The highly anticipated "Star Wars Battlefront" has finally made it's way onto shelves and into stockings, created by Dice, EA, and LucasFilm LTD. "Battlefront" is available for Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and PS4 and has sold upwards of 12 million copies in the two months since its release. At first glance, I was a little repulsed by a large number of negative reviews of the game. They largely focused around the small number of game modes and even fewer playable maps, as well as the limited variety between load-out weaponry and "star cards." However, despite these drawbacks, the game valiantly delivers on many different fronts, battle-fronts.
First and foremost, my favorite feature in the beta was flying around in anything from Tie-Fighters to X-Wings, all the way to the Millennium Falcon. The flying is relatively easy to pick up and difficult to truly master. Performing strafing runs as a rebel speeder pilot while dodging fire from enemy anti-aircraft weaponry as well as AT-ATs makes for a lot of satisfying action-packed fun when properly executed. If you're lucky enough to come across an AT-AT power-up, be sure to use it wisely, as up in the gunner's seat of these behemoth Imperial Walkers, you'll be able to potentially devastate hordes of enemies with the single pull of a trigger.
Next in line for the most enjoyable aspect of the game, can also sometimes be the most frustrating depending on execution. Of course I'm speaking of the playable ,Heroes in the game. One of the best successes within the game lies in the "Heroes vs. Villains" game mode, which requires teams of six to face off against one another while also having to protect their own respective heroes. To name a few heres, there are; Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia, or Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine or Bobba Fett. While Palpatine and Skywalker (when used correctly) are the two powerhouses, the other heroes and their corresponding abilities should not be taken lightly as they can still strongly operate on their own. Bobba Fett's high powered jetpack makes him one of the single most agile characters in the game and can deliver some very impressive mobile kills. The trouble is that if you come across most if not all the above heroes, you're going to struggle to stay alive if you yourself are not also a hero.
If you aren't in the mood to pilot a spacecraft or become any of the heroes good or evil, (even as a front-line infantryman), then you can carry the tide of battle or bring about your own defeat. One of the most notable roles in Dice's Battlefield games has always been that of the long-ranged Sniper, whether you're using your blaster rifle or utilizing the Pulse Cannon star card, the sheer expansiveness of this game allows for some breathtaking views and gut-wrenching sniping potential. The Cycler Rifle which was featured in the beta version of the game is now accessed at rank 28 (the second to last star card you'll unlock) and is one of the most versatile and satisfying weapons I've come across in the game. Recently, I've taken up the RT-97C blaster which has performed exceedingly well at mid-long distance and partners very well with the one-shot kill Pulse Cannon for wiping out enemy infantry. The Pulse Cannon truly rewards a skilled hand as I found out this afternoon, when I managed to disable a moving enemy speeder bike, only to realize there was yet another stormtrooper hurdling towards me on another speeder-bike. I anxiously waited for my Pulse Cannon to recharge as I huddled behind the cover of a towering tree and jumped out at the last second to blast the enemy rider clean off his bike.
As far as customization goes, you can unlock new appearances or characters (way down the line), but all at the expense of in-game currency. In my opinion, you're honestly better off spending on the various star cards are blasters instead of growing a beard or removing ones hair. As was mentioned earlier, there is a decent variety among primary weapons available, although some weapons may at first glance feel relatively similar to others they ultimately appear and perform differently enough to create for some sparklingly distinct load-outs. There's also the various center-star cards which upon activation grant the player a particular boost, from temporarily increased weapon stability to granting ion-based shots to take down pesky shields or vehicles.
The bottom line is that the game feels and plays more like "Battlefield" than it does like the old "Battlefront" games, but this is not necessarily a defect depending on who you ask. As of right now, I would speculate that the game's seemingly earlier-than-scheduled release had something to do with the pro-"Star Wars" hype as a result of "The Force Awakens" recent release. Whether you're a veteran "Battlefront" player or are just being introduced to the series, this game delivers stunning visuals, expansive multiplayer strategic endeavoring, and a galaxy of action-packed entertainment that will leave you shouting "did you see that?"
