Is the Force strong with Star Wars Battlefront?
Find out in our review!
The lack of story is a glaring omission inBattlefrontsince its based on a franchise with a story-telling legacy.
Of course,Star Wars: The Force Awakenswill helpBattlefrontalong in the coming months.
But for the time being, some of these multiplayer modes are enjoyable.
Blast is the entry-level deathmatch mode that will feel familiar almost as soon as you spawn on the map.
This is a perfect mode forStar Warsfans who dont normally play shooters, but cant help but jump in.
The shooting mechanics are simplified so that virtually anyone can pick the game up.
A competitive shooter, this is not.
That said, shooting alone can be a bit unexciting after a couple of playthroughs.
I was unfortunately most disappointed with the mode I was most excited for: Fighter Squadron.
And its a real shame, because its barely a mode at all.
That said, as with all ofBattlefronts modes, the gameplay looks damn good.
Heroes vs. Villains is one of the better multiplayer modes included in the package.
When one team has killed all three heroes on the other, the round ends.
First team to five points wins.
This mode brings stakes to the gameplay, something many of the other modes are missing.
Things intensify when you have to keep your heroes safe.
Needless to say, these matches can go on for a pretty long time.
Long enough for you to jump into the cockpit of an X-Wing or slay your enemies as Vader.
The other reason is Survival mode, which is the closest youll get to a single-player experience.
Each Survival mission presents itself as a tiny story.
You might have crash-landed on Tatooine or youre waiting for extraction on Sullust.
The point is to hold out against the growing Imperial force for as long as you might.
The first few waves are relatively easy, but the mode quickly introduces stronger Stormtroopers and even AT-STs.
Things can get hairy pretty quickly.
These objectives add a bit of complexity to the run-and-gun arcade mode.
As expected, the soundtrack also delivers.
There isnt too much in terms of original music.
Instead, we get a delightful mix of John Williams greatest hits.
This is one time when an original score isnt missed.
Star Wars Battlefronttruly succeeds as a nostalgia piece and love letter for the galaxy far, far away.
But it comes up very short as a shooter experience.
It certainly isnt as good as the other multiplayer shooters on offer this year.
John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek US.
Find more of his work onhis website.
Or justfollow him on Twitter.
Rating:
3 out of 5