Star Wars Zero Company is a must-play turn-based tactical adventure that takes the best of the franchise to deliver one of its most compelling games to date.
There seemed to be a time when Star Wars video games were not as ubiquitous as they are now. But then, they started appearing. For every genre, no less. Online shooters, open-world games, and even soulslikes set in a galaxy far, far away launched to varying degrees of success. Even then, there is no genre that is such a perfect fit for the franchise like a turn-based tactical game. Star Wars Zero Company rises as both an excellent game and an authentic adaptation of George Lucas’ universe.
The Clone Wars era is one ripe for exploration. Star Wars Zero Company smartly positions itself in this period with a twist. Series such as The Mandalorian or Andor thrive because of how they tell off-the-beaten-path stories of underdogs away from the Jedi Order and their squabbles with the Sith. It is a rather similar case here. The storytelling is as truthful to the franchise as it gets, striking the right balance between gritty and hopeful. Every member of your team is scarred in some way, simply trying to get by in a hostile galaxy. But who is Zero Company?
Up And At ‘Em
Hawks, your player character, is the leader of this independent outfit and someone who is pragmatic to the bone. If you have ever felt lately that games portray starry-eyed protagonists with much innocence, this is the game for you. It was the first thing that got my attention when my Hawks, a seasoned Mirialan, muttered to herself, “You still got it, old gal,” after gunning down an unsuspecting clone trooper.
After being contacted by the Republic to collaborate on a highly dangerous mission to stop a cult, Hawks is unable to resist as their money problems are catching up to them. This takes the adventure onto wild places that give nods to the franchise left and right. It, too, honors it by letting your crew be customizable to a T except for a few secondary characters. A Mandalorian, a Padawan, and a Stormtrooper walk into a bar. You can make it a reality in Star Wars Zero Company.
A plethora of options to customize your experience is something that stands out from the beginning. Hawks’ gender, species, and looks are adjustable to players’ delight. Tattoos, skin color, or even vitiligo can be applied. Most fans will recognize Ahsoka Tano’s race, the Togruta, among others, to create their personal mercenary. On the squad’s side, even their biography can be entirely changed if anyone is feeling especially creative. On the gameplay side, eight specializations from scoundrel to medic make for a varied approach to mix and match on the battlefield.
Tactical Combat At Its Best
Each combat encounter—and what you will be doing most of the game—unfolds in a battlefield seen from an isometric perspective. With a radial menu, the first few options are to move, shoot, or keep a lookout in Overwatch mode. Should enemies move in your range of view, there is a chance you can trigger an impromptu attack even when it is not your turn. On the other hand, some characters have special moves, like the Mandalorian with their jetpack or the Padawan with the Force, to bypass these limitations. This is but the first of many intricacies that makes the tactical elements make you feel like you are a mastermind in the long run. Or not.
The Stormtrooper gag is fully realized in Star Wars Zero Company. A constantly silly situation in battles is how there is always a percentage of your blaster that will hit or miss. This means that even if you have a 90% chance to cause damage, your soldier in tow might simply choose to miss. This makes even the most complex of plans in every fight have a degree of luck to execute correctly. After all, not everyone can pull off the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.
Missions Galore
What keeps each mission exciting is how they are all mostly different. Initially, the usual “eliminate everyone” request is all too common. Soon, timed battles where you must save prisoners within a set time before they pass out make the rounds. Finally, bombastic set pieces where you must run and gun your way to an extraction point are exhilarating. This might be a methodical, turn-based game, but it does know how to turn on the heat every now and then.
Star Wars Zero Company’s gameplay loop stays satisfying throughout. From your Holotable as the base of operations, each mission counts as a cycle to go through. While waiting for main missions to unlock, helping your crew with personal requests will increase your bonds and intimate conversations with them in your hideout’s quarters. What is most enticing is how every so often the crew will engage in chats without you or outright fight because one of them supports the Republic and the other the Separatists. Some cynical dialogues are endlessly amusing.
The More The Merrier
It is often said that no game is for everybody, but Star Wars Zero Company tries its best to adjust to any type of player. There is the most flexible option in the difficulty settings, going from Story to Expert Mode. This allows newer players to tactical games or those who simply want to experience a new Star Wars game to breeze through encounters. Story mode increases evasion stats and the chance to get a critical hit, making easy work of stormtroopers and Roger droids alike. The permadeath option is also separate if beginners want a bit of adrenaline in their playthrough.
For the more veteran players, combining Expert difficulty with the Beskar mode is the way to go. Locking a save to a single file that cannot be recorded manually, if a critical member dies, it’s game over and back to the drawing board. The tactics enemies engage in in this mode beg a second playthrough to hone your skills as a master tactician. I fervently believe that Star Wars Zero Company is one of those games that are so well done that it will bring new players into the genre. I would not be surprised if the XCOM series itself sees a resurgence thanks to Hawks and his crew of misfits.
Verdict – Star Wars Zero Company
For a franchise that by now has even more games than movies, it appears that there was a glaring omission until now. Star Wars Zero Company tells a gritty narrative with seasoned characters that take no prisoners, and it does so with a confidence that makes it among the best media in a galaxy far, far away. To deliver intricate, satisfying tactical gameplay mechanics with limitless replayability, make it a must-play not only for fans but also for players at large.
Reviewed on PlayStation 5 Pro. Also available on Xbox Series S|X and PC via Steam and EA Play Pro.
A key was provided for the purposes of this review.
Developer: Bit Reactor
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Pros:
- Deeply customizable crew of misfits
- Feels like an authentic Clone Wars story
-Honors the Star Wars franchise throughout
- Seasoned and sardonic dialogues work well
- Third-person linear sequences are a nice change of pace
- Its turn-based tactical gameplay has so many options that keep things fresh
Cons
- Minor visual glitches
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Amazing
