Star Wars Zero Company review - joyfully absurd heroics with a tight-knit team of misfits

By Nic Reuben · The Guardian Culture

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC; Bit Reactor Split priorities between scripted and emergent story moments hamper an otherwise brilliant Star Wars-themed successor to XCOM Even if you’re unfamiliar with the term “emergent storytelling”, you’ve likely experienced some of the unscripted tales that can bubble up out of a game’s systems. Perhaps you’ve led a scheming dynasty in Crusader Kings, or watched a favourite hero succumb to madness in Darkest Dungeon . Maybe you’ve surrendered yourself to the infinite yarn-spinner that is Dwarf Fortress – or read about it from the mid-00s forums where users helped popularise the term “Let’s Play” by chronicling their games in descriptive posts. Or perhaps you’ve played Firaxis’ XCOM , the alien invasion tactics hit that several key members of Zero Company studio Bit Reactor had a hand in. Zero Company hinges on a concept as simple as it is perfect: take the complementary class abilities, tough dice rolls, and permanent character deaths of XCOM, and house them in a sci-fi setting known for spaghetti western blaster duels, last stands and heroic sacrifices. As creative director Greg Foertsch puts it , “Star Wars is about loss.” Which losses you end up mourning in Zero Company depends on you. Continue reading...