You’d be forgiven for having a nasty feeling about Star Wars: Hunters. This free-to-play, class-based, hero shooter was introduced by FarmVille developer Zynga in 2021, however a duo of delays and its look within the already stacked style of ‘Overwatch-likes’ hardly served as a ringing endorsement for the newest occasion from a galaxy far, far-off.
However in spite of everything of that ready, the shooter has lastly arrived (as a console unique to Change, no much less, a minimum of for now) and it is actually moderately good. Positive, those that have sampled Overwatch’s class-based stylings would possibly discover nothing notably new right here, however at launch Hunters is a quick and enjoyable tackle the PvP method that may even function a becoming trial for any Padawans of the style.
So, what’s all of it about? Star Wars: Hunters is a third-person, class-based shooter. You play as a Hunter from certainly one of three capacity sorts (Harm, Tank, or Help) and workforce up with one other three gamers on-line to tackle an opposing workforce throughout 4 totally different recreation modes. The category stability is the important thing to victory, with every character bringing a singular skillset to profit the workforce and hand out the wins.
If it feels like one thing that you have seen a number of occasions earlier than, that is as a result of it’s. Hunters would not essentially convey something new to the squad-based desk however because the outdated saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, do not Babu Friks it.”
The factor that units Hunters aside, naturally, is Star Wars. Lightsabers, blasters, and Wookies are all current and proper right here, and every area invokes iconic places from Endor to the Demise Star which can be certain to enchantment to the Drive-sensitive on the market. However a excessive midi-chlorian depend is not vital to seek out enjoyment. Set on the all-new Outer Rim planet of Vespaara and that includes all-new characters, there isn’t a pre-reading required to correctly perceive what is going on on. It is a galaxy through which followers and newbies are welcome, with no barrier to entry.
Originality in Star Wars has, admittedly, usually proved to be a blended bag, however the characters are a pleasure to behold in Hunters. From a droid that thinks it is a Jedi, to 2 Jawas standing on high of one another in a trench coat (sure, actually), there’s a stage of silliness to the designs that different online game entries so usually overlook. What’s extra, every feels distinct sufficient that nobody Hunter stands aside as ‘the perfect.’ Each choice from attack-first Harm characters to therapeutic Helps has its function and, so long as you stick with it, by no means feels unfairly balanced.
Studying these roles is the distinction between profitable and dropping — dashing headfirst into enemy fireplace as Rodian medic Skora is not going to assist anybody, however supporting your Tank items to do the identical will profit the entire workforce — and Hunters does a great job of making certain that you simply pattern all approaches. It is a first-come, first-served method within the character choice menu earlier than a match, so you will repeatedly have to modify up your techniques in case your most popular Hunter has already been taken, and Quests and Occasions deal with every particular person Hunter, encouraging you to strive all of them out to reap the utmost rewards.
However as soon as we hit rewards, issues get a bit poodoo. A Battle Move-like addition to the free-to-play construction isn’t any shock as of late, although we felt that maybe a bit too a lot is locked behind the paywall at launch. Other than the standard character skins, emotes, and weapon wraps, Hunters’ ‘Area Move’ additionally contains unique entry to a further fighter, Mandalorian Aran Tal, who’s unselectable for these unwilling to pay. There’s each probability that this pay-to-play Hunter will turn into freely obtainable as soon as the primary Area Move season is up, however holding that character’s tactical approaches solely for individuals who cough up the dough feels a bit icky.
Happily, there is a bonus to placing within the work in Hunters. Every character will be upgraded with ‘Hunter Fame,’ granting them rewards together with capacity enhancements and cosmetics. You achieve Fame just by enjoying with every Hunter, so whereas paid benefits do exist, the main target stays on play-to-win.
Matches themselves are comparatively quick, most lasting across the five-minute mark, and whereas the sport mode selection would not precisely make every match-up really feel utterly totally different, there may be sufficient of an goal change between every to make sure that the grind is rarely tiresome. These modes will likely be acquainted to these with expertise within the style — demise match, zone management, and seize the flag are replicated in ‘Squad Brawl,’ ‘Dynamic Management’ and ‘Trophy Chase’ respectively — although their auto-rotating construction gives one other alternative to strive totally different Hunter approaches for various aims.
Discovering every of those modes generally is a little bit of a headache, with frustratingly fiddly residence menus and a not-so-obvious spotlight icon making navigating by upgrades, rewards, and recreation choice a trial of its personal. Nevertheless, issues are a lot clearer in-game. The clutter-free HUD signifies that your consideration is at all times on the motion. The controls are responsive and the non-obligatory gyro setting for movement aiming is a welcome addition, notably for individuals who have reaped its advantages within the likes of Splatoon and Tears of the Kingdom.
All of it feels pleasantly designed for Change (and cellular) and this carries by into the visuals. In contrast to Fortnite, Overwatch, or different on-line shooters ported to Change the place the promise of glowing HD feels simply out of attain, Hunters’ visuals work of their simplicity. We have been by no means distracted by textures manifestly loading within the background, nor misplaced for phrases at one thing’s detailed magnificence. It is a mobile-first Change recreation, however include the suitable state of mind and you can be sufficiently whelmed.
Efficiency, too, has been a pleasing shock in most matches. Issues appear to run at a constant 30fps in nearly each recreation we have now performed with minimal ‘matchmaking’ wait occasions and loading screens, that means that it is fast and simple to slide into that ‘only one extra win’ feeling.
Conclusion
Star Wars: Hunters may not convey something notably new to the ever-increasing subject of class-based shooters, however there’s plenty of enjoyable available right here. When you can look previous the fiddly menus and ‘Area Move’ trappings which have haunted so many within the style, Hunters affords a stage of tactical PvP gameplay that’s easy to understand and entertaining sufficient to warrant mastering. Better of all, it feels proper at residence on Change. There is definitely room for enchancment however, like ol’ Shiv Palpatine, we’ll watch its profession with nice curiosity.
