While it was somewhat overshadowed byOblivion's shadow release,Star Wars Zero Companywas recently showcased with its first exciting announcement trailer, offering a sneak peek at its unique gameplay style. While there hasn’t exactly been a shortage ofStar Warstitles in recent years, thanks to the release of games likeStar Wars OutlawsandStar Wars Jedi: Survivor,they’ve often failed to achieve their potential on release. With how many canceledStar Warsprojects I’ve been waiting for over the years,Zero Companyseems to have the best chance at breaking out of the franchise’s mediocrity streak.
This isn’t to say that either of the most recent Triple-AStar Warsexperiences didn’t offer an enjoyable experience, butOutlawsespecially had a great recipe for a perfectStar Warsgame. While it was far from a commercial failure,the most recentOutlawsfailed to deliver the expansively immersiveStar Warsexperience I was hoping for, even after itsinteresting combat updates. While the storytelling of a game likeStar Wars Zero Companyis somewhat more limited in scope compared to a galaxy-spanning open-world RPG,Zero Company’s smaller scale can have significant benefits for creating a reactive narrative experience.
XCOM-style Gameplay Is A Perfect Fit For Star Wars
Taking Advantage Of Turn-Based Tactics And Player Freedom
While the tactical decision-based gameplay ofXCOMand other games like it certainly aren’t for everyone,Zero Company’s gameplay mix feels right at home for the varied sci-fi franchiseStar Warshas grown into over the years. Having virtually limitless factions, species, and archetypes to draw from,Zero Companycan easily flesh out its character offerings with challenging and unique gameplay options that fit perfectly with the genre.
Challenging and unique gameplay options that fit perfectly with the genre.
From avoiding watchful Probe Droids to using specialized gear or the environment to overcome Droidekas and other powerful foes, it’s easy to imagine all the intense, smaller-scale battles taking place all across the galaxy between various factions.Compared to the potential ofZero Company,games likeStar Wars Outlawsfelt somewhat limited by both their choice of setting and game design, with watchful Stormtroopers or generic human soldiers making up the majority of your combat encounters.
One of the more exciting aspects ofZero Company’s turn-based tactical gameplay is how the game’s story plans on reacting to your moment-to-moment choices throughout the game, withbranching choices that influence both the game world and the developing bonds between characters.XCOMand other tactical role-playing games have already paved the way for the kind of replayable storytelling thatStar Wars Zero Companycould provide, so long as the concept and setting don’t get watered down too much when appealing to wider audiences.
The Clone Wars Has Massive Potential For Original Storytelling
A Surprisingly Underused Setting For The Franchise
According to aStarWars.cominterview with one ofZero Company’s developers, rather than retelling the events of the prequel trilogy from a new angle,“Zero Company promises a boots-on-the-ground perspective of the conflict that’s never been seen before” ~Kellog.Taking place near the end of the Clone Wars,Zero Companyalready has a better chance of offering a perspective that hasn’t been explored much in past franchise entries.Compared to the more straightforward good versus evil of the Empire, The Clone Wars has much more room for unsteady alliances, clandestine operations, and heartbreaking betrayals without borrowing too heavily from past entries.
Leaning into the tension and risks of tactical gameplay can elevate the experience to even greater heights.
Even ifStar Wars Zero Companydid want to draw from morerecognizable Clone Wars characters,Zero Companyhas no shortage of options that could easily provide nuanced allies or enemies, depending on your choices.Rather than coming across major characters like Darth Vader or Obi-Wan Kenobi that could easily overshadow the storyline, the period of the Clone Wars has plenty of interesting characters and even planets that can fit into the seamlessly developing story of Hawks and his band of unlikely allies.
Rather than relying on nostalgic optimism and the classic sights ofStar Wars Outlaws,Zero Companycould finally explore the grittier elements of the series with a more nuanced intrigue, as you fight through the"shadow war that no conventional army is equipped to encounter," ~Contreras. Taking notable inspiration fromStar Warsmedia likeAndor andRogue One, while still acknowledging the themes of the original trilogy,I’m optimistic about the directionZero Companyis choosing to take to hopefully deliver more satisfying narrative payoffs.
Zero Company Could Offer More In-Depth Character Relationships
Putting Together A Diverse Crew Of Powerful Allies
Aside from its overall tone and gameplay preview, the highlight ofZero Company’sStar Wars Celebrationannouncement trailerwas easily the diverse squad of characters you’ll be controlling throughout the game. Rather than just being made up of a band of Clone Troopers, Mercenaries, or Jedi,Zero Companyhas members from all walks of the galaxy that are bound to provide unique character interactions. Compared to the narrow cast selection in games likeStar WarsOutlaws,which tend to be more one-dimensional in their presentation given their gameplay focus,Zero Companyhas a much greater potential for engaging relationship dynamics.
Character-driven stories have always been a core part of theStar Warsexperience.
Character-driven stories have always been a core part of theStar Warsexperience, withZero Company’s tactical squad-based gameplay taking the concept to its natural conclusion with more player choice than before. Offering both pre-made characters and your own personally crafted squad members,Zero Companycan better fill in the gap between character-driven stories seen in games likeRogue Traderand the desire for more original experiences that XCOM’s player-made soldiers can provide.
Zero Company Is Currently The Most Promising Star Wars Game
The Latest Franchise Entry Is Already Off To A Strong Start
Being one of the only upcomingStar Warsprojects that hasn’t been canceled or gone years without any signs of development progress, like theKnights of the Old Republicremake,Zero Companyis already aheadof the competition when it comes to delivering a satisfying experience for the franchise. Even if it might not have the same drawing power as large-scale open-world games likeOutlawsorJedi: Survivorprovide in spades,Zero Company’s higher focus could be its greatest saving grace.
The Bit Reactor studio behindZero Companyis a new development team made up of members who have worked on several successful strategy games, such as XCOM and Civilization.
ForZero Companyto be successful, it will need to lean into the elements of the genre more than ever, without being afraid of scaring away fans with its experimental gameplay. Whether through character death or other lasting consequences of player choice, leaning into the tension and risks of tactical gameplay can elevate the experience to even greater heights. Given that one of my biggest complaints withStar Wars Outlawswas the lack of meaningful player choices, I have high hopes that a game likeStar Wars Zero Companycan deliver a more intuitive storytelling experience with plenty of twists.
