A video game where you play as Jango Fett, deal with the Hutts, and go on a mission to eliminate a Dark Jedi? This premise was appealing to me in 2002 when Star Wars: Bounty Hunter was originally released, and it’s still appealing to me more than 20 years later. Thankfully, a remastered version of the third-person action game is coming out from Aspyr, updating the Jango Fett game for modern audiences and showing that it holds up pretty darn well.
While there are plenty of gunfights to get into and a nice array of weapons for Jango to use, it should be noted that this isn’t a straight third-person shooter. You shouldn’t go into Star Wars: Bounty Hunter expecting nonstop action. Instead, it’s a bit more ambitious. The action-adventure game will find you doing quite a bit of climbing and platforming around as you pursue criminals and complete missions. It’s pretty impressive how modern it feels, as it can almost feel like a proto-Uncharted at points with the climbing, and it has largely aged well thanks to a few key additions.
The biggest change to the new version is that it features remastered controls. The original game had much clunkier combat due to its reliance on lock-on aiming. The new version can be played more like a traditional shooter, with you using the right stick to aim and using the right trigger to fire your weapon. Thankfully, legacy controls are still included, so you can play a faithful version of the original if you want, but really, the improved controls are the way to go.
There are also some slight gameplay changes, such as slowing time when using the scanner, and plenty of visual upgrades. Thanks to dynamic lighting being added and bump-mapped environments, the game looks much better. It still shows its age, as it is still a PS2 game at its core, but it looks and runs great at a high resolution. There’s also a new flashlight that was added, allowing players to quickly navigate darker areas. These are smart changes that definitely make the game better as a result.
One of the biggest reasons to pick Star Wars: Bounty Hunter up if you’ve never played it before is the interesting story it tells. It acts as a prequel to Attack of the Clones and showcases more of Jango Fett’s background as a result. There are a lot of great expanded universe references as well, so fans will get a real kick out of seeing the villainous Darth Tyranus and how Jango wound up being cloned.
There’s also a variety of bonus content that can be unlocked. Some of this is from the original game, such as blooper reels, concept art, and dozens of Star Wars trading cards. However, the coolest part is the addition of a new Boba Fett skin, which pays off an old Easter egg that teased getting 100% completion to unlock Boba. You won’t have to do all that this time, as you just have to beat the game, but it’s still such a cool addition.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Review — Final Verdict
This remastered release is the best version there’s ever been of Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. This underrated Star Wars game has been a fan-favorite for years and it’s great to see Jango’s adventure so lovingly ported to modern consoles while receiving smart additions as well. It might still show its age, but it’s still a fun and interesting Star Wars game that fans should check out.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital PS5 copy for our Star Wars: Bounty Hunter review. Reviewed on version 1.000.001.
