The Star Wars universe has been present in the world of video games practically since its inception. Over the years, the franchise created by George Lucas has enjoyed an enormous presence in the interactive entertainment sector, recreating some of the most iconic moments from the films that make up its various sagas. However, for some time now, the franchise has been launching a series of brand-new chapters that serve to further expand a universe which has seemed boundless in recent years.

As a result, those behind the saga are partnering with various video game studios to cover as much ground as possible within this sci-fi universe. Ubisoft recently launched the Star Wars Outlaws adventure, and now the franchise is once again turning to Electronic Arts to deliver one of the most distinctive and original offerings it has seen in recent years. Because if there’s one thing that’s important to the saga and may have gone unnoticed in the films, it’s the military strategy behind the great intergalactic battles – and that is precisely what Star Wars: Zero Company, the latest instalment in the franchise, focuses on.

This new instalment centres on the classic turn-based strategy that has proved so successful in other franchises such as XCOM, whilst remaining true to the essence of the saga and the importance of its characters in everything that happens in the story, which also offers great depth in this regard. Star Wars: Zero Company aims to offer players something different yet familiar, continuing the trend of constant evolution within the Star Wars universe that we’ve been seeing in recent times.

Decision-making: the central focus of this new Star Wars instalment

Unsurprisingly, one of the main elements of Star Wars: Zero Company is the players’ decision-making in every battle – a crucial factor in emerging victorious in each of the levels that make up the game. Although there is a linear narrative component, players’ strategy and skill will be what truly matters in this title, allowing them to demonstrate their tactical abilities to overcome all the dangers and challenges that lie ahead, setting aside the action that usually predominates in video games from the Star Wars saga. On this occasion, players must take the time needed to make each move and analyse the opponent.

The gameplay approach forces players to think of each turn as if it were a game of galactic chess. Each member of the unit has unique abilities, specialised classes and a progression tree that allows players to adapt tactics to their own playing style. They must coordinate cover, outflank enemy positions and masterfully manage the squad’s limited resources whilst facing Imperial forces or organised crime syndicates. The weight of leading a group of specialised soldiers on a high-risk mission permeates every second of the experience, making the loss of a single soldier feel like a genuine emotional and tactical blow to the campaign.

Furthermore, the narrative weaves organically with the side missions and the decisions players make at the base of operations between battles. Managing supplies, troop morale and choosing which planets to visit first will determine the fate of the company in a galaxy on the brink of chaos. Star Wars: Zero Company aims not only to satisfy lovers of pure strategy, but also to captivate the most loyal fans of the space opera with a story rich in nuance, charismatic characters and moral dilemmas that honour the franchise’s legacy. With this carefully balanced and challenging approach, the game is shaping up to be one of the genre’s most refreshing surprises, proving that the Force is also measured by cunning and strategy on the galactic chessboard.

Technical and visual quality on a par with the great galactic blockbusters

Beyond its complex tactical depth and carefully crafted narrative, Star Wars: Zero Company also impresses with the care taken over its audiovisual presentation, proving that turn-based strategy games can also compete at the very forefront of the industry’s aesthetics. Far from settling for static maps or simplified interfaces typical of lesser titles, the game offers incredibly detailed three-dimensional environments that recreate with absolute fidelity the atmosphere of the galaxy’s most iconic and varied locations. From the cold, brutalist-style Imperial military bases to the dense, wild natural landscapes of frontier planets, each environment is designed to convey a sense of total immersion, incorporating destructible elements that react dynamically to the crossfire and explosions of combat.

The animations of the units and main enemies are brimming with personality, making every firefight feel as though it’s been taken straight from a cinematic sequence in the saga. The characteristic whir of blasters, the metallic clang of armour under fire, and an orchestral soundtrack that masterfully accompanies the tension of each turn round off a technically outstanding experience. Electronic Arts and the developers have managed to ensure that the measured pace of strategy is not at odds with the visual spectacle, making every tactical victory feel like a truly epic moment within the vast Star Wars universe.