Whoa! So there I was, right in the thick of things, navigating this hulking Desert Raptor MKII mech through a sprawling canyon. I mean, picture this—rockets flying everywhere, hover bots buzzing around like angry wasps, and bandits with way too many guns. Felt like a scene ripped straight out of some post-apocalyptic fever dream. Anyway, I’m pretty sure Bounty Star is onto something kind of awesome here. My mech, mind you, looked like it was cobbled together in some dude’s garage (probably because it was), and I was smashing enemies with these heavyweight melee moves and cannon fire. Took a few tries, yeah, but finally nailed it and now, can’t wait to dive back in when it drops for Xbox Series X|S. Time couldn’t go any slower.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, you play as Clem, who’s got mad skills in kicking butt and piloting mechs — all while dealing with her own war-torn past. She’s trying to turn things around, you know? Found herself in this place called the Red Expanse, which, let me tell you, looks kinda like a post-apocalyptic version of the American Southwest. Desolate yet… mesmerically beautiful? You get the drift.
Now, here’s where it gets personal. I was once in Sedona, Arizona, and the landscapes were screaming at me — not literally, but they could very well have — “Hey! We’d be perfect for an action game setting!” So, this Benjamin Ruiz guy—Creative Director or something—says that same kind of desert beauty inspired him. Five years ago! Can you believe that? Started with a spark of an idea back then and slowly, piece by piece, everything just… clicked into place. Oh, dreams.
Anyway, Ruiz has always wanted to craft a Western. In Bounty Star, he’s mixing that wild west vibe with something like Armored Core—you know, for the mech fans. And hey, you get to manage life as a bounty hunter, like cooking and running this shabby little home base with sketchy power lines and a makeshift kitchen. Kinda like “Firefly.” Only in a dusty desert. Makes you feel like you don’t have much, but what’s there is yours. Gives it heart.
What’s rad is the customization. I mean, you can piece together any mech you like (as long as you’ve got the bits and bobs). Let’s say you wanted to roll with heavy armor and be this slow-moving, unstoppable tank, or go the opposite with a sleek, nimble frame. Ruiz mentioned even some QA folks ditch healing entirely, just speeding through, guns blazing. That’s wild.
Okay, let’s talk people. There’s this Marshall guy—an old friend who gives you bounties. And a merchant who’s got the real goods, operating a tad on the shadier side. The interactions sound tight, even though the crowd isn’t big.
Then there are the bounties, with a day-night cycle stirring things up. Love how you can play the same game but face different challenges. One moment, you’re capturing notorious folks, the next, just clearing house. And those extra challenges for replayability? Genius, right?
So yeah, maybe Clem’s life is about as patched together as her mech. Is that bad? Not necessarily. It’s got charm, and from what I’ve seen, so does Bounty Star. Can’t wait for the full release on Xbox Series X|S. Fingers crossed it all clicks!
