How Guardians Of The Galaxy Game’s Star-Lord Is Different From The MCU

Star-Lord is the only playable character in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and he differs greatly from the version portrayed by Chris Pratt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the characters share some similarities, such as a red Ravager jacket and jet boots, they have distinct origin stories and personalities. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy takes more inspiration from the comics than it does the films, meaning its version of Star-Lord is distinct from other interpretations.

[Warning: Major spoilers for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy are below.]

The origins of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the MCU and Marvel’s GOTG are very different from the comics, although Marvel’s GOTG stays ever so slightly closer to the comics-based origin story of Star-Lord. Nonetheless, when the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy film first came out the latest and now iconic version of the team had only been around for six years, emerging in the wake of the Annihilation: Conquest event. Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Drax, and Groot were all featured in Marvel Comics before they formally joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the first film’s release enshrined that lineup in related Marvel media.

Eidos-Montréal did a fantastic job developing each of the characters in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but prior to the game’s release some MCU fans were wondering why Chris Pratt wasn’t in Marvel’s GOTG. This is because Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in a completely separate universe from the MCU. This ensured that Eidos-Montréal would be able to deliver its own take on the team, combining multiple influences in the process. While there are quite a few similarities between the game and James Gunn’s MCU films, Marvel’s GOTG Star-Lord has a backstory that separates him from most other iterations of the character.

Marvel’s GOTG’s Star-Lord Doesn’t Have The MCU Version’s Origin

One of the main differences between Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Star-Lord and the MCU’s Star-Lord is their respective origin stories. While both were abducted during their childhood, the Star-Lord of the game was celebrating his 13th birthday with his mother when the Chitauri attacked. The Chitauri in the Guardians of the Galaxy game were the main opposition in the Galatic War that pre-dates the story, other than in Star-Lord’s flashbacks. He was then used as ransom to force his father, the king of the planet Spartax, to surrender. The Chitauri also killed Star-Lord’s mother. While the MCU’s Star-Lord suffers a similar fate in regards to being abducted on the day his mother died, the MCU’s Star-Lord was only eight years old and his mother had just died of an extremely rare form of cancer. Additionally, the cancer was caused by Ego, Star-Lord’s celestial father in the MCU, when he planted a tumor in her head.

Both Star-Lords actually received the name “Star-Lord” before they were abducted, but the Star-Lord from the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy film received that nickname as an homage to his father’s origins and Star-Lord’s half-celestial blood. It had taken some time before it was a widely recognized name, but Star-Lord had stuck with him as he was raised by Yondu Udonta and the other Ravagers. In the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy video game, Star-Lord received his name from an in-game rock band created specifically for the game’s story, which he listens to during the first flashback. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s Star-Lord shares the same love of music as the MCU’s, but the game’s version is more into ’80s music than the ’70s tracks seen in both Guardians of the Galaxy films. In addition to the GOTG game having its own band and soundtrack, there are also a few outfits in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy that have the Star-Lord band logo embroidered on the back of them.

While both versions of Star-Lord worked with Yondu Udonta, the Yondu of Marvel’s GOTG met Star-Lord when they were both prisoners on Chitauri Prime. Star-Lord had been a prisoner of war for three years before Yondu was captured during a Ravager raid of a Resistance Ship during the Galatic War. During their time in prison, Yondu and Star-Lord were cellmates. This was a time before Star-Lord had the translator chip that allowed him to understand other languages, but fortunately, Yondu knew English. Like the other characters in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Yondu also has a different backstory from his MCU counterpart.

Yondu and Star-Lord continued to scheme throughout their short-lived sentence together and helped each other break out of the Chitauri prison nearly two years later. After breaking out of their prison, Yondu invited Star-Lord to join the Ravagers. The GOTG Star-Lord went on to work with the Ravagers for years, even forming a bond with Yondu where they referred to each one another as “Blue Bird” and “The Kid.” Star-Lord managed to recover his elemental blasters in the escape, weapons that further differentiate the MCU’s Star-Lord from Marvel’s GOTG version.

Marvel’s GOTG’s Star-Lord Is More Of A Leader Than The MCU’s

Whether it’s the version seen in the MCU or in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, both Star-Lords deal with a dysfunctional group of Guardians. How they handle their groups, as well as their leadership styles, are very different. The MCU’s Star-Lord has proven to be a character that some fans have a love-hate relationship with, and it’s usually because of his flaws. There are no details indicating that MCU’s Star-Lord possesses any traits that should put any conflict in his favor, other than his time spent with the Ravagers and his now-former half celestial bloodline. Unlike Marvel’s GOTG Star-Lord, the MCU version doesn’t have any combat skills that are typically associated with the character, like being an expert in hand-to-hand fighting. The MCU’s Star-Lord does use dual blasters and jet boots, but most of what the films show is a charismatic outlaw who specializes in improvisation. Additionally, only the MCU Star-Lord has a romantic interest in Gamora.

Similar to how Marvel’s GOTG’s Gamora isn’t like her MCU counterpart, the Star-Lord in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is vastly different from his MCU equivalent in regards to his overall character. While Eidos-Montréal’s Star-Lord is still a charismatic leader, the game shows a more thoughtful approach to his leadership. This Star-Lord is the leader of some very capable individuals who actively show disdain for poor decisions, and so there is pressure on him to always have a plan ready. Although the Guardians in Marvel’s GOTG have been on a dozen missions together prior to the game’s beginning, Star-Lord still has to manage relationships between the team member, as well as himself.

New characters who may join the GOTG in a sequel will probably adapt quickly to the team’s lifestyle thanks to Star-Lord’s leadership. By the end of Marvel’s GOTG, Star-Lord has earned the respect and cooperation of the team, something that isn’t shown as well in the MCU. The Guardians of the Galaxy films are guilty of telling the audience that Star-Lord is the leader, rather than showing it. This personality difference may be because the game’s version of Star-Lord spent time serving in the Galactic War, but it’s clear that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Star-Lord has a different mindset when it comes to leadership.

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