Do you remember watching Star Wars as a kid and wanting to fly a spaceship of your own? Many people had that same feeling, and now in Star Wars: Squadrons (2020) that dream can become a reality. 

The Context

Squadrons is a first-person multiplayer flight simulator game (which also is VR compatible) set in the Star Wars universe which was developed by Motive Studios and published by Electronic Arts, which is more commonly referred to as EA. It is a reboot of EA’s previous flight simulator series called Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998). The series is also set to get a movie adaptation in 2023. The game takes place after Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), but before the events of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015). You play as either a pilot for the New Republic (Rebels) or a pilot of the remnants of the Galactic Empire (Empire). Each team has five unique starfighters (ships) to choose from, including iconic ships such as the X-Wing and the Tie Fighter. You can further customize your ship by changing its weapons, abilities, and appearance.

The Gameplay

The game consists of three main game modes which are story mode, dogfight, and fleet battles. The story mode is meant to help the player learn the controls and mechanics of the game while providing a satisfactory plot to keep the player interested.  Dogfight pits two teams of five pilots against each other to see who can reach the elimination goal the fastest. This is also a good way to learn the game’s mechanics before taking on the game’s flagship game mode, fleet battles. This is a game mode in which, once again there are two teams of five pilots, but this time the goal isn’t just to eliminate the opposing players. Each team has three star cruisers (larger ships) they must defend, while simultaneously trying to destroy the other team’s fleet. The first team to achieve this wins. There are seven different maps (locations) to play on which all provide a unique environment and playing experience. While playing the game, you will earn in-game currency which can be used to purchase the various customization options mentioned earlier (Note: this game has no microtransactions).

Extra Information

All of the game modes in this game, excluding the story mode, are multiplayer, which means that the pilots on your team and the enemy team are real people. Do not worry though, if you are struggling to play against other players, there is an option to only have real people on your team and have the enemy team be CPUs (computers) that have various difficulty settings for your convenience. Note that the game, due to it being in the first person, can cause some people to feel motion sick, due to the maneuvers (such as barrel rolls) the players will need to do to properly pilot their ship. The game is currently priced at 39.99USD (which is twenty dollars cheaper than most modern games) and goes on sale frequently. The game will be receiving no further updates, so what you pay for is what you get.

Final Thoughts

In the end, this game is not for everyone. The controls and mechanics can sometimes feel very complicated and overwhelming due to the various things you have to monitor such as: the ship’s shield health, the blasters’ heat levels, the ship’s speed, if the ship is damaged, if the ship is being targeted, and much more. This game is made easier and better when played with friends due to easier coordination and teamwork. The price to content ratio is fair, and the game is rid of large amounts of bugs and glitches, not to mention that the game’s visuals are outstanding. If you are skeptical about it, I recommend at least to buy it and then return it, if you don’t like it. However, If you are a fan of the Star Wars franchise, flight simulators, or just want a new experience, along with some challenges, this game is a steal, and I would definitely recommend picking it up.