Star Wars: Bounty Hunter for the GameCube takes players on an intense action-adventure journey in the Star Wars universe, placing them in the role of Jango Fett, the notorious bounty hunter. We break down the game’s key elements: story, graphics, and gameplay, providing a concise yet thorough analysis of the experience it offers.
Story:
Bounty Hunter is set just after the events of The Phantom Menace and explores how Jango Fett became the template for the Clone Army. The story is engaging, driven by well-crafted cutscenes that are rich in detail and feature top-tier voice acting. As players progress, they uncover more about Jango’s complex personality, making him a far more relatable character than what we’ve seen in the films. The narrative skillfully intertwines with the action, as Jango is hired by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious to hunt down the leader of a deadly cult, the Bando Gora. The plot twists and turns, keeping players invested, thanks in part to the high-quality storytelling from LucasArts, which arguably surpasses the character development seen in the movies.
Graphics:
On the GameCube, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter excels in its visual presentation, outperforming its PlayStation 2 counterpart with smoother frame rates and the inclusion of progressive scan support for enhanced clarity. The game’s environments are vast and richly detailed, from the gritty underworld of Outland Station to the towering skyscrapers of Coruscant. Each level is designed with a unique aesthetic, capturing the expansive Star Wars universe with skyscrapers that reach the sky and organic life that fills the swamplands of Malastare. Jango Fett himself is meticulously animated, moving fluidly as he flips, shoots, and flies with his jetpack. Despite some minor texture dithering, the overall visual package is impressive, especially in conveying the scale and atmosphere of the Star Wars galaxy.
Gameplay:
The gameplay of Bounty Hunter is centered around intense combat and exploration across 18 varied levels, each presenting a blend of shooting, platforming, and bounty hunting. Jango is equipped with an array of weapons and gadgets, making the combat dynamic and engaging. The control scheme, while initially complex, becomes intuitive, especially for players familiar with similar 3D adventure games like Zelda. The lock-on targeting system is particularly effective in handling the game’s fast-paced battles, allowing Jango to target multiple enemies simultaneously while dodging attacks.
However, the gameplay isn’t without its flaws. The camera system can be problematic, especially in tight spaces, leading to disorienting moments that can result in frustrating deaths during platforming sections. The repetitive nature of the combat also detracts from the experience, as many levels focus more on shooting waves of enemies rather than the bounty hunting mechanics that the title suggests. Despite these issues, the game’s level design and the thrill of using Jango’s jetpack to navigate large environments help to maintain the player’s interest.
Verdict:
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a solid entry into the Star Wars video game franchise, offering a well-rounded action-adventure experience that fans of the series will appreciate. While it has some shortcomings, particularly with its camera system and repetitive combat, the game’s strengths in storytelling, graphics, and overall presentation make it a worthwhile play. The GameCube version, in particular, stands out for its superior performance and visual fidelity. If you’re a Star Wars fan or just in the mood for a good action game, Bounty Hunter is definitely worth checking out.
