PSM review - In full!

[Elite Jedi]

"The double edged Star Wars license carries with it a startling degree of expectations. but more so. Lucas' Mona Lisa franchise lends itself exceedingly well to a number of game genres. Why is it, then, that a large scale, vehicular and foot based combat, a la Battlefield 1942, using Star Wars universe is just now coming out? We're betting on technology, though the task itself is as intimidating as it is risky. Thank heavens for developer Pandemic Studios.

 

Star Wars battlefront is almost a dream come true. The game allows for eight on eight combat, online or LAN, with another eight NPCs aiding each side, effectively making each match 16 on 16. The varying soldier,weapon and vehicle types exponentially increase the gameplay sophistication-which is at its core, shoot, shoot, shoot-as does the ability to issue commands to AI teammates.The only thing hampering the depth of the game is the lack of game modes. Case in point: whether playing singleplayer, slit-screen co-op, or online matches, your only objective is to capture all of the map's command posts, or kill every enemy-both result in glorious victory.

 

Despite the limited player intent, Battlefront is a commendable success. Not because the game is flawless in execution-it isn't; it't because it creates an undeniable sense of scale and scope in almost perfectly crafted Star Wars universe. From running the claustrophbic labyrinths of tatooine to piloting an AT-AT on snow covered Hoth, playing Battlefront lets starwars fans vicariously live the life of a Rebel Soldier; or wookie; or even a droideka, for that matter. Appropiate third party races-Gungans, Jawas, Ewoks, etc-also pepper the landscape and interact with players, fleshing out lucas' world better than any Star wars game prior. Additionally, using both the Clone Wars and Galatic Civil War eras as backdrops ensures that even the most capricious fanboys will have little to complain about.

 

On the downside, being bound to a simultaneous release with the DVD movies has obviously caused some heavy feature pruning. It's not as blatantly unfinished as say, Enter the Matrix, and whats included in the game is stimulating fun, no doubt. But another six months could have produced more game variety(every match is a Domination/Deathmatch hybrid,but escort , CTF, and bomb tag style missions would easily fit) better balencing, more maps, oh the promise! Other quibbles include and overly generous auto aim feature that renders dodging almost useless(though it can be turned off)and units that seem to die a bit too easy.

 

A stable foundation is what we have here; a story outline sans descriptive embellishments; a masterpiece suspended in its primer state. What Battlefront amounts to, then is a compendium of nostalgic locales and characters, intertwined with moments of sheer mayhem, awe and vibrant Star Wars Spirit. In fact, that last bit may be the most important part. tuning or gameplay shortcomings aside, this feels so much like those exciting chaotic Star Wars battles that its almost irresistible. That will do just fine untill Battlefront 2 heads our way." Kaiser Hwang

 

PSM FINAL SCORE- 8 out of 10 -VERY GOOD

[Evil Dark Jedi]

Nice the only part I didnt like is "If they only had another 6 months". I am sure if this actually happened people would be very angry.

[Dragnarr]

Correction I'd rather have a near perfect game than ok game even if it took 6 months ....... though it's a long time ...... how about 3 months?

[Darth_ToMeR]

Good review thanks.

[jdtech]

I think if they did say 'Just six months more', people would get together in an Underground Resistance and break into Lucas Arts to steal copies of the game and sell them online.

 

John

[JDKnite188]

I definitely agree that a few more months could have enhanced the game.

[GhostfacedKilla]

Originally posted by jdtech

I think if they did say 'Just six months more', people would get together in an Underground Resistance and break into Lucas Arts to steal copies of the game and sell them online.

 

John

 

Ure absolutely right, that would not be fair to us fans of the game, to tease us then postpone forever. Thats like if they postpone Halo 2 till next summer, there would be a mass uproar of anger.