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So there I was, trying to steer this behemoth of a Desert Raptor MKII mech—picture a clunky, DIY-looking robot—through a canyon that seemed ridiculously overcrowded with hover bots and bandits (not exactly a Sunday drive). Honestly, felt like the makers of Bounty Star might be onto some epic stuff here. Took me a few crash and burns, but eventually, I powered through, smashing enemies with heavy hits and cannon blasts. But even as my session wrapped up, I was itching to dive back into their chaotic world once it drops on Xbox Series X|S.
Playing as Clem, you’re this badass fighter, sort of dealing with some heavy baggage from her war days. She’s looking to make amends—or maybe just survive—in this gritty place they call the Red Expanse. Think of a scorched American Southwest after some apocalypse-type event. You get the vibe, right?
Met up with Benjamin Ruiz, the brain behind it all. He couldn’t help but talk about some trip he took to Sedona, Arizona, where he got smacked with inspiration by those red-rock landscapes. Apparently, that’s what lit the fuse for Bounty Star. God, some people just have that creative spark, don’t they? Anyway—wait, back to what I was saying—so, he mentioned they kicked off production about a year or two after that trip.
Ruiz had this dream of crafting a Western, and somehow mixed it with mech gameplay, kind of a lighter Armored Core. Sounds like a mashup, but it works. Who knew?
There’s this side of everyday bounty hunter life in the game. You’re doing things like cooking in a makeshift kitchen, scraping for resources, even raising chickens—survival stripped down to the dusty essentials. They’re weaving together the wild west fun with mech action, so yeah, quite the cocktail.
Clem’s base is a rundown garage—that whole lived-in look with sparking power lines and food supplies that double as stat boosters. Definitely some strong “Firefly” vibes here. It’s rough, but kind of homey in a weird way. Feels like potential waiting to burst out, if you know what I mean.
Customization’s big here too. Made me think of playing with LEGO as a kid, piecing together any mech you fancy—as long as you’ve got the parts. Ruiz chimed in, saying you can gear up with melee and firearms, then lean into whatever style suits you. Go tanky and slow, or swift and nimble—it’s your call.
Talking strategy, there’s a mix of attributes and support systems to tweak. Surprise, surprise, even some QA folks skipped healing because blasting through levels at supersonic speeds was their jam. So, lots of unique combos to mess around with.
Meeting NPCs adds some life, too. There’s a Marshall dishing out bounties and old friendship vibes, and a shady merchant with primo gear. The cast isn’t big, but it’s got flavor.
As for bounties, they’re varied enough to keep things fresh—capture one day, clear baddies another. Throw in optional challenges and Bounty Star’s all about that unique mission flavor.
Bounty Star’s shaping up quirky yet full of surprises, much like Clem’s cobbled-together home. Can’t wait for it to hit the Xbox later this year. Here’s hoping it lives up to its wild promise.
