STAR WARS: SQUADRONS
EA goes rogue for one of PS VR’s best games yet
Buckle yourself into the seat of a range of iconic craft and fight!
Despite some hysterically on-thenose moments, including the time a character grins from the screen as he introduces Wedge Antilles, his eyes saying ‘look, it’s this guy,’ away from the functional campaign this dogfighter shines.
Though varied and fairly lengthy (it takes around eight hours), the campaign acts as a introduction to the core mechanics of Star Wars: Squadrons. Often literally, as you meet up with your engineer to customise loadouts across one of five ship classes. But despite having some highs as you switch sides between New Republic and Empire squadrons – we love skimming the surface of a Star Destroyer – there’s little in the way of emotional engagement unless you enjoy spotting Star Wars Easter eggs: Thrawn, Rae Sloane, the Dragon Void Race and so on.
Characters appear on-screen like old FMV walk-ons (the Rebel Assault II reference may be too subtle) and deliver monologues about why they fight and the moral greys of war. The better lines, as you might expect, are delivered by your Empire comrades, whose selfish motives prove more engaging than the warm hugs of the New Republic’s crew.
Set after the destruction of Alderaan and later the vacuum left following the battle for Endor, the war is almost over but ragtag fleets of Empire and New Republic flying aces are fighting personal battles and enacting old rivalries as an era comes to an end. It’s lowkey but more often than not delivers Star Wars spectacle.
ALDERAA-RIGHT
It’s in the hot seat of some of Star Wars’ most famous ships that Squadrons discovers its heart – moreso than any wink-wink cameo from film and TV. In PS VR the game constantly tugs at your abiding love for the galaxy far, far away. As I dart through the debris of Star Destroyers or watch as a TIE fighter sparks and breaks apart before spiralling over my head, I find myself gleefully grinning beneath the headset. This feels like the greatest Star
Wars movie moments, and this game gives you the very best seat in the house.
Developed with VR in mind, each ship’s instrumentation and set of dials has a purpose. You can tell when missiles are ready because a light flashes to let you know, and repairs are made by adjusting the the control deck and virtually pushing a button in front of you.
Most importantly, a ship’s power balance is displayed to show if you’re diverting resources to engines, shields, or weapons (when flying an X-wing or other New Republic ships). Empire craft can only route all power to engines or weapons, but this ensures more agility or damage. You just tap the D-pad to make the
“A TIE FIGHTER SPARKS AND BREAKS APART BEFORE SPIRALLING OVER MY HEAD.”
adjustments, and meters flicker in real time inside your cockpit.
Other adjustments, such as diverting power to front or rear shields, can give you the edge or save your life. It may sound fiddly to be faffing around with power while the galaxy burns around you, but with a little practice we find it’s easy to make split-second changes during combat to veer from attacking to defending.
X-WONDER
Once the story fades Star
Wars: Squadrons’ multiplayer becomes the only place to play. Dogfight is familiar – well – dogfighting as two teams of five shoot chunks out of one another in classic deathmatch. Better than this is Fleet Battles, a multi-stage tug of war as we attack an enemy team’s cruisers while defending our own.
Played offline against AI ships or online against other players, Fleet Battles is a mode that constantly rewards, but it can be a hard grind until you’re up to speed. Either way, there’s an epic approach here that impresses in virtual reality.
Outside PS VR Star
Wars: Squadrons is fun, if restrictive; in PS VR the level of immersion that comes from sitting inside these famous cockpits never fails to impress. The A-wing’s glass cockpit means you can look around, gaze at the stars, and track enemies. The cramped TIE fighter cabin focuses attention, and the long nose of the X-wing feels weighty. It’s here, away from the wooden story that Star Wars: Squadrons succeeds – it’s simply a joy to experience.