A Brief Journey into the Edge of the Galaxies
Star Wars: Hunters, amazing thing lies in delivering quick, entertainment within the beloved Star Wars universe. This hero shooter from Zynga offers a fun, even though, distraction, but its dull competitive environment and uninspired progression system fail to sustain long-term interest.
Star Wars: Hunters goes for an old approach, similar to Team Fortress 2. Players form teams of unique characters, known as Hunters, and get in the straightforward PvP shootouts. What sets it different is its Star Wars theme, which it utilizes effectively.
Iconic Star Wars music stirs nostalgia, and familiar settings like Ewok Villages and Imperial Starships immerse players in the galaxy far, far away, especially as blaster bolts fly and Wookiees roar.
Star Wars: Hunters Character Design and Gameplay
The character design in Star Wars: Hunters leans strongly into the playful and imaginative side of the Star Wars universe. Utooni, for instance, is a delightful pair of Jawas in a trench coat, and J-3DI is a droid mimicking a Jedi with a lightsaber and grappling hook.
With 13 playable characters at launch, there is a commendable variety in playstyles and personalities. Imara Vex, an active bounty hunter, and Grozz, a dark Wookiee, shows the range of abilities and strategies players can make use of. This diversity makes each character feel different and fun to learn.
The matches themselves are simple but entertaining. With four game modes, which includes a quality team deathmatch called Squad Battle and a point-capture mode named Power Control, the game will feel similar to veteran PvP shooter players.
Matches are short, typically of five minutes, making them perfect for mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch. But this short of time often limits the seriousness of strategic play, making the experience feel more like speed checkers than chess.
Star Wars: Hunters is good in creating chaotic fun, but its progression system and monetization model leave much to be desired. The game has a mix of free and premium currencies.
New characters are unlocked using Crystals, earned in small amounts through gameplay or purchased outright with real money. While the early progression is reasonably paced, it slows significantly as more characters are unlocked, leading to a frustrating grind.
Credits, the free currency, are used for cosmetic items and are earned through matches and challenges. But the limited selection of items available for Credits washes their value, making them feel somewhat pointless.
The progression also includes two forms of XP: Fame, which levels up specific characters and offers cosmetic rewards or minor skill upgrades, and the Arena Pass, a battle pass system that unlocks more Credits, Crystals, and cosmetics.
Sadly, the rewards from the Arena Pass are not so good, and most levels require purchasing the All-Access pass for $10 to unlock meaningful rewards, including the exclusive character Aran Tal.
The home screen is mixed with numerous windows, tabs, and submenus, making it difficult to navigate and claim rewards. This mixed design affects the overall experience and adds unnecessary frustration.
Conclusion
Star Wars: Hunters is an enjoyable game, its themed presentation hits the right notes, giving us a playful and full experience without being overbearing.
The casual gameplay modes strike a balance between accessibility and skill, making for entertaining, even though short-lived, matches. But its competitive scene is limited by dominant character compositions, and the rewards system feels more threatening than rewarding.
While unlocking new Hunters is exciting, the slow pace and aggressive monetization intense the enjoyment. Like a party at the Death Star. Star Wars: Hunters is impressive and fun for a while, but it’s not a place you’ll want to stay for too long.
Also read: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review