Games for “Star wars” existed probably since the very first movie in the universe of George Lucas. And the more popular it became the far-distant galaxy, the more appeared of interactive entertainment on the subject. With each new video game is tried to be part of the story, complementing and extending the original event. It lasted until the transfer of rights to Star Wars in the hands of Disney. Then everything that did not belong to the six main episodes and the TV series “the clone Wars”, came to the rank of “legends”, that is, events that never took place, and the new authors began to write new stories. Tightened them and their video game counterparts. Therefore, we are witnessing a unique event: the first major video game addition that the events of the new Canon. Meet the Star Wars: Battlefront II.
Game: Star Wars: Battlefront II
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: shooter first-person/third-person shooter
Release date: 17 Nov 2017
Developer: EA DICE, Criterion Games, Motive Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
To start this time I would like with the story, as apart from the fact that we will see a direct continuation of return of the Jedi, so also take a look at the events immediately after episode VI, with a very unusual side faces the Imperial officer. Like the characters met in the Saga before, but they always chose in the end, the direction of light, therefore, doubly interesting to see how the team (and the game was created from 3 studios) coped with this problem and not whether they went to the beaten track. So, we begin with an assessment of the activities of Motive Studios. They were responsible for the plot.
In the center of the story we have the commander of the elite Imperial special forces “Inferno” Eden Versio. Together with the wards she was involved in many operations under the banner of the Empire, and hunted down the remnants of guerrilla groups With Garery (one of the main characters from the movie “Outlaw-single”). The eyes of the protagonist we will see the destruction of the second version of the Death Star, as well as take part in events that somehow affect the fate of the entire Galaxy.
Actually, the story was very intense, interesting and not giving bored. Us and then throws from one event to another, and the tasks themselves are very diverse. To reveal details of the plot of course, I won’t, but let me just say that it starts with the last of Emperor Palpatine, and to play you will be given not only for the girl commander. Yes, and the familiar movie characters in the course of action you will encounter. In General, the plot is well worth your attention and covers quite a large period of time since the fall of the Empire, and almost before the events of the Force awakens.
Those of you who are solo adventures may not be satisfied (because the story campaign is quite fascinating and can be completed in one or two evenings) for a mode called arcade. In it you have to complete quests for various characters Dark or Light side of the Force. Many of the events resonate with the stories of the film, while others complement them, therefore, performing them to all fans of “Star wars” will be doubly interesting. Otherwise, it’s a good warm-up before the online battles to be responsible for the guys from DICE, the authors of the series Battlefield.
I have to say: despite the similar names the two series, the authors did not “Battlefield in space with lightsabers”. DICE have managed to create a completely independent project. Yes, there are a couple of similar moments, but it is not a borrowing from “big brother” and the standard for the genre of online shooters. For example, the class system. The game has 4 basic classes of soldier: Rifleman, heavy fighter, officer and specialist. The first two are ordinary soldiers, armed with light and heavy weapons respectively. The officer can strengthen your squad and put defensive turrets, and the specialist is the analog of the action of the same Battlefield. Each class has some unique skills (only about a dozen of them, but in battle you can take only 3) like special grenades, powerful guns, protective shields and so on.
But that’s not all. In addition to the “cannon fodder” there are special heroes and legendary Jedi like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and a hero of the Saga — Han Solo, Boba Fett, Lando Calrissian and others. They all possess unique skills that give a huge advantage on the battlefield, but just to get a “death machine” will not work, although about that later. In addition, there is a possibility of management of military equipment: tanks a walking AT-ST and at-at, assault tanks class AAT, fighters, bombers and so on. Everyone will find something to their liking. Game modes a lot, and they all pass on their unique rules in “galactic battle” fits 40 players and lots of military equipment, in the “heroes vs villains” fight only “superstars” Star wars, “fight” is a more compact version of galactic battle, but of special note is the “battle star fighter”.
For this, namely the “flight” part of the game was already said Criterion Games (creators of the series Burnount and some parts Need for Speed). Space battle and flying is something amazing. In the air (or a vacuum) fly fighters and bombers, be sure to have a large cruiser, all in all shoot here and there rushing missiles and shots from blasters. Despite the seeming chaos, it creates feeling of well-directed battle from any of the episodes of Star Wars. It is better to see once (and even better to see and to play) than hear a hundred times. Just great!
In terms of multiplayer the game has become longer than the first part in everything. More modes, more maps, more features. But in all multiplayer games there is one change insignificant at first glance, but drastically changing the gameplay. If the first Battlefront is to play as a hero or a ride on a powerful technique, you need to randomly place to find the special icon, but now this is done through a special menu before going on the battlefield. All the characters are purchased with points obtained in battle. At first glance, such a system rewards the most diligent players additional bonuses. But there is a flip side: if even before a player who trailed behind in the standings, could suddenly become a Jedi or get behind the wheel of the Millennium Falcon and slapped on the cabbage soup to the enemy, but now no such possibility. Either you punish the opponent and get even more powerful means of destruction of everything around you, or… continue to trail behind. Overall, the new system is not bad. It is just different, because in Battlefront if each player could get their share of fun, now it is all about skill. In a multiplayer game as it should be, and rightly so, but the old system it would be possible to write a separate mode. I think nobody would be against it.
But by and large it’s nitpicking, because the game is very cool and high quality throughout. In terms of image and in terms of music and sound. Everything is so authentic, that sense that on the other side of the screen do the same far-distant galaxy, not just postrelushki in space, comes from the first sound of unforgettable melodies for the authorship of John Williams. But for that game to praise I can’t, so it’s my “favorite” containers and microtransactions. Once again, we propose to open additional opportunities for in-game currency or by investing real money. This approach may appeal to a publisher, but I, as a player, I want to get the game worth $ 60 from all the available Arsenal, not knock him out of luchboxes. And besides, cards that pop out of containers, may increase some skills of the characters that can make the imbalance between those who pay and those who do not.
Pros:
- Great story that fills the gap between VI and VII episode of “Star wars”
- Nice graphics
- Great multiplayer c a lot of game modes
- Gorgeous space battles
- Great music and sound
- The opportunity to play for the iconic characters of the Saga of George Lucas
Cons:
- Changed points system in multiplayer not all fans of the first part will like
- Microtransactions
Today, I want to do without a long epilogue. Star Wars: Battlefront II is the best thing that ever happened to video game adaptations on Star wars over the last 5 years at least. And this is one of the best multiplayer shooters of 2017. 9 out of 10. And may the Force be with you!
Game overview Star Wars: Battlefront II
Vladimir Kuznetsov