Star Wars: Zero Company: PS5 Review

Developed by Bit Reactor
Published by EA
Platform: PS5

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars games were everywhere.

Mostly focusing on multiplayer or racing games, the universe was scattered full of their ilk, capturing the vibes of what it was like to be part of either the Rebellion or the Empire.

But despite the joys of Star Wars: Battlefront, none of them fully fused the mix of story with campaign effectively well - aside perhaps from Star Wars: Outlaws, much overlooked and underappreciated.

So the latest game presents a curious proposition in a year when two Star Wars games are about to appear. However, adding in the idea of a turn-based game to a Star Wars universe jaunt has proved to be better than it ought to be and an improvement on anything the Star Wars universe has tried to innovate for years.

You play as Hawks, the leader of a ragtag group of mercenaries known as Zero Company, and a former Republic officer tasked with now protecting the universe from a growing threat. Set during the Clone Wars, Hawks and his group find themselves in substantial debt to one of the Hutt clan and forced to take jobs to pay it off before it's too late.

The story's not incidental to Zero Company and represents a kind of leap forward in terms of narrative that Star Wars games have been lacking for a while, but which delightfully seems to be making a welcome return to the gaming world.

But the bread and butter of Star Wars Zero Company relies on the success of the missions played out during the game - and it's here that the turn-based tactics start to come together to form something cohesive and enjoyable - once you get past the idea that any Star Wars battle or mission would present a stop-start option for those competing in it.

As you progress, you can build up your squad, swapping out mercenaries to come and join your crew and expanding skillsets - it's a solid touch that allows time for you to bond with your compadres. And to further compound that bond, there's an option to build relationships within the team too, whether they agree or disagree with your choice of actions, giving the game a kind of democracy feel that's welcome and immersive.

Characters within the game also feel like they have different loyalties, leading to a general overview that covers all the moral bases. Whether it's Clone War troopers disagreeing with Separatist plans or subtle prejudices seeping to the fore, Zero Company makes great fist of fleshing out the entire world.

In terms of turn-based combat itself, it's fairly simple to pick up even if you've never played an XCOM style game before. With the ability to support your team members, extend zones where if enemies move you can shoot them and various other touches, the turn-based combat feels rich enough to achieve what's needed but also occasionally short enough to feel like you could lose it all within one go.

It's not all perfect though. Cutscenes when you head back to your base are repetitive and the same, leading to a feeling that the game's going through motions. And the camera being blocked during certain turns leaving you to guess whether your gang survived a threat is not a welcome touch either.

But all in all, Star Wars: Zero Company makes a great fist of the idea that the Star Wars universe can feel alive in ways you'd never expect. With an engaging story, different worlds and missions, and characters that feel real, this is one company you'll clearly be happy to fall in with.