Star Wars Battlefront has me terribly conflicted. On one hand, the Star Wars fan in me finds an incredible amount of content to devour and love. On the other hand, the gamer in me sees some odd decisions and lacking gameplay. Ultimately, Star Wars Battlefront leaves me wanting to play more, but I’m not sure why.
The first thing you’ll notice about Star Wars Battlefront is that it is an absolutely gorgeous game. From the wooded forests of Endor to the lava fields of Sullust, I’m hard-pressed to find a game that looks as good as Battlefront does.
Not only does it look good, it sounds good. The audio work is immaculate. Listening with headphones really makes you feel immersed, as you’ll be able to tell where enemies are based just on the sounds you can hear. Everything sounds like it’s straight from the Star Wars universe. Blasters are constantly firing around you, TIE fighters scream overhead, and explosions of all kinds rumble across the battlefield.
It’s also technically polished., I’ve not encountered any major issues on the performance side of things. Hopping into games is quick and easy, and making a party of friends is handled through a smart interface. I haven’t experienced any lagging while playing, and haven’t been randomly kicked from a game or any of those other weird technical hiccups online shooters tend to have.
Now comes what really matters most: gameplay. Shooters live and die by their communities and support, so we can’t know how Star Wars Battlefront will be in a few months time. As of right now, all game types are consistently full of players. Hopefully that carries on in the future.
At launch, DICE has included nine different online modes. Some of these are really fun, tense experiences, but others fall kind of flat. Highlights include Droid Run (a play on base capturing, but where the bases are meandering droids), Supremacy (massive scale base capturing) and Walker Assault (a huge battle to defend or stop the lumbering AT-AT walkers from destroying a Rebel base).
Nothing can beat Fighter Squadron for me, though. It’s the best game mode by far. Each game features intense dogfighting between the Rebels and the Empire, with players swooping up, down, and all around to blow each other out of the sky. The Sullust map is a personal favorite, as the added cloud cover adds tension to the high-octane gameplay. The flying controls are fun and easy to learn, and also feel somewhat fresh and unique to online gameplay. Hey DICE, make more stuff like this!
Not quite as exciting modes include Hero Hunt (it’s basically Evolve) and Heroes vs. Villains (a Heroes-heavy game mode). Basically what I’m getting at is the Heroes just kind of feel weird. I know I don’t have to play as them, but it does make a few game modes weaker than the others for me.
Other game modes include Cargo (which is a take on Capture the Flag), Drop Zone (a game where teams must capture more drop pods than the other) and Blast (a straight-forward team deathmatch). All of these can be fun with the right group, but also feature smaller maps. I found these modes to be heavily infested with campers and other players who knew the exploit points. This can really diminish fun when playing. That being said, these modes can be a great time if you are playing with a good group of players or you’re the ones doing the camping and ass-kicking.
Additionally, there are a handful of single-player or co-op game modes. These are basic Survival horde-mode-style missions and training missions to get you familiar with all the aspects of Star Wars Battlefront. While somewhat entertaining, these are basically a side distraction for those looking to take a break from online multiplayer. They also help you learn the maps in a situation that is a little less intense.
All this wraps around a levelling and unlock system that leaves much to be desired. Better gear is unlocked as players level up, but this levelling focuses heavily on your performance in a match. If you aren’t so great, you will level much slower than everyone else, meaning you’ll be waiting longer for better gear. This adds up to you levelling even slower, as you will be getting dominated on the battlefield by better players with better guns and better gear. My only advice here is to try and focus on earning points in other areas, like completing team-specific objectives, and to just keep playing and grinding away.
And that really comes down to why I feel so conflicted about Star Wars Battlefront. There is plenty of fun to be had if you want to go have it. If you are looking for a game that brings the fun to you, this isn’t exactly that. Especially if you are a player at my skill, which is to say I’m pretty terrible at the game, most of your fun will be derived from who you are playing with. Given that there is no team chat, you must party up with pals if you want this game to be social. Playing without friends is far less entertaining than gaming in a party.
With stunning visuals, immersive audio, and solid online performance, Star Wars Battlefront truly shines on the technical front. As for gameplay and depth, much more can be desired. Hopefully DICE can continue to update and improve Star Wars Battlefront with engaging post-launch content, so fans will keep coming back for many more months.
So what do you think? Do you agree or disagree on my favorite game modes? What content and features do you think could come in a future update? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Note: Star Wars Battlefront was reviewed on an Xbox One copy provided by EA.
