Developer(s) – EA DICE
Publisher(s) – Electronic Arts
Producer – Sigurlina Ingvarsdottir
Designer – Niklas Fegraeus
PEGI – 16
Released amidst the anticipation surrounding the seventh Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, and has sold over 10 million copies in a few short months despite mixed critical reaction, Star Wars: Battlefront is an action shooter with a heavy emphasis on online play. And features a welcome amount of gameplay variety. As well as nigh-on limitless fan service. Though the game received a fair amount of criticism, I nevertheless enjoyed playing it quite a bit. Despite not being the biggest Star Wars fan and would recommend it to any fan of the first-person shooting genre.
Graphics – 10/10
The game features five maps and locations modeled on some of the most iconic battlefields and planets in the Star Wars franchise. Jakku, Sullust, Tatooine, Endor, and Hoth. As well as celebrating the license to its fullest, the graphics are also fantastically rendered. With some of the most realistic-looking graphics I’ve seen on the PlayStation 4 so far. As well as there being next to no graphical glitches insight. One common criticism levied against Battlefront has been that there isn’t enough of a variety of different locations for how many there have been in the Star Wars films. But the way I see it, the level of graphical detail would certainly suggest that the developers took a quality-over-quantity approach, which certainly shows.
Gameplay – 7/10
Featuring various different online multiplayer game modes. As well as a story mode for single players (something that I personally wasn’t expecting watching the initial trailers and reading early articles), the game provides much more than just fan service. But a gaming experience excelling the quality of many other licensed games to have come before it. As well as ground firearm combat, it also features third-person lightsaber combat as well as vehicular combat. Giving players the facility to fight from ships such as the X-Wing and the TIE Fighters. Separate playable characters also have their own sets of abilities. Be it Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, etc.
Controls – 8/10
Despite how players need to adapt to several different styles of play in order to enjoy the game to its fullest, the control scheme presents minimal complications to the player, as most aspects are handled as well as they could have possibly been. Aside from the first-person shooting mechanics being handled as well as any classic game in the genre, the vehicular combat also feels extremely fluent. The minor criticism I have is that the third-person combat and hit detection can seem a little inaccurate at times. It plays out similarly to the game Warframe, though the small frustrations this style of play presents is nowhere near as much of a problem as it is in the latter, and is handled far better.
Originality – 6/10
Though the game consists of a collection of different elements inspired by several different kinds of games, as opposed to being entirely its own cohesive concept, each, all the different factors come together to form a gaming experience fairly unique against most other renowned online multiplayer series’ such as Call of Duty or Battlefield. There aren’t a lot of licensed games that celebrate the license on the same level as this title does or with as much imagination behind it, but it is most definitely a fairly standout title for it and exceeds the quality of many other Star Wars games before it.
Happii
Overall, Star Wars: Battlefront is a varied and fun game recommended by me for both fans of the series and people who may be looking to get into it. Not being a fan of the franchise doesn’t mean that the game cannot be enjoyed, and there is certainly a lot of enjoyment to be had with this title; especially for fans of competitive online gaming.