Dee Bradley Baker has spent nearly two decades voicing Clone troopers across Star Wars animation and video games. His wider credits include Avatar: The Last Airbender, Adventure Time and Gravity Falls.
Among the clones who have stayed with him are Fives, Mayday and Captain Rex, although Baker says he cannot choose a single favourite. He also does not keep a personal count of every clone he has performed; that task, he jokes, is better left to the fans.
Every clone starts with the script
Fans sometimes bring convention memorabilia featuring characters Baker no longer remembers. That does not change his approach: each clone must sound like an individual rather than another interchangeable soldier.
For Baker, the key is established before recording begins. The script defines the character’s tone, age, position in the story and the personality the writers want to convey. His job is to understand that brief and deliver a performance faithful to it.
This attention to character is one reason voice work remains important across gaming news and features, where a memorable performance can give even a familiar genre a distinct identity.
Trick brings a different kind of clone to Zero Company
One of Baker’s latest roles is Trick, an operator in Bit Reactor’s Star Wars Zero Company. Baker describes him as unusual: Trick was injured before the events of the game and marked for decommissioning, yet eventually joined the group of misfits forming the mercenary unit.
He sees Trick as wily, relatable and enjoyable to play. The character is not defined only by his status as a Clone trooper; his history and place among the mercenaries give Baker specific material to shape into a recognisable personality.
CT-4646 explores the darker side of cloning
Zero Company also introduces CT-4646, an Imperial science officer and an unusually sinister clone. He carried out cruel experiments intended to improve the clones’ inhibitor chips, turning against his brothers in a way few Clone troopers do.
Baker approached the role by examining CT-4646’s motives, objectives and view of the people subjected to his work. The character had to be specific enough to make sense within the wider story, which led to a performance far removed from the admirable soldiers Baker usually portrays.
Video games add extra performance challenges
Baker says the fundamental responsibility remains the same whether he is recording an animated series or a game: make the character feel real and create a connection with the audience.
Interactive projects can require more flexibility than animation because branching routes and changing story conditions create additional variations. Zero Company also includes character permadeath, adding another layer to the game’s narrative possibilities.
That kind of character-focused design is part of what makes a strong game work on a home setup, whether played traditionally or explored through an arcade machine. For advice on choosing the right cabinet for different styles of play, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide offers a useful starting point.
Baker says the response to Trick and Star Wars Zero Company has been overwhelming. While CT-4646 may not become the favourite of many players, the reception reflects the appeal of a galaxy populated by characters with more than a shared genetic template.
He believes audiences want to return to this universe and spend time with people trying to pursue a heroic cause and improve their world and galaxy.
A practical attitude to a galaxy of characters
Despite his long association with the franchise, Baker approaches the work with a straightforward, almost military routine. He compares it to boarding a dropship, completing the mission, being dropped off and then relaxing in the cantina.
Star Wars Zero Company is out now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
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