Hands-on report: Star Wars Zero Company

Star Wars Zero Company introduces a turn-based tactics experience set around 20 BBY, during the Clone Wars. Players assume the role of Hawks, a former Republic officer leading a debt-ridden mercenary squad called Zero Company. The game blends tactical combat with narrative-driven choices, featuring destructible environments and a variety of missions, from rescues to sabotage. The title’s John Williams-inspired score and Star Wars-themed visuals reinforce its connection to the franchise’s established aesthetic.

The game emphasizes customization, allowing players to create and modify operatives with diverse races, appearances, and personalities. Combat mechanics revolve around Action Points (AP), enabling movement, attacks, and class-specific talents. Support units like astromechs provide buffs, while overwatch options add strategic depth. Missions are structured around achieving objectives while managing permadeath, which permanently removes fallen operatives from future gameplay.

Beyond combat, Zero Company includes exploration segments where players gather clues and interact with characters in hubs like hives of scum and villainy. The Den serves as a central hub for managing operatives, upgrading facilities, and customizing load-outs. A Holotable system organizes missions, including narrative-driven operations that influence the Galaxy Map and unlock rewards based on influence in specific zones.

Relationships between operatives evolve through bonds, shaped by shared missions, assists, and narrative choices. Dilemmas force players to make decisions that affect both operatives’ opinions and their abilities, earning Focus points for skill enhancements. The game integrates extensive Clone Wars lore, featuring characters like Gorga the Hutt and references to factions such as the Black Sun Syndicate, alongside appearances by Jedi in later missions.