Star Wars: Battlefront II

"A great Star Wars experience"

Star Wars Battlefront 2 improves over its sequel in a variety of ways. The graphics are sharper and more detailed. The controls are better and more intuitive, not to mention the control of the starfighters. The battles have more modes than the original Battlefront. The voice-acting during the battles is improved. The on-line play does lag at times, but not as much as its predecessor. Star Wars Battlefront 2 packs more features and different battle requirements, such as capture the flag, which has two versions. You can also have a hunt. Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a great team-based shooter and every Star Wars fan should have one.

Graphics:
Sharper, more animated, and an even stronger emphasis on the effects. That sums up the graphics in SWB2. The soldiers look much sharper and more detailed. What really struck me are the environments. During a battle, especially in first-person view, the scenery on such planets as Mustafar and Courescant are a wonder. The animation is also improved and are not as choppy, but there is still some slow-down. The physics are more realistic. The textures of the soldiers, space ships, vehicles, and the ground are clearly defined. The on-screen stats, such as your health, stamina, ammo count, and radar, are easily visible. You can even turn on an option that puts a marker above the soldiers, so you can spot the enemy easily. A nice improvement over the original Battlefront.

Control:
The controls for the infantry are like those of an FPS and I recommend that you put the infantry view into first-person mode. The analog sticks are set-up nicely for a shooter. You can even lock on to a target to help with your aiming. The ground vehicle control is also intuitive and easy to master. The starfighter control, however, will take some time and some practice to master. The starfighters do control better in this game though. The response and feel of all kinds of control are just fine and can be customized to your preference.

Game Design:
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a much larger package than its predecessor. You have more game modes such as space training and a "Rise of the Empire" story mode. The galactic conquest is advanced to give it a strategic aspect. The instant action mode has options for its numerous modes. These modes include two versions of CTF, hunt, and assault. Heroes can also be used during battles. The AI is more agressive, but not much smarter.

The most notable addition to this sequel are the space battles. The previous Battlefront had starfighters, but the fields were so small you would get a leaving warning frequently. Lucasarts remedied this with the addition of space battles. You can dogfight enemy fighters, bomb capital ships, or destroy them from the inside.

The instant action mode is more varied and has more options for victory. You may or may not get all of the options for the location you choose. Conquest mode has you either killing all of the enemy or capturing all command posts. This was the way you win battles in the predecessor. Hunt gives you a time limit to kill more of the planets species more than they kill your troops. Capture the flag has two variations. One version has you going to the enemy side to get your flag and return it to your side. The second version has you taking the enemy's flag and return it to your side. The space version of capture the flag has you taking a capsule and flying it to a holographic ball above your capital ship. Assault has a number target for you to reach. The team that reaches the target first wins. It is mainly used for space battles, but it is available for Mos Eisley. Here's the catch. The participants are the heroes and villains of the entire saga. It is like an all-star Star Wars death match. You can have Han Solo shoot Boba Fett or have Luke and Anakin Skywalker fight each other. This creates interesting (and sometimes unfair) matchups.

Another big addition is the "Rise of the Empire" mode. This story mode takes you through the eyes of a retired Imperial soldier who went through the transition from the Republic to the Empire. The story starts on Geonosis, the first battle between the Clones and the droids. The story goes through the collapse of the republic, the destruction of the Death Star, and the revenge on Hoth.

Audio:
The music is entirely from the movies, which is typical for any Star Wars video game. However, the music at times doesn't fit the action on screen. It should be mentioned that the music at times during the space battles can skip for a few minuets. It will start playing normally again and will not affect any other parts fo the game. The sound effects are great and fitting for this game.

The voice acting is great, but don't expect exact voices of the original actors or actresses. They are just imitations.

Overall:
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is packed with features and modes that will keep you playing. The graphics are better than the predecessor. The AI is stronger and more aggressive. The controls of the starfighters are much improved. You have more options and modes than the original Battlefront. Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a fun game and a must for shooter and Star Wars fans alike.

Score: 9 out of 10.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/07