A online game the place you play as Jango Fett, cope with the Hutts, and go on a mission to remove a Darkish Jedi? This premise was interesting to me in 2002 when Star Wars: Bounty Hunter was initially launched, and it’s nonetheless interesting to me greater than 20 years later. Fortunately, a remastered model of the third-person motion recreation is popping out from Aspyr, updating the Jango Fett recreation for contemporary audiences and displaying that it holds up fairly darn effectively.
Whereas there are many gunfights to get into and a pleasant array of weapons for Jango to make use of, it must be famous that this isn’t a straight third-person shooter. You shouldn’t go into Star Wars: Bounty Hunter anticipating nonstop motion. As a substitute, it’s a bit extra bold. The action-adventure recreation will discover you doing fairly a little bit of climbing and platforming round as you pursue criminals and full missions. It’s fairly spectacular how trendy it feels, as it might nearly really feel like a proto-Uncharted at factors with the climbing, and it has largely aged effectively thanks to some key additions.
The largest change to the brand new model is that it options remastered controls. The unique recreation had a lot clunkier fight on account of its reliance on lock-on aiming. The brand new model could be performed extra like a conventional shooter, with you utilizing the correct follow goal and utilizing the correct set off to fireplace your weapon. Fortunately, legacy controls are nonetheless included, so you possibly can play a devoted model of the unique in order for you, however actually, the improved controls are the way in which to go.
There are additionally some slight gameplay modifications, equivalent to slowing time when utilizing the scanner, and loads of visible upgrades. Because of dynamic lighting being added and bump-mapped environments, the sport seems to be a lot better. It nonetheless reveals its age, as it’s nonetheless a PS2 recreation at its core, but it surely seems to be and runs nice at a excessive decision. There’s additionally a brand new flashlight that was added, permitting gamers to shortly navigate darker areas. These are good modifications that undoubtedly make the sport higher consequently.
One of many largest causes to select Star Wars: Bounty Hunter up in the event you’ve by no means performed it earlier than is the attention-grabbing story it tells. It acts as a prequel to Assault of the Clones and showcases extra of Jango Fett’s background consequently. There are lots of nice expanded universe references as effectively, so followers will get an actual kick out of seeing the villainous Darth Tyranus and the way Jango wound up being cloned.
There’s additionally a wide range of bonus content material that may be unlocked. A few of that is from the unique recreation, equivalent to blooper reels, idea artwork, and dozens of Star Wars buying and selling playing cards. Nonetheless, the best half is the addition of a brand new Boba Fett pores and skin, which pays off an previous Easter egg that teased getting 100% completion to unlock Boba. You gained’t must do all that this time, as you simply must beat the sport, but it surely’s nonetheless such a cool addition.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Overview — Remaining Verdict
This remastered launch is the most effective model there’s ever been of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. This underrated Star Wars recreation has been a fan-favorite for years and it’s nice to see Jango’s journey so lovingly ported to trendy consoles whereas receiving good additions as effectively. It would nonetheless present its age, but it surely’s nonetheless a enjoyable and attention-grabbing Star Wars recreation that followers ought to try.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s assessment coverage explains, a rating of 8 equates to “Nice.” Whereas there are just a few minor points, this rating implies that the artwork succeeds at its aim and leaves a memorable affect.
Disclosure: The writer offered a digital PS5 copy for our Star Wars: Bounty Hunter assessment. Reviewed on model 1.000.001.
