Developer: Aspyr, LucasArts
Publisher: Aspyr
Available on: PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Review console: Xbox Series X|S
What is old is new again. On November 22nd, 2002, LucasArts released Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, an ambitious third-person action shooter that puts players into the boots of the galaxy's most dangerous bounty hunter, Jango Fett. The game was set to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones on DVD that year, and while most movie tie-ins tend to be painfully average, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter was among the better, more memorable ones.
Now, in 2024, Aspyr Media has released a remastered version of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. Instead of a fresh coat of paint, the remaster also features optimized controls and an updated visual presentation. The release regrettably comes on the heels of the disastrous launch of the Battlefront remasters earlier in the Spring. However, despite this, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a Star Wars remaster done right. Mostly right.
Dangerous Times
It is a time of corruption and conflict. After the Battle of Naboo in Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace, the galaxy is disjointed and disconnected. Thousands of worlds are threatening to secede from the Republic and form their own Confederacy. As this goes on, a sinister plan is stealthily unfurling. On a ship deep in space, Count Dooku is summoned by Emperor Palpatine. A rogue apprentice, Komari Vosa, represents a threat to the Emperor's grand plan as she has summoned a small army, the Bando Gora.
Additionally, a host is needed for the grand clone army that will serve the Republic in the upcoming war. Count Dooku vows to achieve both objectives in a swift stroke and turns to the galaxy's bounty hunters as a solution. After capturing a high-value target, Jango, like the rest of the bounty hunters in the galaxy, is messaged by Count Dooku. Komari Vosa is wanted: dead or alive. The reward is 6 million Republic Credits. With a chance to be set up for life, Jango sets off into the criminal underworld for fortune and glory.
Dead or Alive
Star Wars Bounty Hunter is a 3rd person action game with fighting, shooting, and platforming elements. Jango is a Mandalorian, a fearsome group of warriors easily identified by their helmets and known for their armor and combat prowess. As Jango, players wield his iconic duel pistols to dispatch many enemies, but throughout the game, have access to more of his trademark arsenal. Poison darts eliminate enemies in one hit. The jetpack rocket launcher obliterates any enemy on the other side. A wrist-mounted flamethrower easily torches any unfortunate enemy caught on the other side. When all else fails, good old-fashioned fists do the trick.
Woven into the gameplay is Jango's role as a bounty hunter. Scattered in each level are bounties. These can be NPCs or enemies attacking Jango. When marked, players can bring them in dead or alive. While an intriguing mechanic, this is a task for completionists as one must stop and scour a swath of characters, often in the middle of combat to find them. When found, players may use the whip cable, tie them, and claim them for capture. Alternatively, Jango may shoot them a potentially lesser bounty. Collecting bounties does help in unlocking extras, but that is their sole purpose.
Your Move, Creep
Players face many enemies on their quest to claim the ultimate bounty. Most of the time, hundreds of enemies will engage Jango, making for absolutely wild firefights. Criminals, guards, soldiers, and many more take on Jango. One unique mechanic to Jango's combat is his trademark blasters. One blaster in one arm will separately target another enemy, giving the game that true Wild West feel. Jango Fett does not have auto-healing, and as such, players need to be mindful of their health. Enemies do drop health in the form of glowing blue bacta tanks but players are in constant danger.
Later in the first chapter, players gain access to Jango's jetpack. This allows the ability to fly for a moment and further evade enemy fire. It is a euphoric feeling getting the drop on enemies with the jet pack, downing them before they get a chance to hit you. However, it only ignites for a short burst. Learning to be mindful of the jetpack is essential, especially during the game's fairly challenging platforming and navigation elements. The first chapter has players attempting to cross a chasm while under blaster fire. It's as dicey as it sounds.
Wild Wild West
The purpose of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is to feel like the ultimate bounty hunter. To that end, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter greatly succeeds, which is why the game became such a classic. It's a game of being the anti-hero. No Jedi or codes of justice. Just straight-up action and an army of crooks that stand between you and being set up for life. Coupled with an intriguing underworld story, Bounty Hunter is a fine thrill ride into the lesser-known parts of Star Wars.
However, it isn't without some jank. Some of the enhancements with the camera are very welcome, being able to lock onto targets and position the camera in more control is certainly a significant upgrade. The team even added a head-mounted light for darker areas. This new camera works, but can lead to a big of trouble. The biggest sore spot is platforming with the jetpack. With such a small amount of fuel, timing where to go and how to get there is a matter of luck and not overdoing the controls. It can be frustrating if not done right. The "fall" glitch is still present in which Jango gets stuck in a texture, falls in place, and then dies.
Jedi Puu Duu
The frustration is further exacerbated because the game oddly has lives. Running out of lives means starting the entire level at the beginning, a painful setback after spending 20 minutes or so in a level. The platforming could have used work. Adding more fuel to the jetpack for a few more seconds would have benefited these segments. Visually, the game is sharp, especially Jango's shiny and reflective armor as opposed to static grey. The same treatment has been applied to the cutscenes as well.
Still, it would have been beneficial to tweak a few aspects of the gameplay. The jetpack should have more fuel to reach distant platforms, instead of hoping for the best. An extra flashlight was added to give more clarity for darker areas but nothing to help make finding the bounties just a little easier. Such adjustments would have made the remaster stronger in its appeal. Finally, after beating the game once, players gain access to Boba Fett's scratched armor set, which is a nice touch for the Star Wars enthusiast.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Star Wars Bounty Hunter arrives 22 years later, and this remaster makes a solid game significantly better. While we still cannot explain the bamboozling of the Battlefront remasters earlier this year, it can be said that this remaster of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter mostly works. The gameplay and experience are unique, the story is engrossing, and the visual touchups are nice. With Star Wars: Outlaws on the way, this is not only a nice throwback to simpler times in games but a solid adventure into the criminal underworld of Star Wars
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