While players can only control Star-Lord in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, there is still utility in the fact that the group travels together. Each character brings their own special powers and abilities to the table, and this diversification can make the game more interesting, and easier.
Luckily, there is a system in the game that allows players to leverage the heroes that aren't being controlled. This makes it so the special abilities of each Guardian can play a role in any alien battle, even though they aren't controlled directly by the player. Since the Guardians aren't all that helpful outside of these abilities, this is a very useful trick.
Squad orders function as a way to use the other Guardians' special abilities both in and out of battle. Squad Orders can turn the tides of a tough Marvel's GotG boss fight, or simply unlock a special interaction to help the Guardians progress through the game. Issuing these orders is pretty simple, and vital in getting the complete GotG experience.
How to Issue Squad Orders in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
To issue squad orders in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, simply press the L1/LB button to enter the menu, and then select a Guardian using the corresponding button. Once a Guardian has been selected, pick an ability for them to use, and that ability will target whatever Star-Lord is targeting. These orders will make the other Guardians much more useful, as Marvel's GotG can feel like a solo game much of the time. Without them, the other Guardians oftentimes feel more like scenery instead of useful teammates.
Out of combat, certain choices and interactions can only be done by a specific Guardian. This will be indicated by an object with a faint, pulsating outline. To complete these interactions, pull up the Guardians menu the same way as in combat, and select the proper character. It is pretty much the same process as it is in combat, but there is no need to actually select an ability since the interaction itself dictates what the Guardian will have to do.
Consistently tasking Star-Lord's teammates with orders will help players progress through Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy with ease, and allow for more tactical combat. Knowing each characters' best special ability, and utilizing them, makes the game feel much more like a team sport.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is available for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.