Star Wars Battlefront Beta Impressions
When Star Wars: Battlefront first released in 2004, it garnered plenty of acclaim from critics and was followed up by a sequel in 2005 that greatly expanded the gameplay and drew even more plaudits. Star Wars: Battlefront II was the last full entry in the series as a further title by TimeSplitters developer Free Radical Design was eventually cancelled amid turmoil between the studio and LucasArts.
It looked like the series could well be dead until Disney purchased the Star Wars property. This prompted publisher EA to acquire the rights to produce games based on the franchise, with DICE eventually given the chance to develop Star Wars Battlefront after lobbying by studio employees. The recent public beta gave everyone the chance to get to grips with the game that will release next month.
The first thing that you notice when you jump into a game is that it is incredibly good looking. This is without a doubt the most authentic and realistic portrayal of the Star Wars universe that has ever been made. DICE has obviously made use of the extensive source materials provided to them, creating a world that feels very much like you are in the films. The terrains are beautiful while every character model, vehicle, weapon and animation is crisp and polished. If you like impressive graphics, then Star Wars Battlefront certainly delivers on that front.
You’ll also notice the Battlefield influence when playing too, thanks to the fact that the developer is primarily responsible for that series as well. Fortunately though, the game has been made much less complex than other modern shooters. Gone are the various layers of loadouts and special abilities that plague games such as Call of Duty, instead players only have to choose from four different types of gun and then three cards. These provide various upgrades such as a grenade, a jetpack or even a powerful secondary weapon.
This uncomplicated approach has two benefits. It allows every player to be on a level playing field, as veterans no longer have exclusive access to all of the best gear, preventing them from having an overwhelming advantage. However, more important is the fact that this feels liked an older shooter from a simpler time. It boils down the gameplay to one of just skill – can you kill your opponent before he kills you. This is a refreshing change from type of action that you can get in Battlefield or Destiny and Battlefront is all the better because of it.
Whether you are playing in the smaller sized map or the large open warzone of Hoth, there is a sense that you are part of a much larger battle. That feeling is partly down to the spectacular surroundings that show fights being waged in the skies above you and on far away battlefields but also because of frantic fast-paced combat. Combined with the ability to jump into vehicles and tackle huge enemies such as the AT-AT walkers.
Speaking of the vehicles, DICE have come up with a way that gets rid of the mad dash race to get to the best powerups and vehicles at the start of the game that is traditional in these types of titles. Rather than have a collection of X-Wing fighters and AT-ST waiting at the base for anyone to jump in, players can only access them by picking up special randomized icons on the field of battle. This is a nice touch that gives everyone a fair chance of having a go with the different features of the game, including the heroes such as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.
The three different modes on offer, two competitive multiplayer and one a co-op horde like affair, are fun and diverse from one and other. They range from just five players to a whopping 40, providing a decent range of action that most other titles struggle with. The addition of the other game modes that are due to be available in the final game should stop Star Wars Battlefront from ever becoming stale.
Ultimately, it feels as if Star Wars Battlefront has all the ingredients to make it a fun and rewarding experience. Although it was just a taste of the full game, the beta showed off everything that DICE has done right with the title without ringing too many alarm bells in the process.