Summary
There is a long history ofStar Warsvideo games out there, and many of them have spawned their own franchises, such as theStar Wars: Battlefrontseries. Since starting in 2004,Star Wars: Battlefronthas been the definitive title for gamers to experience multiplayer shooter action set in a galaxy far, far away.
There have beensixStar Wars: Battlefrontgamesover the years, and they remain popular, with fans still hoping for aStar Wars: Battlefront 3in the future. Each game delivers epic battles in its own way, featuring different gameplay and visual presentations. Some have proven better than others, with a few maintaining strong player bases years after their release.
There is no denying that EA and DICE crafted a beautiful-looking game that looks and feels straight out of aStar Warsmovie, thanks to the Frostbite engine providing photorealistic visuals.The blastersthe characters wield, the lightsabers, starships, and even the environment all had accurate sounds to keep playersimmersed, butStar Wars: Battlefrontwas not a strong reboot of the series.
Despite its stunning visuals,Star Wars: Battlefrontfelt more like a demo than a full game. Many of the signature modes that theBattlefrontseries was known for were absent, and there was no single-player content beyond a disappointing wave-based survival mode. Additionally, the card-based upgrade system for loadouts was criticized by nearly all players, including those unfamiliar with the series.
As far as an exclusiveBattlefronttitlefor the PlayStation Portable,Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadroncould be worse. It delivers action-packed skirmishes similar to those found in other games in the series at the time, and even features an original campaign. It follows a Force-sensitive clone who fights for and against the Empire, partaking in famous battles from the movies.
However, as a sequel,Elite Squadronlacks diversity inits battles compared toRenegade Squadron, with every match playing out the same way: starting with a ground battle that leads to a capital shipbattle. It becomes monotonous quickly, especially when the enemy AI is completely broken, so a player can experience all that the game has to offer in one or two matches.
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadronis essentially a condensed version ofStar Wars: Battlefront 2.It features similar gameplay and visuals, although it is not as polished as its counterparts. Despite this, it successfully provides aBattlefrontexperience that nearly rivals the mainline games. However, a significant drawback is that the multiplayer mode can only be accessed by multiple players using their own PSP consoles on the same Wi-Fi network.
It was the first game in theBattlefrontfranchiseto feature cosmetic customization, allowing players to create their ideal trooper, including the weapons and equipment they wield. That gimmick, combined with more appealing gameplay, makesRenegade Squadrona perfect game for road trips if a gamer still has their PSP.
Even after twenty years, the originalStar Wars: Battlefrontis still considered a classic due to its large-scale battles, which were ahead of their time in 2004, and its sprawling gameplay that immerses the player in iconicStar Warslocations. From the Republic to the Empire, players experience new battles and those featured in the films, with mechanics that influenced other multiplayer shooters that followed.
Fans would come to loveStar Wars: Battlefrontso much that it and its sequel would get remastered in 2024, showing their legacy in the long line ofStar Warsgames.The now-defunct Pandemic Studiosgot their start with anotherStar Warsgame, butBattlefrontwould be so successful that they would also work on the sequel.
A sequel should always improve on what came before, andStar Wars: Battlefront 2accomplished that with more soldier classes, gameplay mechanics, and game modes. It’s still an objective-based multiplayer shooter in which troops engage in intense skirmishes across planets, butwith additions like starship combat, lightsaber wielders, and an even better story mode.
The Galactic Conquest mode, which combined skirmishes with tactical planning, was beloved because it allowed one or two players to engage in warfare for hours at a time. This was also the first time that hero characters like Jedi, Sith, and bounty hunters were playable, a feature that would remain in every mainlineBattlefrontgame that followed.
When the reboot ofStar Wars: Battlefront 2launched in 2017, it was controversial due to its imbalanced gameplay, pay-to-win mechanics, and a severe lack of content. However, after the backlash from gamers, EA, DICE, and Motive worked hard to rectify their errors, making almost every requested change to meet the expectations of fans, as the potential for a classic was evident.
The changes resulted inStar Wars: Battlefront 2becoming a middle ground between the originalBattlefronttitles andElectronic Arts’Battlefieldfranchise. While not perfect, it still won over the hearts of many gamers, as it felt like a new game that delivered on gameplay, visuals, online multiplayer, and more, and still boasts a strong player count eight years after launch.
