Star Wars: Squadrons is dropping tomorrow, October 2, and critics are already sharing their first impressions of EA Motive’s space-battle simulator. Star Wars: Squadrons has received generally positive reviews so far, with several critics praising the title for its combination of easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master mechanics that reward dedicated players.
Squadrons is the spiritual descendant of Star Wars: X-Wing and the Rogue Squadron series. The former of those titles played like a flight-simulator in the vein of Elite: Dangerous, while the latter was more of an arcade shooter that toured players through some of the franchise’s best moments. With Squadrons, EA seeks to combine those two styles for a game that is easy for most players to approach, but difficult to get good at.
Squadrons was revealed by EA in late June and features a single-player campaign as well as expansive multiplayer battles. In both modes, players take control of the most iconic starfighters in the franchise. The campaign takes place shortly after Return of the Jedi and has players take control as two rival squadrons – one on the new Republic side and the other of the side of the opposing Empire – as they attempt to out think one another.
The game’s main offering is its multiplayer, where players can dogfight in simple 5v5 death matches or engage in multi-stage conflicts in the Fleet Battle mode. Players can customize the cosmetics of their pilot, upgrade their personalized starfighter, and rank up their competitive level. The game also supports VR, allowing players to be fully immersed in their Star Wars fantasy.
At a price of only $39.99, Squadrons gives players an even greater incentive to pick the game up and play. Read what critics have to say about the title below.
IGN (Tom Marks)
Star Wars: Squadrons’ single-player campaign missions are a feast for Star Wars fans’ eyes and ears, especially in VR. Its engaging space combat is a great balance of approachable arcade control with the added nuance of simulation-like systems, which combine with astonishingly detailed ships and cockpits for the most authentic-feeling ride since LucasArts’ legendary X-Wing and TIE Fighter games back in the ‘90s. Star Wars: Squadrons doesn’t end up doing anything too memorable with its charming characters or interesting rival squadron setup, but this campaign still tells an entertaining Star Wars story I enjoyed no matter which cockpit I was in.
Score: 8/10
Polygon (Charlie Hall)
Simply put, Star Wars: Squadrons is the total package. If all you have at your disposal is a console, a decent TV, and a working controller, you’re going to have a wonderful time. If you have a throttle, stick, and rudder pedals, you’re really in for a treat. And, if you happen to be able to afford VR, you may never want to take that headset off again.
No Score
The Verge (Chaim Gartenberg)
Squadrons is probably not the Star Wars game for everyone. The steep difficulty curve combined with the relatively limited campaign makes it more of a niche kind of game than other, more accessible Star Wars space combat titles. But for players willing to put in the time (and invest in the hardware), the end result is a game that brings you closer to flying around an X-Wing than ever before.
No Score
GamesRadar (Ben Tyrer)
If EA Star Wars games had started to become known for their huge ambition, then Squadrons is a timely reminder of what a singular focus can bring to an experience. This wants to be nothing more than a great place to fly a starfighter. In its best moments, it achieves that goal, living up to some of the older classics that players fell in love with. While the single-player doesn't quite deliver anything more compelling than a chance to get used to the game's style, the multiplayer seems primed to offer up plenty for those who have been waiting for an experience like this for quite some time.
Score: 3.5/5
Inverse (Tomas Franzese)
Star Wars: Squadrons is exactly what you think it is: a no-frills space combat game set in the world of Star Wars. Those not used to the genre will face a steep learning curve, but those willing to put in the time and get good will discover one of the most satisfying flight combat games ever and one of the most unique multiplayer experiences of the year.
Score: 9/10
Gamespot (Edmond Tran)
As my experience stands right now, the campaign of Star Wars: Squadrons is a solid showcase of setpieces that conveys what's possible with the game's engaging flight combat mechanics. Juggling all tasks required on your cool starfighter while soaking in the sights and sounds of Star Wars has been a real treat in the first 8 hours, even if I'm left a bit wanting.
No Score
VG247 (Alex Donaldson)
Squadrons feels like more than the sum of its parts. Most importantly, it does exactly what it set out to do - and does it very well indeed. It’s EA’s smallest-scale console Star Wars title yet - but also its best. Fleet Battles feel a little long and sometimes listless, and some will no doubt pine for a little more content - I personally would’ve really liked to see a 20-player (or more) deathmatch mode. But it’s nevertheless difficult to really criticize such a tightly-wound, complete package.
Score: 4/5
As another added incentive for players, EA has promised that the game will have no microtransactions. A few years ago, the developer was criticized by several fans for adding microtransactions to Star Wars Battlefront 2. Squadrons does have unlock-able spaceship parts that players can use to customize their ship to their own play style. The upgrades can be attainted by progressing through the game's multiplayer.
Based on what critics have said so far, Squadrons offers an experience that is solely focused on dogfighting. The single player campaign seems to be designed as a set of tutorials to prepare players for the game's main course: multiplayer. Competitive players who are willing to put some effort into mastering the flight mechanics will likely have good time rising through the game's ranks to become a galactic ace.
Star Wars: Squadrons releases October 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One