So here’s the thing. Picture this: I’m piloting this gigantic Desert Raptor MKII mech—let’s call it a Frankenstein of metal parts scraped together from somewhere dusty and cluttered, probably a garage. Anyway, I’m cruising through this desert canyon. Rockets, hover bots, and bandits are popping up everywhere. Chaos, right? But my mech, clunky yet effective, is smashing through them with heavy melee moves and blasting cannons. Took a few tries, sure, but it left me hungry for more by the time my hands-on preview wrapped up. I’m stoked for Bounty Star’s release on Xbox Series X|S.
Meet Clem, our protagonist. She’s tough, worked through some dark stuff, a war vet carrying the weight of past deeds. Her playground? The Red Expanse. Think post-apocalyptic American Southwest. Cacti, dust, the works.
So, I heard from Benjamin Ruiz, the Creative Director. Imagine this: he’s in Sedona, mountains as far as the eye can wander. He thought, hey, this should be an action game backdrop—makes sense, right? That kicked off the Bounty Star idea—big landscapes, bigger dreams. He was mapping out this universe over his morning coffee, like, five years ago. Production took its sweet time, simmering slowly before it really kicked off.
Ruiz has this Western fascination, blending it with Armored Core-style mech battles. He wanted the bounty hunter’s everyday grind—mixing food, gathering water, raising chickens, you get it. It’s survival meets Western charm, all while piloting a mech. Crafty stuff, really.
Clem’s base? A mishmash of lived-in chaos. Power lines crisscrossing, a corner kitchen—for stat-boosting meals, naturally—barrels full of ammo, and the kind of cozy clutter that could make a place feel like home, a sci-fi Western home! If you squint, you might sense some Firefly vibes.
And customization? Oh, it’s wide open. Mechs here can be a reflection of you. You tweak core bits, juggle firearms and melee weapons depending on your style—whether bulldozing in heavyweight armor or zipping around with light builds. Ruiz dropped that bit about testers zooming in high-speed melees without heals. Crazy flexibility, I tell ya.
But it’s not just foes you meet. There’s this Marshall dude—assigns your targets, also your pal. Then there’s a merchant—shady but valuable. The cast isn’t massive, but they’re crafted to leave a mark.
Bounties? Expect a mix. Capture targets, clear areas, take down criminals—day-night cycles dictating the pace. Some bounties need a gentle touch, others are straight-up brawls. And there are quirky challenges for replay lovers, like time trials or designated gear moves. Bounty Star’s really aiming for variety.
In a nutshell, Bounty Star’s like Clem’s humble abode—a bundle of potential. We’re itching to see it fully on display when the game hits Xbox Series X|S later this year.
