We are back again in the realm of Star Wars with Star Wars: Squadrons. This a first person dogfight game that plants you in the pilot seat of some of the most well known star-fighters of the Star Wars universe, featuring a single player campaign and online multiplayer.
This was certainly an unexpected surprise EA presented, especially since it was not that long after their great success of Jedi Fallen Order. No one really knew what to expect since EA hasn’t had the best track record of Star Wars games in past (with the exception of Fallen Order) so Squadrons was going to be a hit or miss. But I think after playing it long enough to complete the single player campaign, I can definitely say this is a hit for sure, and I think many others would agree.
While appearing complicated at first glance, this is actually a really really fun game that allows you to be a pilot in the world of Star Wars, fighting for either the New Republic or the Galactic Empire. It’s a hell of a good time to play, whether you are playing the story or going at it with your friends in multiplayer. Since this game is composed of two parts I will go over them individually, starting with the story.
Our story takes place after the Battle of Endor, where the Empire has been hugely crippled by the loss of their Emperor but still remain a formidable threat to the galaxy. So the newly formed New Republic assembles their forces to defeat what’s left of the Empire and finally bring peace at last.
In the campaign you alternate between both factions, playing as your own customized pilot (who you can further customize after playing more of the game or playing multiplayer). You are introduced to new original characters but also get the chance to see familiar faces from Star Wars media, including Hera from Star Wars Rebels and Wedge Antilles from the films.
Now this story isn’t as intricate as Jedi Fallen Order, which is understandable given the type of game this is. However, the story we get is still serviceable and good, due to some of the likable characters and a fun plot that has some arcs for certain characters. You get to see things from the perspectives of both sides, and when you interact with various characters you get some expansion on the story and even some references to the lore from the films, shows, and even some novels.
When you are with the New Republic you are part of the Vanguard squadron, composed of Gunny, Frisk, Grace, Keo, and commanded by Lindon Javes, who was a former Imperial. The New Republic has a more light hearted tone to them, but at the same time remain focused and alert when going against the Empire. Definitely my favorite of the bunch is the Trandoshan Frisk, who has quite the mouth, as well as having a great performance by Clone Wars veteran James Arnold Taylor.
When you are with the Empire you are part of Titan squadron, composed of Grey, Sol, Shen, Vonreg, and lead by Terisa Kerrill. They are much darker and more twisted in tone, as you would expect, showing more sadistic personalities in some of them while also showing a sense of honor and duty despite the heavy losses their faction has taken. The voice actors really give them a lot of life and avoid turning them into just a group of bad guy canon fodder, instead making them an actual group that you love to hate. If I was to pick a favorite it would have to be the reclusive Shen who is mostly mechanical, has his share of scars, and never takes off his pilot helmet in front of others. You definitely feel intimidated by him just by his look and voice, making him really stand out amongst the others.
The most interesting part of the two squadrons, though, is the arc of their commanding officers. Javes and Kerrill have a shared past which is shown right from the start, and for most of the story their rivalry is one of the key things that make their squadrons fight on in the battle for dominance of the galaxy.
The story overall feels mostly like an extended episode of Star Wars Rebels and shares a lot of similarities with it which I do like. It is fun and enjoyable while also having some dark elements present. As for gameplay, you can tell the developers put a lot of effort into making this the best Star Wars flight simulator. The controls and movement are as smooth as butter, but the speed depends on what type of fighter you pick. Nothing feels rigid or limited, you have a lot of free movement in the environment, being able to spin, fly upside down and even drift (although I will say figuring that one out is tricky).
You can shoot lasers, missiles and other types of equipment you have at your disposal depending on your fighter type. But these can be used by your enemies too, so you have to learn about your ships systems in order to avoid getting destroyed. There’s a lot of technical gizmos and gadgets all fighters have that do take a bit to remember and get used to, but once you get a full grasp on it you end up having a lot of fun. Just try not to crash into anything.
Visually this game looks amazing in terms of the environments, giving off the feeling of Star Wars as you battle in asteroid fields, space stations and deadly nebulas. As for graphics, for the most part they are pretty great, having a lot of detail for the ships and some of the characters. Although on occasion when textures don’t load in completely things tend to be a little plastic looking.
The music is very John Williams esque for the whole game, featuring a few reprisals of classic themes but also including some of its own that fits very well with the epic space battles you take part in.
Multiplayer is fun too, and it is where you get to unlock more customization options for your characters and fighters. There is a load out system where you can equip your fighters with various weapons and perks that provide advantages in exchange for a decrease in one part of your fighter, like changes in speed, shielding or firepower. There’s also a number of cosmetic items for both the interior and exterior of your fighters, including hilarious bobble heads of Star Wars memorabilia you can unlock. Cosmetics and upgrades are purchasable with in game currency so there are zero micro transactions preset here, thankfully.
There are only two modes to play, which are dog fight and fleet battles, but not only are you given a number of maps to play on, you also have the option to party up with friends or random players and go up against either other players or AI enemies. The option is completely up to you, as well as what fighter you want to use in every match. Fleet battle gives you the ability to even switch out your fighter for strategic moves against your opponents.
Every fighter has their uses in multiplayer, and depending on what kind of player you are you have a lot to work with in order to play the role you want. If you want to be a support class or full on attacker, you can definitely choose to be that here. One thing I do hope for is perhaps some DLC that can offer us more maps and even more customization options for characters and fighters, because there is potential to expand on this, though we will have to wait and see.
As for issues in the game, I didn’t really encounter anything game-breaking or ruining. The texture loading issue didn’t happen often, and on occasion I’d have lag issues with multiplayer but that is due to other players I was with. This is a rather simple flight simulator that just has single player and multiplayer and not that much else to it for the moment, so if you were expecting something perhaps more grand like Jedi Fallen Order where there is a lot to explore, collectibles to get and so on, then this game might not be for you. But if you have always wanted to have fun as a pilot in the Star Wars universe and the chance to play a good selection of fighters, then this is the game you’ve been waiting for. This was an unexpected surprise but a welcome one. I’m going to give Star Wars Squadrons an A-.
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