You’d be forgiven for having a foul 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 most recent occasion from a galaxy far, distant.
However in any case of that ready, the shooter has lastly arrived (as a console unique to Swap, no much less, at the very least for now) and it is actually reasonably good. Certain, those that have sampled Overwatch’s class-based stylings would possibly discover nothing significantly 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 one in all three potential varieties (Injury, Tank, or Help) and group up with one other three gamers on-line to tackle an opposing group throughout 4 completely different sport modes. The category steadiness is the important thing to victory, with every character bringing a singular skillset to learn the group and hand out the wins.
If it appears 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is as a result of it’s. Hunters would not essentially convey something new to the squad-based desk however because the outdated saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, do not Babu Friks it.”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 enviornment invokes iconic places from Endor to the Loss of life Star which are positive to attraction to the Pressure-sensitive on the market. However a excessive midi-chlorian rely is not essential to search out enjoyment. Set on the all-new Outer Rim planet of Vespaara and that includes all-new characters, there is no such thing as a pre-reading required to correctly perceive what is going on on. This can be 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 combined 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 prime 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 most effective.’ Each choice from attack-first Injury characters to therapeutic Helps has its position and, so long as you stick with it, by no means feels unfairly balanced.
Studying these roles is the distinction between profitable and shedding — dashing headfirst into enemy hearth as Rodian medic Skora is not going to assist anybody, however supporting your Tank models to do the identical will profit the entire group — and Hunters does a great job of making certain that you just pattern all approaches. It is a first-come, first-served method within the character choice menu earlier than a match, so you may commonly have to change up your techniques in case your most popular Hunter has already been taken, and Quests and Occasions concentrate on 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 somewhat poodoo. A Battle Move-like addition to the free-to-play construction isn’t any shock today, although we felt that maybe somewhat too a lot is locked behind the paywall at launch. Other than the same old character skins, emotes, and weapon wraps, Hunters’ ‘Enviornment Move’ additionally contains unique entry to an extra fighter, Mandalorian Aran Tal, who’s unselectable for these unwilling to pay. There’s each probability that this pay-to-play Hunter will turn out to be freely out there as soon as the primary Enviornment Move season is up, however conserving that character’s tactical approaches solely for individuals who cough up the dough feels somewhat icky.
Fortuitously, there is a bonus to placing within the work in Hunters. Every character could be upgraded with ‘Hunter Fame,’ granting them rewards together with potential 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 completely different, there’s sufficient of an goal change between every to make sure that the grind isn’t tiresome. These modes will probably be acquainted to these with expertise within the style — dying match, zone management, and seize the flag are replicated in ‘Squad Brawl,’ ‘Dynamic Management’ and ‘Trophy Chase’ respectively — although their auto-rotating construction offers one other alternative to strive completely different Hunter approaches for various aims.
Discovering every of those modes could be a little bit of a headache, with frustratingly fiddly dwelling menus and a not-so-obvious spotlight icon making navigating by upgrades, rewards, and sport choice a trial of its personal. Nonetheless, issues are a lot clearer in-game. The clutter-free HUD signifies that your consideration is all the time on the motion. The controls are responsive and the non-compulsory gyro setting for movement aiming is a welcome addition, significantly for individuals who have reaped its advantages within the likes of Splatoon and Tears of the Kingdom.
All of it feels pleasantly designed for Swap (and cell) and this carries by into the visuals. In contrast to Fortnite, Overwatch, or different on-line shooters ported to Swap 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 obviously loading within the background, nor misplaced for phrases at one thing’s detailed magnificence. It is a mobile-first Swap sport, however include the best state of mind and you may be sufficiently whelmed.
Efficiency, too, has been a nice shock in most matches. Issues appear to run at a constant 30fps in nearly each sport we now have performed with minimal ‘matchmaking’ wait occasions and loading screens, which means that it is fast and simple to slide into that ‘only one extra win’ feeling.
Conclusion
Star Wars: Hunters won’t convey something significantly new to the ever-increasing area of class-based shooters, however there’s loads of enjoyable available right here. In the event you can look previous the fiddly menus and ‘Enviornment Move’ trappings which have haunted so many within the style, Hunters gives a stage of tactical PvP gameplay that’s easy to understand and entertaining sufficient to warrant mastering. Better of all, it feels proper at dwelling on Swap. There is definitely room for enchancment however, like ol’ Shiv Palpatine, we’ll watch its profession with nice curiosity.