Alright, let’s dive into this wild ride… So, there’s this game called Bounty Star, right? Picture me, or better yet, imagine yourself piloting this ginormous Desert Raptor MKII mech. You’re cruising—no, crashing might be more like it—through this crazy desert canyon. And it’s just packed. I mean, packed like sardines with these rocket-wielding hover bots and gun-slinging bandits. The whole thing’s a mess. Not sure why I find it all so chaotic yet calming at once. Anyway, you beat the baddies with this mech that looks like it might’ve been pieced together in some mad genius’s shed. It’s one of those games where, even when you’re just testing it out, you can’t help but want to dive back in. Xbox Series X|S, here I come. Or maybe not. Depends on if I get distracted…
There’s this character you play—Clem. She’s got some serious backstory. A fighter, mech pilot, dealing with past traumas. Soldiers always seem to have those, don’t they? She’s out there in this place they call the Red Expanse, which totally gives off this ‘American Southwest but like, after the apocalypse’ vibe. It’s wild, and oddly nostalgic. Can video games even be nostalgic? Who knows.
Oh, and I remember this bit during my actually functioning moments… Creative Director Benjamin Ruiz starts chatting about Sedona, Arizona. He’s talking about how the landscape inspired the game. Makes sense, really. The location is stunning. Or so I’ve heard. Haven’t been. Yet. And it all started five years back with this grand vision. Kinda impressive, right? Just goes to show where random inspiration hits you—like in the grocery store or on a random Tuesday morning.
Ruiz had this dream—a Western. Didn’t we all at one point? Cowboys, sandy deserts, the whole shebang. But add mechs. ‘Cause why not? It’s like Armored Core but with a lighter, Western twist. You got this base-building thing happening too. It’s survivalist but in a “let’s raise chickens” kind of way. Bizarre, yet intriguing. Imagine balancing cooking, bounty hunting, and mech battles. I mean, I can barely manage cooking and work emails.
Bounty Star’s not just about fighting, though. Clem’s garage is all scrappy and real, and frankly, who doesn’t want a makeshift kitchen in their game garage? It’s got that “Firefly” feel. You’ve seen “Firefly,” right? If not, stop reading—well, after this paragraph—and go educate yourself. You’re welcome.
Customization! My favorite part. Or was it the story? Decisions are tough. You get all these options to play with your mech. Go heavy, go light, mix it up. Ruiz basically nods toward endless possibilities. Although, my indecision might say otherwise. Speedy build? Heavy tank monster? Surprise me!
The interaction with NPCs seems… limited but meaningful? Classic gaming move, if you ask me. There’s a Marshall (old buddy, classic trope) and a shady merchant. Parts and guns galore, folks. Reminds me of my childhood games, buying the good stuff behind suspicious bushes in virtual alleys.
Bounty hunting is—surprise—about bounties. There’s a cycle, day and night, switching things up. Different missions, different stakes. Ruiz described, and I quote, “sometimes it’s capturing a target, other times it’s shooting everything that moves.” Such variety. Love it or leave it. Or repeat it. Get optional goals for those replay addicts. You out there?
There’s just something raw about Clem’s home base too. Scrappy but lots of potential. Like life, right? Let’s see if they manage to pull it all together. October or November—again, not sure, but later this year it pops up on Xbox Series X|S. Fingers crossed for a chaotic delight!
