A retrospective on one of Star Wars ' most disrespected games
The Disney Plus television receiver show The Mandalorian officially concluded its third season on April 19 , 2023 . The series lead by Pedro Pascal has been instrumental in revitalize the Star Wars stigma and father interest in the lesser - explored Mandalorian lore of the popular media enfranchisement . While I appreciate the Disney Plus show ’s unequalled role in the Star Wars mythos , for me , when I see the word “ Mandalorian ” one name comes to mind … Star war : Bounty Hunter .
Long before the adventure of Din Djarin and Grogu , this GameCube / PS2 era title introduced one of my favorite Mandalorian - centrical Star Wars stories to appointment , and on a personal note , set me on the way to becoming a contributing writer at Prima Games . allow ’s examine Star Wars Bounty Hunter and demonstrate why this critically panned game merit a second feel in 2023 , over 20 years after its initial going .
Jango Fett – A Star Wars Story
Star war : Bounty Hunter is a third - person shooter and action escapade game that put players in the Beskar armour of Jango Fett , the notorious mercenary and subaltern villain from Episode II : Attack of the Clones . The Lucas Arts rubric tells the blood story of the Mandalorian bounty hunter , canonically taking place between the first two prequel films . The tale center around Jango ’s trial and tribulation through the galaxy , as he competes against his pitiless rival , Montross , in a competition to locate and capture Komari Vosa , a former Jedi turn deranged furore leader with a five million Republic credit premium , dead or alert . The game initially launch in 2002 for GameCube and PS2 , but has since been remastered for the PS3 and PS4 as well .
Scum and Villainy
One of the most striking aspects of Star Wars Bounty Hunter is the malefic , ego - dealing nature of nigh every graphic symbol feature in the game . In a magnificent artistic choice , Lucas Arts made no effort redeem Jango Fett , opting rather to embrace the quality ’s covetousness in his relentless pursuit to pile up the 5 million - credit reward on the leader of the Bando Gora furore . Bounty Hunter render gamers the unique chance to play as genuinely evil character , yet one who is almost saintly compared to the even more horrific , villainous foe Jango encounters in the sullen underbelly of the Star Wars universe , while on the track of the Bando Gora .
Throughout the course of Bounty Hunter , players will see Jango committing a assortment of distasteful actions including shake up down drug dealer … I stand for “ death stick ” dealers , threatening merchants , handing witness over to crime lords in exchange for information , burst inmates out of prison , fighting police / security guards , and evenpolitical assassination . fundamentally , Star Wars : Bounty Hunter is more “ GTA ” than “ galaxy far , far away , ” and offer a one - of - a kind villainous experience , unambiguously of its clip , which could definitely not be made in the current landscape of Disney ’s Star Wars .
Star-Studded Wars
Lucas Arts for certain did not dilute corners on their Jango Fett origin story , as they brought back Temuera Morrison to reprise his film role as the biz ’s protagonist , along with Leeanna Walsman , who returned to present Zam Wesell , Jango ’s sidekick . However , Bounty Hunter really shines thanks to the fresh role the plot usher in into the Star Wars mythology , including Jango ’s humorous Toydarian compatriot Rozzatta ( Lucille Bliss ) , as well as the intimidating Bando Gora cult leader Komari Vosa ( Tamara Phillips ) , and most importantly , Bounty Hunter ’s primary adversary , Montross , act by grapheme acting fable Clancy Brown . The game also features representative carrying into action veterans like Corey Burton , Grey Griffin , Kevin Michael Richardson , and Wally Wingert in small office , rounding out a supremely gifted roster of actors who facilitate to bring the original and returning Star Wars fictional character to life .
Jango Unchained
Star Wars Bounty Hunter ’s gameplay spans a total of eighteen challenging story intersperse with cutscenes replete withcheesy action - flick style dialogue . The options range from the bustling night life of Coruscant , to the maximum security prison house moonshine of Oovo IV , as well as the craggy canyons of Tatooine , just to name a few locations . With an arsenal weapons system including twin chargeman , a flamethrower , a sniper rifle , toxic dart , a whipcord , thermic detonators , and a powerful missile launcher affixed to the Mandalorian ’s iconic jetpack , Bounty Hunter sees Jango Fett go on a warpath throughout the world of Star Wars . There is a Brobdingnagian variety of enemy in Bounty Hunter , running the gamut from blank gangs , to Bando Gora cultist , prison house sentry duty , bandits , competing bounty hunters , Tusken Raiders , Krayt Dragons , and so much more on the way to an epic final face-off with the dual - lightsaber wield Komari Vosa .
Do n’t be mistaken , despite my kudos , Star Wars : Bounty Hunter is far from a perfect gameplay experience and is exceedingly dated in terms of its control scheme and mechanics . Unlike the modernized accessibility options and common controls that flub current - gen gamers , Star Wars Bounty Hunter has mind - bowl over button mapping decisiveness that somewhat stymy the overall experience . However , despite its flaws , I ca n’t help but love the plot ’s unparalleled Star Wars vision , as well as the play armoury of weapons system , and unnerving challenge find in Bounty Hunter , even twenty years later on .
Related : Star Wars Jedi : Survivor Review | A Powerful Epic for a More Civilized Age
Just a Simple Game, Trying to Make its Way in the Universe
There are sure as shooting plenty of minor problems in Bounty Hunter that can be nitpicked , but the critical consensus around the solid Star Wars gaming experience has been shockingly negatively charged , as the 2002 rubric holds disappointinglylow critic Metascores of 67 on GameCube and 65 on PS2.To put this in linear perspective , even the scandalous , microtransaction plagued launching of Star Wars Battlefront II ( 2017 ) managed to see or outdo Bounty Hunter ’s critic military rating on each of its platforms . However , despite the reviewer negativity , Star Wars Bounty Hunter has germinate into somewhat of a Star Wars cult classic , thanks to its firm fanbase . The game ’s audience account is significantly higher than the critic consensus on both platform , with the game collect a 7.9 and 7.8 on PS2 and GameCube respectively , highlighting the reality that even though Star Wars Bounty Hunter may not be perfect , it is still good .
Nostalgia Hunter
On a personal level , Star Wars : Bounty Hunter will always hold a especial stead in my middle and stay one of my most nostalgia - inducing biz to this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . I first encountered the unique Jango Fett - centrical risky venture at my uncle ’s theater and was afterward gifted a written matter of my own shortly after , along with a guide playscript from some random caller calledPrima Games . The strategy guide helped me navigate the challenge of Bounty Hunter , pick up the many petty bounties enshroud throughout the secret plan ’s Earth , and would later inspire me to compose for the same company who created the book . As a contributor at Prima Games , I owe Star Wars : Bounty Hunter a debt of gratitude for inspiring me to compose gaming guides of my own .
Star Wars Bounty Hunter 2023
