STAR WARS: Bounty Hunter & Republic Commando are easily two of the most recognized titles from the days of the PlayStation 2 era of consoles. Many ardent fans are still waiting for a sequel for Republic Commando, and an even smaller group hopes for a Bounty Hunter Sequel that could have been something similar to the rumored Mandalorian game.
With the release of the bundle, now you get both games released in one package, but you have to deal with slightly sluggish controls along the way to enjoy the fun.
Story
Starting with Bounty Hunter, the game acts as a prequel to Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, taking place 10 years before the events of it, and kind of fits between the events of Episode 1 and 2 in the main movie franchise.
You play as Jango Fett taking on what he is told is a massive bounty given to him by a chain of command leading to the bounty being a former Sith Apprentice. Along the way, Jango goes to many familiar Star Wars locations such as Coruscant, and even some new locations like a prison on an asteroid.
Coming to Republic Commando, you play as Delta Squad in the events of Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. You play as 38, the leader of Delta Squad and have 62, 40, and 07. The story isn’t one that is too exciting, as you just keep taking on missions issued to them.
Their journey takes them to several planets and more across the universe, but the main appeal of Republic Commando comes from the unique squad system where you could control the squad individually or as a group to take on tasks and missions in a more strategic manner.
Presentation
Both of the games hold up their original PS2 aesthetic, and this works equally for and against both games. Aside from a strong framerate, the games are a near 1:1 copy of their PS2 counterparts, albeit with some smoother textures, but everything else is pretty much the original source.
The sound design, visuals, and more are all retro, taking gamers back to the PS2 visual days, so this look may not appeal to gamers who will only be pulled to these games due to the nostalgia aspect, and this is indeed the target demographic Aspyr was aiming for.
All in all, the presentation is a very minor upgrade, but at the same time is not a downgrade, but as a straight port of the PS2 versions, this is still a respectable package.
Gameplay
This is where the biggest divide comes in - Bounty Hunter is a third-person action shooter title where Jango frequently uses his blasters, jetpack, and other tools of the trade to progress the story, while Republic Commando is a tactical first-person shooter that uses squad commands and has a more team-based emphasis on getting the job done.
Both of the games are great if you know how they each played, you will be glad to know that the floaty controls are still there, and can become the hardest thing to adjust to, but in the end, similar to the presentation, you do get a lot of the original offerings for both games.
In Bounty Hunter, along side the main story missions, Jango has to hunt for bounties and secrets, while you won’t do anything like that in Republic Commando, the variety of enemies switches from organic to mechnical between the two titles.
While your arsenal of weapons doesn’t grow as much in Bounty Hunter, in Republic Commando, Delta Squad gets to play with an offering of new weapons that the enemy was previously using, allowing for more dynamic combat options, as opposed to the standard run and gun of Bounty Hunter.
Summary
Both games are definitely intended for audiences who understood the appeal of older games and have previously played them. While there are little to no visual improvements to either package, the ability to still play two forgotten gems from a bygone era of gaming is still a great experience. Both of theg ames pack a platinum trophy and both are relatively easy to take on, so if you want to be rewarded for your efforts, then there is even more incentive to do so.
Conclusion
The bundle is easily the most economic offering and the best value for gamers looking to drop back into nostalgia. If you are on the fence about buying one or the other or waiting for a sale, its better that you get this now while its on sale, or just have it wishlisted so you don’t miss it when it does go on sale.
Both games offering unqie gameplay and stories, and while there is little to no visual enhancement that is evident outside of looking through it with a microscope, that is part of the appeal for me.
If you are in the mood for a walk down memory lane and taking on the platinum challenge for both games, this is your opportunity to do so.
