LEGACY: The impending release of a new Star Wars game has old nerds worried about new features.
By Joey Vangsness, Staff Writer
Ten years after the release of the beloved Star Wars: Battlefront II, Electronic Arts (EA) and LucasArts have announced the release of a brand new Battlefront on the Xbox One, PS4 and PC. If you are a teenage boy who has ever owned a gaming system, it is almost guaranteed that you spent days fighting across the Star Wars galaxy in Battlefront II or its prequel, which was initially released in 2004. When Disney bought out the Star Wars studio LucasFilm last year, die-hard Star Wars fans hoped and prayed that along with an Episode VII, we would also get a new Battlefront. While those prayers appear to have been answered, expectant fans are becoming increasingly worried that their expectations may not be met.
This new Battlefront (which has dropped all numbers from its name) is being developed by big names EA and DICE, studios best known for the first-person shooter series Battlefield. Having a big studio develop a big game should ensure quality and a great gaming experience, but with DICE’s signature inclusion of downloadable content (DLC)—features like map packs and exclusive content—that experience will only be complete for those who pay extra or pre-order their games. Battlefront is no different, with DLC already available for pre-order. This is unfortunate, as games these days are expensive enough without paying extra money for a complete gaming experience.
Even with its promise of extra content through DLC, the new Battlefront is missing features some would say were cornerstones of its predecessors. Space battles, single-player campaign, the Clone Wars and the strategy-based Galactic Conquest mode were all on DICE’s chopping block when developing the game. The space battles, though hated by some, were unique to Battlefront 2. They offered an exciting alternative to the usual shooter experience, allowing players to pilot starfighters, to dogfight other players or board command ships to sabotage from within. The campaign mode allowed players to have a personal role in the battle made famous in all six of the Star Wars films. DICE promises that some missions and battles will be playable for individual gamers but that the new Battlefront is “first and foremost a multiplayer game.” This is evident in the new game’s ability to host up to 40 players per online match, but it is still a shame that space, Clones and the Trade Federation’s Droids will not be a part of that.
The fact that we get a brand new Star Wars game along with the new movie is a big deal, even if you aren’t a big nerd like I am. Since both of the old Battlefront games played a massive role in my younger years, I am worried that the inclusion of pricey DLC along with losing important elements of the Star Wars experience will tarnish the legacy of the two older games. And besides, as I do not own a system able to play this new Battlefront, I am perfectly content replaying the old games in place of paying too much for their incomplete sequel.