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0 Within gaming, Star Wars titles seem to be extremely popular with some but not others. It is highly possible they could be Trekkies but there really is a mixed bag. As a big Star Wars fan myself, I can’t help myself. It was exactly the same with Battlefront, I had to get my hands on a copy. Star Wars Squadrons is the latest title to be released by EA, and unlike Battlefront this time you are solely in crafts/ships (whatever you like to call them) in a fast-paced aerial battle.
Star Wars Squadrons Is This The Game You Are Looking For?
Having been excited for this release for a while it is finally here. Let’s find out how I got on and don’t forget you can always catch up with us on social media. If you have already had some hands-on time with Star Wars Squadrons do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Gameplay
Despite been extremely excited about Star Wars Squadrons. There was a part of me thinking, I haven’t played a game like this in so long, will I still enjoy it? How long will it take me to get to grips with the mechanics? I started playing and my worries went away. The game starts off with a bit of character creation, take as long as you want or as little – However, I recommend as little so you can just get to the game. From here you jump straight into the story and then you finally get some hands-on experience in a TIE Fighter.
You needn’t worry if you haven’t had hands-on with similar titles, thankfully the developers have put together a really helpful tutorial as you are playing through your first missions. These step by steps really do set you up for a great gaming experience, not only that – If you are new you can turn the difficulty down as well. I started on what I could consider a medium difficulty and was easily able to continue with the help of the tutorial.
In terms of story, I really don’t want to give too much away as it would put spoilers out there for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to play it yet. However, I can say that it is gripping and will definitely leave you wanting to play more. I genuinely couldn’t put it down once I loaded it.
The campaign is obviously the main part of the game, however, EA has kindly provided a multiplayer option as well. I could honestly see people just jumping onto MP, however, you will be missing out on a great storyline (Don’t say I didn’t warn you). Within the multiplayer side of Squadrons, like any other game you gain EXP and from here you level up and unlock different items for your ship. I haven’t spent that much time on MP as of yet but what I have played so far I enjoyed. Not only that its something different to play, but I also can’t say I have many space combat games in my library at the minute.
Graphics & Audio
Before we get into the graphics, remember, this review was on PC and I was running it on a 2060 Super on ultra. This honestly made Star Wars Squadrons breathtaking. The game is absolutely stunning and it pays homage to style used throughout the franchise. I am not the best at getting screenshots, especially on the first play, however, if you are a gamer that loves to share yours then this is the game to get capturing.
Everything from the textures to in-game cut scenes, it all looks super clean. Thankfully it’s not a title whereby you have amazing cut scene graphics but then you jump into some graphically clunky gaming environment. I have not had any issues with the graphics in Star Wars Squadrons which for such a fast-paced game, you would expect to possibly see a lot of really bad motion blur!
Where to start? I am an absolute sucker for the Audio FX that the Star Wars franchise has bestowed upon us. From the engines of the ships to the pew pews of the artillery, it just reminds me of the first time I watched A New Hope. Star Wars Squadrons can get really busy in terms of noise when you are fighting as part of a fleet, for example, however, This does not detract from the game, if anything it just makes you more embedded in the fight ahead. There was a point when I first started playing, I just kept hitting fire! Just because I wanted to hear that all famous laser FX.
Longevity
When looking at longevity there are two aspects for Star Wars Squadrons, firstly we have the campaign, then secondly multiplayer. If we first look at the campaign, a lot of people have completed it in around 8-10 hours which I think is pretty accurate. If you are new to or haven’t played this type of game previously you can spend a couple of extra hours just getting your head around the mechanics. So you do get quite a bit of story!
If you then look at multiplayer, it is completely down to the gamer. Some will love the campaign for what it is (Star Wars obviously) and if they aren’t a huge fan of aerial games the multiplayer aspect might not be so attractive. On the other hand you could potentially plough hours and hours into it like any other multiplayer. I can imagine some great content/DLC been released for this but whether or not that will happen? Who knows!
Final Thoughts
From the start, despite me never really playing titles with gameplay like Star Wars Squadrons I knew I was going to be hooked. The graphics and the audio alone would leave any Star Wars fan wanting more. The game screams nostalgia, and it just keeps on giving and giving. Campaign mode was gripping and even when that is over you have multiplayer to pick up. I haven’t played a game in a long time that blew me away for both single and multiplayer. It was really refreshing to play. I honestly have to give a huge shout out to everyone that was involved in making Squadrons the game that it is.
I give Star Wars Squadrons a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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