Hands-On: Zero Company Feels Like Mass Effect With Permadeath
Early hands-on coverage of STAR WARS Zero Company says it's more than 'Star Wars XCOM' — a character-driven tactics game with a Mass Effect-style cast and real permadeath stakes.
The “Star Wars XCOM” shorthand has followed STAR WARS Zero Company since its reveal — but early hands-on coverage suggests it sells the game short. The comparison reaching that hands-on writer wasn’t XCOM at all, but Mass Effect: a character-driven squad you grow attached to, fighting turn-based battles with permadeath.
A squad you care about
You control a squad of four, each operative with three action points per turn, led by your custom protagonist Hawks and clone buddy Trick. The cast mixes authored characters with operators you create, and the bonds they form unlock new synergies — relationships that matter on the battlefield, not just in cutscenes.
Familiar foundations, new tricks
The camera, cover, accuracy and cinematic kill shots clearly iterate on the developers’ XCOM work, but the Force synergies and shared Advantage resource give the combat its own identity. And because operatives can be lost for good, every bold play carries weight.
It’s an encouraging early look. For everything confirmed so far, see our overview.