Bounty Star: A Charming, Cozy Mech Brawler in a Post-Apocalyptic World

As I tried to wrangle my oversized Desert Raptor MKII through this dusty, endless canyon, full of these crazy rocket-wielding bots and bandits with way too many guns, I had this weird gut feeling. Like maybe, just maybe, Bounty Star’s onto something? My mech felt like it had been slapped together from whatever was lying around in some old garage—well, ’cause it kinda was. But those metal fists and cannons? They did their job against these foes, eventually. Took me forever to get it right, though. But when I was about to wrap up my time with it, all I wanted was more. Seriously thinking about diving back in later this year when it’s out on Xbox Series X|S.

So you’re Clem in Bounty Star. She’s a tough cookie, a vet with some baggage she can’t quite shake, trying to right a few wrongs and maybe save the world while she’s at it. Her stomping ground? This wild, almost post-apocalyptic stretch called the Red Expanse. Think Mad Max meets the American Southwest. Or Sedona, Arizona. I chuckled when Creative Director Benjamin Ruiz chatted with me about how sitting in Sedona basically birthed this whole thing. He got all inspired by the red rocks, which sparked this entire idea. Makes you think, right? Ideas simmer for years. Who’d have thought?

Ruiz always wanted to whip up a Western. Lucky us, because Bounty Star gets that classic dusty showdown vibe, but with a twist of robotic madness—kinda like Armored Core but more chill. He wants the whole bounty hunter life in it, apparently. You’re cooking your grub, worrying about clean water, raising chickens—wait, chickens? Anyway, that’s what he said. It’s like this mash-up: Western charm, bounty hunter grit, and mech chaos all rolled into one. How did they even come up with this?

Dropping into Clem’s, uh, let’s call it “home”—it’s really just a garage strung with power lines and a slapped-together kitchen in the corner—hits different. Like a sci-fi Western fever dream right out of Firefly. You got barrels of ammo lying around, but it feels cozy in its own rundown way. A hodgepodge homestead catch, you know?

Oh, and let me tell you about customizing these mechs. Ruiz had me thinking I could customize away, as long as I’ve got the scrap. He assured me, whether you want to be this walking tank armed to the teeth or a speedy, nimble thing, you’re covered. A couple of weapons are needed—a gun and a melee, the classic combo. But yeah, you can twist it your way.

And Clem’s world is more than just baddies. There are folks—like the Marshall, an old pal giving you your bounties. There’s also this shady merchant type with the best gear, but he’s so different from the Marshall. The game’s going for meaningful interactions, like really get you emotionally sucked in, I guess?

Missions are interesting too. Bounty hunting here isn’t just “go-get-this-bad-guy.” Some days it’s capturing, others it’s just blasting away, each mission an arena-off of sorts. Optional challenges? All there for folks who want to keep playing and playing.

So, back to Clem and her garage universe. I’m super curious how this all ties together when it drops on Xbox later. The raw potential, you know? I’m all for seeing if it’ll really hit that sweet spot.