Star Wars: Zero Company will be brilliant because XCOM is brilliant
There's a funny thing with video game genres in particular: a lot of them are based on just closely tracing the lines of preexisting games, only with a few small mechanical tweaks and a different-enough setting over the top. And few genres are quite as obvious in that regard as the XCOM-alike: a turn-based tactics game based on managing a small squad of permanently-killable allies through a…
Star Wars: Zero Company is an impressive game because it builds upon the brilliance of XCOM, specifically the Firaxis iterations. The game invites players to manage a squad of permanently-killable allies in turn-based tactics combat encounters, before engaging in RPG-lite housekeeping within a base or mothership. Star Wars fits seamlessly into this formula, creating a perfect pairing that feels like several loops closing at once for fans of both genres.
While there are some differences, such as a linear narrative and third-person exploration, these changes enhance the overall experience. The game's unique features, such as bonds between operators and pre-mission text-based adventures, add depth and replayability to the classic turn-based tactics loop.
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