Star Wars Zero Company Blends XCOM Tactics With Mass Effect Narrative

Star Wars Zero Company, the upcoming turn-based tactics game from developer Bit Reactor, is drawing significant comparisons to both the XCOM series and Mass Effect ahead of its August 27 release. Preview impressions from multiple hands-on sessions highlight a game that blends the tactical depth of XCOM with a cinematic, character-driven presentation reminiscent of BioWare's sci-fi epic, all set within the Star Wars Clone Wars era.

The game is led by Greg Foertsch, founder of Bit Reactor and a former art director on the XCOM series at Firaxis, along with a team of Firaxis veterans. This pedigree is immediately apparent in the core gameplay, which features four-person squads, cover systems, overwatch, and optional permadeath. However, previews indicate the experience extends far beyond the tactical layer. Players control a customizable protagonist named Hawks, leading a mercenary band called Zero Company on missions to stop a sinister Separatist-aligned cult known as the Infinite Coil.

A central point of discussion is the game's presentation and narrative structure. The experience includes a third-person hub called The Den, where players can walk around and interact with crew...