Star Wars Zero Company, an upcoming turn-based tactics adventure from developer Bit Reactor, aims to blend the genre's strategic depth with the iconic Star Wars universe. While its premise might initially suggest a game exclusively for seasoned tactics enthusiasts, early gameplay experiences indicate that Zero Company offers an approachable entry point for newcomers without sacrificing complexity for genre veterans. The game places players in the role of Hawks, a former Republic captain leading a special forces unit called Zero Company, tasked with investigating a mysterious paramilitary cult known as the Infinite Coil. Character customization allows players to design their operative, choosing from a variety of species, facial features, and combat specializations. This appearance can be altered between missions at the player's home base.
Despite its strategic focus, Zero Company's combat is designed to be intuitive. Each character is afforded three action points per turn, which can be used for movement, attacking, or setting up overwatch cones for automatic targeting of enemies. A shared pool of advantage points, earned through successful attacks, can be expended on unique character abilities. The game features a growing squad of soldiers, including medics, marksmen, and astromech droids, making squad composition crucial for success, particularly on higher difficulty settings. Players can experiment with different team makeups, from melee-focused brawlers to long-range support, and can even recruit special units like Mandalorians and Jedi.
Engaging Combat Encounters
Zero Company's combat encounters are enhanced by features like calling for backup, allowing squadmates to follow up attacks. The game introduces varied enemy types, forcing players to adapt strategies. For instance, Droidekas with their shield projectors require different tactics, such as trapping them with overwatch cones to exploit brief moments when their shields are down. A notable multi-part mission showcased during the preview involved pairing Hawks with Anakin Skywalker and a sharpshooter. These encounters presented diverse objectives, including survival against waves of enemies, rescuing civilians, and defusing explosives while evading an attack dropship. Even powerful allies like Anakin require careful management to avoid their vulnerability to enemy attacks.
Base Operations and Mission Selection
Between missions, players return to the Den, a decommissioned cargo freighter serving as their home base. Here, they can purchase weapon modifications, recruit new operators, upgrade facilities like a medbay or droid repair station, and interact with squad members. These interactions can unlock optional leads accessible via the Den's holotable. The holotable serves as the mission selection hub, offering a variety of mission types, including rescue operations and heists, which put players in direct control of their troops on different planets. Additionally, the holotable is used for special operations, which are hands-off tasks requiring players to dispatch specific squad combinations. The success of these operations and the rewards obtained depend on the bonds between squad members, which can be strengthened to unlock stat boosts.
The Stakes of Permadeath
Zero Company incorporates a permadeath mechanic, where squadmates can be revived a limited number of times during a battle. If a character falls for a third time in a single engagement, they are lost permanently. While permadeath can be toggled off, the feature adds significant weight to each decision and fosters a stronger investment in the fate of the characters. The narrative's peril is amplified by the potential loss of likeable characters, with voice performances contributing to player attachment.
Despite the engaging gameplay and mechanics, the preview noted some technical issues, including camera angle problems, occasional framerate drops in graphically intensive areas, and targeting or aiming inaccuracies. There were also instances of characters being hit through solid cover. Developer Bit Reactor is expected to address these rough edges before the game's launch.
Star Wars Zero Company is scheduled to launch on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game promises a blend of strategic combat, character customization, and narrative depth within the Star Wars universe, potentially appealing to both seasoned tactics players and those new to the genre.