Does a tactics game need a story? Does it even need to look good? Greg Foertsch, creative director on the upcoming XCOM-like Star Wars: Zero Company, certainly thinks so. The former XCOM dev dove into his thoughts on the genre in a recent conversation with PC Gamer associate editor Ted Litchfield.
While it might seem like the biggest compliment a tactics game can get is ‘you know, it’s actually more of a puzzle game,’ Foertsch said that’s no excuse to spare players a good story.
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Genre diehards might be content with even the spartan visuals of the original XCOM—that is, 1994 and not 2012—but Foertsch said he wants to realize the largely untapped potential for eye-catching graphics and immersive storytelling in tactics games.
Foertsch maintains that it’s not an either-or, and he said he’s not sure why or how fans got “conditioned” to think strategy games can’t graphically luxuriate a little bit or spin memorable yarns. “We should have better stories, we have more immersion, we have better visuals … we’re here to tell you, you can have both, and that’s what we’re planning to deliver.”
If you’re itching to learn more about Star Wars Zero Company, you can read Ted’s full preview of the game—it’s chock-full of details and interview tidbits from Foertsch and others. We also have a handy explainer on the game that’ll tell you everything you need to know.
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