November 19, 2002
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a 2002 action-adventure video game developed and published by LucasArts for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. It was re-released digitally on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in November 2015. Limited Run Games re-released a limited supply of the game physically for the PlayStation 4 on June 28, 2019. The game is a prequel to the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and a continuation of the comic book Jango Fett: Open Seasons by Haden Blackman.
Set in the Star Wars Legends expanded universe, the story follows former Mandalorian warrior Jango Fett during his prime as a bounty hunter, and provides the backstory to the character's role in Attack of the Clones, explaining several elements from the film such as how he acquired his iconic ship, Slave I, met his partner-in-crime, Zam Wesell, and was chosen as the genetic template for the Grand Army of the Republic. In the game's overarching narrative, Fett is hired by the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus to eliminate the Dark Jedi Komari Vosa, and becomes entangled in an extensive "death stick" trafficking conspiracy while clashing with several criminal syndicates and an old rival.
Bounty Hunter received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its graphics, length, sound and level design, and shooting mechanics. Criticism was aimed at the game's repetitive nature, camera control, and technical issues, while the bounty hunting system, which allows players to search each level for secondary targets with a price on their head and capture them dead or alive for a reward, was met with mixed reactions.
Storyline
Jango Fett is about to take on a project that could make or break his bounty hunting career, and his life. Chosen to be the blue-print for the Clone Army, Jango must now prove himself in order to gain the biggest job on the streets, wiping out the deadly cult, Bando Gora. Every other bounty hunter in the galaxy is willing and able to do the job, so you must work hard to gain the contract from Darth Tyranus.
To win the contract, you must complete a range of missions and collect the bounties on worlds very familiar to Star Wars fans. Jango has his trusty dual pistols to help him out, but also has the ability to use his flame thrower, jet pack, poison darts and much more. Bounty Hunter also has the unique bounty hunting system, where each mission has a specific number of bounties hiding out in the level. Jango must identify them with his helmet gear, and catch them alive...or dead. Bounties allow the player to unlock bonus materials.
The 3rd person action title also includes full motion cut-scenes designed by Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, plus a few hidden extras and Easter eggs. Bounty Hunter also connects to the movies in that it explains how Jango became the model for the Clone Army of the Republic, and how he became acquainted with Zam Wesell, who makes an appearance in the movies.
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Bottle Rocket 2 Picco PE098501
- SKYWALKER BULLET RICOCHET 10 (higher-pitched edit)/SKYWALKER HIGH RICOCHET SOUNDS (3rd ricochet, dubbed as "a1_load.msb_00122.wav")
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - RAPID, LASER-LIKE RICOCHETS (Heard in +12 pitch?)
- SKYWALKER, BULLET - SPARK-LIKE RICOCHET (dubbed as "a1_load.msb_00136")
- SKYWALKER, WHOOSH - ARTILLERY FALL 01
- Sound Ideas, COWBELL - RATTLE, SHORT, MUSIC, PERCUSSION
- Wilhelm Scream