of the Jedi, a fortunate few able to escape and hide. All of this sketchy information will be revealed by the time Star Wars: Episode III hits theaters, scheduled for a 2005 release.
Shortly before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope and related games, the Rebellion against the Empire was forming, which Vader headed the efforts to quell. Vader's history from this point on is well documented. It was at this time that he finally had a chance to avenge his prior loss to Obi-Wan in a lightsaber duel aboard the Imperial battle station known as the Death Star. Vader struck down his former master, not believing the threat that the act would make Obi-Wan "more powerful than he could possibly imagine."
Soon after, Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star as Vader pursued him in his TIE interceptor. Vader escaped with the knowledge that he had a son and plotted to catch and turn him to the dark side. However, he was still focused on bringing down the Rebellion and managed to drive the Rebels from their hidden base on Hoth. He later caught some of Luke's closest allies on Cloud City, including Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia. Using them as bait, he lured his son into the trap where he hoped to encase him in carbonite for an easy trip back to Emperor Palpatine on Coruscant.
Such was not the case, however. As seen in The Empire Strikes Back and games based on the movie, Luke fought a valiant lightsaber duel until Vader managed to chop off the future Jedi's hand. It was at this time that the man once known as Anakin Skywalker revealed to him, "I am your father." In disbelief, Luke managed to escape and was rescued by Leia and Lando Calrissian.
In the months to follow, Vader's continued pursuit of his son took him to planets like Kothlis, and he even killed Prince Xixor, the powerful antagonist of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire who secretly wanted Luke dead. However, it was until Luke turned himself in to the Empire that Vader was able to see his son again. Having accepted that the man behind the black mask was indeed his father (and having learned that Princess Leia was his sister), Luke did his best to convince Vader to turn to the light side of the Force.
For a great while it seemed as though Luke's attempts would be in vain. In the meantime, he and his father squared off in yet another lightsaber duel, this time aboard the second Death Star in front of Emperor Palpatine himself. Vader found Luke much less willing to fight this time and scanned his hiding son's thoughts. It was at this time that he learned Leia to be his daughter and suggested that perhaps she could be turned. Luke emerged from hiding a furious combatant. The young Jedi managed to defeat his father by cutting off his hand, just as had happened to him on Cloud City.
But Vader was not done fighting, the shift of conflict moving from against his son to within himself. As he watched Luke get blasted by his master's energy bolts, Vader decided that he had had enough, proceeding to pick up Emperor Palpatine and throw him down a shaft into space. Darth Vader was now dead, with Anakin Skywalker reborn.
Luke escorted his dying father to a shuttle so that they could escape the battle station which he knew would be destroyed at any moment. It was at the entrance to this shuttle that the young Jedi finally got to see the man behind the mask. Anakin Skywalker's last words were meant to let Luke know that there was still good within in him: "You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister ... you were right."
ROLE IN VIDEOGAMES: When not the enemy to defeat with your lightsaber in games based directly on the first trilogy of Star Wars movies, Darth Vader's role as a videogame character has varied somewhat. Many PC games portray the Dark Lord of the Sith as an administrator, while some of his most unique roles include tournament fighter (Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi), Monopoly token (Monopoly Star Wars) and -- perhaps most peculiar of all -- queen on a chessboard (Star Wars Chess).
EDUCATION: Taught in the ways of the Force by Obi-Wan Kenobi and later the ways of the dark side by Emperor Palpatine.
FAMILY: Amidala (wife, presumably deceased), Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa (children)
BEHIND-THE-SCENES CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Originally, the character of Darth Vader was supposed to be some sort of bounty hunter. However, George Lucas later decided that he preferred the character as more of a dark knight. The bounty hunter idea lived on, though, through the creation of Boba Fett.
HOW THE CHARACTER GOT HIS NAME: George Lucas created the name "Darth Vader" to suggest "dark father."
FAVORITE TRANSPORT: His specially modified TIE interceptor
AMBITIONS: To make Luke Skywalker join the dark side of the Force and rule at his side.
QUOTES:
"I find your lack of faith disturbing." (to an Imperial officer expressing a doubt in the power of the Force)
"The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master." (to Obi-Wan Kenobi moments before what would be the Jedi's final lightsaber battle)
"He will join us or die, master." (to Emperor Palpatine in regards to Luke Skywalker)
"Impressive ... Most impressive." (to Luke during their first lightsaber battle)
"I am your father." (a stunning revelation made to Luke)
"You don't know the power of the dark side!" (to Luke, trying to get him to turn)
OTHER MEDIA: Besides in movies and videogames, the Dark Lord of the Sith has been featured in almost any other type of media or merchandising imaginable. Some of the more notable include novels, comic books and action figures.
SOURCES:
Star Wars, 20th Century Fox © 1977
The Empire Strikes Back, 20th Century Fox © 1980
Return of the Jedi, 20th Century Fox © 1983
Star Wars: Behind the Magic
Darth Vader is a trademark and copyright of Lucasfilm Ltd. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide
