The Monetization of Nostalgia
In recent years, it’s widely accepted that monetizing nostalgia and memories is a perfect strategy for generating significant revenue with low risk and cost. Aspyr, the studio behind the remaster of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, has often found itself in the public eye and has been criticized for its work, which hasn’t always been polished in various aspects. In three emblematic cases, Aspyr has compromised the image of both Sony and the Star Wars brand:
- Aspyr was tasked with the remake of KOTOR, which was supposed to be a launch title for the PS5. However, since the project did not meet an adequate level of quality, Sony initially decided to postpone it indefinitely and eventually handed it over to another studio, disappointing many fans. This created a situation similar to the Scalebound case on Xbox One, also causing financial damage.
- Aspyr has also handled the ports of KOTOR and other Star Wars titles for the Switch and mobile devices. The KOTOR 2 port on Switch was supposed to receive a DLC with the cut content, but Aspyr later canceled the project, triggering a class action lawsuit against the studio.
- The most recent case concerns the poor reception of the Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2 remastered editions, characterized by large installation sizes and numerous technical issues, which caused dissatisfaction among users.
In an attempt to turn things around, Aspyr banked on users’ nostalgia with the Star Wars: Bounty Hunter remastered version, without fully considering the risks. The result is an experience that feels unbalanced in terms of gameplay and entertainment.
The Story of Bounty Hunter
One of the most positive aspects of the entire experience is the storytelling. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter tells the origin story of Jango Fett and how he evolved from a renowned bounty hunter into the weapon of Lord Tyranus and the template for the Republic’s clones. The narrative delves into various aspects of the character and the Star Wars universe, particularly the darker side of the criminal underworld, which we’ll also see in Star Wars Outlaws. For the first time in a Star Wars title, a cult led by a dark Jedi is explored, featuring intriguing and mysterious characters. Jango’s story, with glimpses into his past, remains engaging, and the writing is on par with that of the prequel trilogy films.
The Gameplay
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter offers a good variety of environments, some more open to free exploration and others more linear. The diversity of locations is one of the game’s strengths, with settings like Coruscant and Tatooine showing a notable level of detail.
The game aims to be fast-paced, in the style of DMC, combining gunplay, flamethrowers, grappling hooks, and physical attacks. However, like many titles from the early 2000s, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The clunky and slow weapon and gadget switching makes combat frustrating. The camera and targeting system are problematic: the targeting is imprecise, making it difficult to manage multiple opponents simultaneously.
Exploration is another weak point, especially in the platforming sections with the Jetpack. The level design is confusing and maze-like, which can lead to significant time loss for the player. Fortunately, some more linear levels offer a more satisfying experience, while bounty hunting adds extra motivation for completionists hunting for hidden secrets.
Aspyr has overlooked a pivotal aspect of game sales in 2024: the customization of the player experience. The menu hasn’t been changed in any way, and there’s a lack of customization options, except for command choices and a few graphic settings.
The most critical element is the complete absence of a difficulty selector and any way to customize it. The game starts with a default difficulty level that is entirely unbalanced, due to inadequate health management for a title of this type, and from a lore perspective (Beskar armor is supposed to be invulnerable to Blasters).
The game also suffers from another non-negligible issue: the management of save data. Players cannot save the game manually whenever they want, which can lead to frustration due to the possibility of using the continue function from a checkpoint only 5 times… After which, you’ll need to restart the level again.
The lack of an efficient navigation system (like the compass in Quake 2 remastered or the exclamation marks in Turok 2 remastered) may be unpleasant for those players looking for a more relaxed and guided experience.
Final Verdict
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Remastered fails to honor the legacy of Jango Fett. While the reliance on nostalgia may have yielded considerable profits, it has come at the cost of genuine care and affection for the saga. Though this critique of Aspyr’s efforts may appear severe, we remain hopeful for future remakes—or perhaps a dedicated Mandalorian title—that align more closely with both audience expectations and the true potential of the developers.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
PRO
- Jango Fett
- Story
- Environments
- Krayt dragon boss fight
- Bounties
CON
- Camera
- Combat
- Targeting
- Lack of difficulty selector
- Platforming
- Exploration
- Lack of manual save system
6/10
