Star Wars: Zero Company
Preview
X-Com meets Star Wars
by William Thompson
previewed on PC
Twilight of the Republic
Stepping into Star Wars: Zero Company immediately evokes the refined aesthetic of Lucasfilm's modern animated projects. The cutscenes and character interactions back at base carry a stylized visual language reminiscent of The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch, blending painterly character models with crisp cinematics.
Set during the twilight of the Clone Wars, the game's narrative leans into a grittier, underdog perspective on the galactic conflict. Complementing the visual polish is an authentic, grand orchestral soundtrack that hits all the classic notes of a traditional John Williams score, lending cinematic weight to every tactical engagement.
Commander Hawks and The Infinite Coil
You take on the role of Hawks, an ex-Republic officer who can be fully customized across various Star Wars species, genders, and cosmetic options to suit your personal style. Operating in the grey areas of the galaxy, Hawks leads an outfit of professionals and mercenaries for hire on a high-stakes campaign to track down and neutralize Kundri Fathom, leader of the Separatist-aligned cult known as the Infinite Coil.
Narrative depth extends beyond briefing screens. A significant portion of the story and world-building unfolds organically between deployments within The Den, your home base of operations. Taking the time to chat with squad members and key personnel between operations reveals personal backstories, unlocks side investigations, and addresses interpersonal dynamics.
Base Management & Squad Operations
Between operations, managing The Den serves as the strategic spine of your campaign. Investing credits and resources allows you to upgrade base facilities, which in turn unlocks field improvements, better gear tech, and tactical support options. You can also recruit new squad members across diverse class archetypes to replace fallen operators or fill specific tactical roles on the fly. Sustained combat injuries are not fixed instantaneously, as healing wounded squad members costs both time and money, forcing you to maintain a deep roster and carefully rotate personnel between deployments.
Tactical Turn-Based Combat & Mechanics
The core gameplay loop follows a structured operational flow. Each mission begins in the preparation phase where you select available units and equip them for the specific mission ahead. From there, your squad is dropped into tactical deployment across a range of operational objectives, including sabotage and high-stakes rescue missions. Once on the ground, combat execution demands smart position management, cover usage, and flanking manoeuvres. Following the action, you return to The Den for recovery, facility upgrades, and squad development.
Map design emphasizes dynamic positioning and environmental strategy. Iconic locations such as the cloud platforms of Bespin, the open plains of Dantooine, and the industrial structures of Lothal each feature distinct visual styles and terrain layouts that directly affect how you navigate the mission. Success relies heavily on utilizing ample high cover, establishing sightlines, and manoeuvring into safe positions to flank enemies, making terrain awareness mandatory if you want your squad to come out alive.
Pre-mission and in-battle choices carry immense weight throughout the campaign. Deciding who to assign to specific jobs and how to react under pressure dictates operational success, a reality that becomes particularly acute when playing with Permadeath toggled on, where a single misstep permanently eliminates a veteran operator.
Threats are varied across a range of enemy profiles, each requiring tailored tactical responses. For example, standard Separatist B1 Battle Droids are easy to pick off individually, but they often arrive in large swarms that can overwhelm exposed units. Conversely, B2 Super Battle Droids boast heavy armor plating and can unleash devastating rockets that deal area-of-effect damage to multiple clustered squad members at once. Navigating these combat scenarios feels fluid and responsive across setups, as controls work exceptionally well whether you prefer a traditional keyboard and mouse combo or a controller.
Personnel Bonds & Progression
Character progression extends beyond standard skill trees through the intuitive Personnel Bonds system. Deploying the same units together builds their interpersonal rapport over time, making consistent pairings crucial for forming a successful Zero Company team.
As operators grow closer, they earn Focus Points that allow them to teach each other passive abilities and unique combat tricks. Every unit,including customizable Astromech droids, possesses distinct specialization trees that define their battlefield role, creating rich cross-class synergies across your entire squad.
Ultimately, Star Wars: Zero Company shapes up to be a compelling blend of tactical depth and authentic storytelling. By grounding its turn-based combat in meaningful squad mechanics, base management, and a distinct Clone Wars aesthetic, Bit Reactor delivers an experience that feels both strategically rewarding and deeply rooted in the galaxy far, far away. Whether you are carefully positioning your squad on the platforms of Bespin or weighing the irreversible consequences of Permadeath back at The Den, it promises a gritty, hands-on tactical adventure that strategy fans and Star Wars enthusiasts alike will want on their radar.
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