For two years running now ole George Lucas has decided to make November his month. In 2004 it was with the simultaneous release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones on DVD and the original Battlefront. This year it's been the release of
However, the BF franchise has begun to chart an odd parallel path with the movies. A great deal of BF II is similar to the original, but has just enough "all-new" tweaks and additions to make it a "must buy" - if for nothing else than to see what's been added. Therein lies our biggest gripe. It feels like there was "just enough" - and only "just enough" - added to even call this a different game. We're not saying the additions aren't spectacular, because playing as a Jedi and dog fighting in space is fantastic. But... it feels like this all could have been (and should have been) included in the first game.
Battlefront was devoid of anything worth calling a "single player" experience. Fortunately, Pandemic listened to the Wookie screams and implemented a wholly revamped, engaging single-player component. The story is derived from the journals of the 501st Clone Legion. Each one of the open-ended missions starts off as an in game rendered movie that segues neatly into FPS action and feel like "behind the scenes" moments that actually flesh out the movies. Furthermore, the stories are voiced over by the actor who portrayed Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison). It's a great touch that really helps immerse the player, making the whole first person experience worth taking the time to play.
Pandemic has added two completely new features to the game, and both are accessible in single player and multiplayer modes. New space battles allow you to dogfight in X-Wings, TIE Fighters, Jedi Starfighters and virtually every other ship you've ever seen in the Star Wars movies. The controls are a bit difficult to get a grasp at first, because flying X-Wings ain't like dusting crops... er, isn't nearly as easy to control with a mouse as it is with a joystick, but you get the hang of it after a few run ins (literally) with a capital ship. The whole flight element is intricately woven into the overall scheme of the game. While in the midst of a running blaster battle aboard your ship - fending off the enemy from taking control of a spawn point, you can run to the hanger, hop into a ship and take off into outer space. From there you can dogfight your way to an enemy capital ship, land in its hangar, and carry on the blaster battle to take over their spawn point. It's an impressive addition that makes you feel like you're taking part in a Star Wars battle.
If you recall, BF had "Heroes" (i.e., Jedi/Sith) who would appear from time to time to help turn the tide of battle. Unfortunately, you were never able to take control them. This time, you can - and it is amazing! When certain battle conditions are met a prompt will appear on-screen indicating that a "Hero" is available. You'll have a limited amount of time to take advantage of the "Hero" - so you need to act fast. Taking damage will reduce the time remaining on the bar, but defeating enemies will increase it. Each "Hero" has his/her own unique powers and abilities. For instance, Baby and Papa Fett can use wrist rockets. Darth Maul, wielding his two-ended light saber - can throw it at a target, as well as Force Choke the living daylights out of an enemy. All the Jedi/Sith have secondary Force powers (push, pull, lightning, etc.) that are simply awesome (and highly effective).
While the enemy A.I. in the original game was above average, there doesn't seem to have been much improvement in the follow up, even though it's listed as a feature. That's not to say the bots aren't functional, but you'll still see a lot of stupid behavior nonetheless. Bad path finding, attempts to run or fire through walls, and a real inability to muster any sort of competition in the space battles. They do play the ground maps with efficiency by taking advantage of their class-specific troops to accomplish objectives and support each other. What's more, they create the sense that things are going on during the battle instead of just random blasting.
Like the original game BF II earns its chops when you jump online and go multiplayer against living, breathing players. The PC version can host up to 64 players (plus AI units) per map. There are more than 16 new battlefronts - both on land and in space, including several from Revenge of the Sith, like Utapau, Mustafar and the space battle above Coruscant. Mustafar is perhaps the best new map of the bunch, with its unique look and feel. Retractable gantries provide clever, interactive twists to the gameplay. The worst map has to be Felucia - with its intolerable color schemes, bizarre Tim Burton-esque landscapes, and horrid effects that make it nearly impossible to see anyone or anything. Additionally, there are several new locations taken from the classic trilogy, including space battles, inside the Death Star, and the fight aboard the Tantive IV (seen at the beginning of Star Wars: A New Hope). It all makes for a wonderful trip back to the real hey-day of Star Wars fanaticism.
While the first BF only offered conquest mode, in which winning meant controlling all the command posts on a map, BF II includes several new modes. There are two forms of Capture the Flag; a Hunt mode wherein a "hunting" team must eliminate an entire "hunted" team within a certain time limit (a Gungan and Ewok slaughter-fest if there ever was one!); and Assault, where you must score the most points by destroying enemy units and objects.
When a multiplayer match starts, four out of six classes are available (troopers, snipers, engineers, and racketeers). The last two remain locked until you earn enough points by killing enemies and capturing spawn points. Obviously, these two locked classes are much more powerful than the other four, so you're basically in a race with the other team to unlock them. Not only that, but whoever unlocks the Jedi class can change the entire battle. Thus, a real sense of urgency is created. Unfortunately, balance issues with the classes mitigate this urgency. Sniping is all but out of the question most of the time because you don't have enough time to wait for kills to come you. If you do wait, someone will have unlocked Darth Vader, and then it's all over but the dying. Secondly, heavily packed servers cause players to frequently bounce and zig-zag all over the map. It's hard enough hitting them with a standard blaster, let alone trying to snipe them through a scope. An even more problematic balance issue is the lack of any cohesive support relationship between the units. Troopers aren't really effective - against anything, yet Engineers can kill just about anything in a single shotgun blast.
One of the most popular maps so far appears to be the Star Wars version of "Celebrity Deathmatch." It pits the Sith "heroes" against the Jedi "heroes." Imagine a map full of Darth Mauls, General Grevious', Vaders, and the Fetts, going up against Ben Kenobis, Han Solos, and Yodas! It's non-stop, Force flying chaos from start to finish! Another fun map has Jawas going against Sand People. Hilarity ensues as Jawas scurry around speaking Jawa-ese, trying to take down the bigger Tusken Raiders. It's good to see some of that ole LucasArts humor (Day of the Tentacle, Sam & Max, etc.) included in a Star Wars game.
Graphically speaking... we're sorely disappointed. BF was acceptable, sometimes beautiful, but certainly not cutting edge. Absolutely nothing has been done to improve the look of BF II. The graphics look no different, now making them appear dated. Plus, the whole game looks like it's been coated in a glossy sheen - an effect we noted in the first game, but it's even more recognizable here, and far more annoying. Nothing looks dirty, gritty or used-looking like the Star Wars Universe should look.
Battlefront II is an improvement in some key respects, but takes a nap in others. The additions are indeed spectacular, but honestly - should have been in the first game. Furthermore, we have to wonder why some of the same glitches from the original are still present, and why this game doesn't look any better. In the end, it feels lazy somehow. We expected more from Pandemic and LucasArts. Nonetheless, this is a still a rousing game that's worth the purchase. We know - a paradoxical, backhanded review this is. But, when has Yoda ever really made sense?
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