Summary
With the release ofStar Wars: Outlawsquickly approaching, fans may be looking for some fun blaster gameplay to hold them over before they can get their hands on it. This is a perfect opportunity to explore some of the best gunplay seen in the many Star Wars Games and discuss what makes them so great.
Star Warsis easily one of the most represented franchises in gaming, with well over 100 titles going as far back as the early 1980s. Some earlier games still hold up, featuring solid shooting mechanics to make for some great third-person andfirst-person shooters, as well as some in the 2D space. One thing is for certain, there is aStar Warsgame for everyone, especially those who love a good shoot-em-up.
Super Star Warsis a 1992 side-scroller that places players in the shoes of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Chewbacca. Levels are action-packed, with multiple enemies on the screen at once, meaning players need quick reflexes to dodge enemy blaster fire. The choice of characters for levels also allows for gameplay variety.
While primarily 2D, several sections involve 3D space and land vehicle battles, including the iconic X-Wing trench run on the Death Star. Engaging boss battles, creative level design, and fast-paced, varied gameplay come together to provide a complete Run and GunStar Warsexperience.
8Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Fun Mechanics With A Nintendo 64 Charm
As one of the earlier 3DStar Warsgames,Shadows of the Empireset the bar for many later titles. It focused entirely on blaster gameplay and built on it by including unique mechanics like the jetpack. The game featured a variety of weapons, such as blaster pistols, automatic rifles, heat-seeking missiles, and more.
The levels are fun and engaging, implementing explosive objects to shoot, turrets to avoid, and platforming puzzles to solve. Vehicle sections are included, good news for fans ofspace battles. As an early title, it features some janky and frustrating controls, but the nostalgic charm of early 3D makes it a fan favorite for many.
7Star Wars: Dark Forces
A Fast-Paced Classic That Feels Like Wolfenstein/DOOM In Star Wars
Dark Forcesis a true FPS, giving players access to an array of weapons and tools. It’s similar in style to games like the originalDOOMandWolfenstein 3D, building on them with features like jumping and looking up and down. The recent 2024 remaster allows modern players to revisit a foundationalStar Warsgaming experience.
The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, rewarding quick thinking and movement. Maze-like levels and puzzles hide useful items for more curious players to find. In-depth boss battles with certain weapons, firing modes, and explosives prove more useful than others. It’s a fun, classic experience deserving of praise.
Players were transported back in time with theBattlefront Classic Collection, featuring the original titles from 2004 and 2005. The new release got off to a pretty rocky start, with reported bugs and issues with multiplayer that may have stumped its growth to major popularity. The devs haven’t given up though, as consistent updates continue to patch the problems at launch.
The gameplay is faithful to the classics, with the simple, but impressive combat of the original, andthe refined soldierand hero action of the sequel. Every sound effect and animation brings back fond memories of couch co-op Instant Action matches and Galactic Conquest campaigns. While the re-release has its problems, it certainly hits the mark for nostalgia.
2015’sStar Wars: Battlefrontreboot was an overall success but failed to deliver on a few things that fans hoped to see, charging extra for content that should have been in the base game. Despite this, the developers at DICE made a stunning game with some pretty fun blaster combat. With low health, high damage, and quick respawns, online matches arefast-paced and chaotic.
This gives battles a sense of realism that isn’t always present inStar Warsgames, with soldiers falling quickly when outnumbered. Those with the fastest aim and smartest movement are the most successful on the battlefront. While the game received its share of criticism, the gunplay is fun and addictive.
Star Wars: Huntersis a hero shooter for mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch launched successfully due to its fun and engaging gameplay and lighthearted presentation. The game features various unique characters with interesting designs and distinctive combat styles, such as Sentinel’s heavy repeating blaster, which mows down multiple enemies at a distance.
Melee characters wielding lightsabers are also present, but ranged combat is the heart of the experience.Well-designed mapscreate combat situations that reward smart movement and quick thinking. As with other hero shooters, the characters have special moves that make combat more interesting. Overall,Huntersis a solid shooter experience for mobile gamers.
Republic Commandois a remarkable FPS experience with great gameplay, impressive AI companions, and a memorable story that players remember long after it ends. Gunplay is engaging and challenging, with punchy weapons, tough foes, and exciting levels. The game’s main draw is the squad;clone commanders who are elite soldierswith unique abilities, personalities, and skills to help out in combat.
As the leader of a squad of 4 soldiers, Boss must issue commands during missions. The troops can breach a door, plant explosives, focus their attack, and more. They can even revive Boss and one another, which increases the bond and encourages cooperative play with the AI. This impressive AI is paired with refined combat and well-designed levels.
2Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Hunt Targets With Dual-Wielded Pistols And A Jetpack
Star Wars: Bounty Hunterexplores the story of Jango Fett before his demise inAttack of the Clones. Players get to use his iconic dual blasters, jetpack, flamethrower, and more bounty-hunting gadgets and weapons. It is the ultimate gamefor fans of Mandalorians, armored warriors who first appeared in the franchise with Boba Fett, Jango’s son.
Using the game’s countless tools is a lot of fun, and the combat is fast-paced and flashy, with Jango executing somersaults and rolls to avoid incoming blaster fire. Levels are perfectly crafted to suit the game’s chaotic gunplay. This game seems to take inspiration from 1996’sShadows of the Empire, refining and improving it in every way.
Battlefront 2faced backlash at launch for its heavy use of microtransactions. The game was quickly revamped, focusing on its impressive gameplay and removing the pay-to-win features that initially drove fans away. This was great news because the gameplay is everything that aBattlefrontgame should be. Blasters are incredibly satisfying to use and maps are stunning, just like the 2015 predecessor.
The game features a long list of iconic heroes, with ranged heroes using their unique guns and abilities to make battles more interesting. Movement is fine-tuned and quick, with dodge-rolling, sprinting, and crouching making the gameplay more in-depth. Despite being several years old, the game still has an active online community that enjoys exciting combat and fun game modes.
