Star Wars: Battlefront II Review (Xbox One)

A whole new galaxy.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

2015's attempted reboot of Star Wars: Battlefront had its merits, but the content was disappointing.

Star Wars: Battlefront (2015)

While the graphics were good, It felt like a fast food version of Star Wars and had no story mode or offline component.

The 2017 sequel is much different.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

In addition to a revamped class and combat system, Star Wars: Battlefront II finally gives us a story and a more balanced multiplayer mode. Everything that was wrong with the first game has been reworked so much that Battlefront II barely feels like a sequel.

Arcade mode has also been added. Here you can play offline to hone your skills, or simply dick around.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

It's great, except for 1 minor gripe. The online 1v1 option has been removed.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

The gameplay is basically straight out of the original Battlefront games, and the new changes that DICE made are fantastic-ranging from a starfighter shot-lead targeting system to more realistic lightsaber combat and stronger force powers for heroes. (You can also deflect blaster shots with accuracy now, which feels awesome)

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

My only gripe with the graphics is the way they animated Luke's face in some of the cutscenes.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

On the other hand, Han Solo looks and sounds just like Harrison Ford.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

Nice beard, Han Brolo.

The actor voicing Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren (same actor) is unfortunately a tad off, which is all the more obvious when compared to the rest of the voice cast. Otherwise, the game's campaign is movie quality.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

The presentation is quite good.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

You'll start as Iden Versio, a member of the Imperial special forces.

The story begins just before the battle of Endor and follows Iden throughout for the most part, though you will eventually play as multiple icons from the movies.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

The gang's all here. You'll find yourself running into them (and sometimes playing as them) as they bring an end to the Empire's grip on the galaxy.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

Near the end of the campaign, text comes onscreen that reads "Several decades later..." I wasn't thrilled with this, as I was under the impression that the story would encompass the majority of the 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

In reality, the story only covers what feels like maybe a year of events after Return of the Jedi. The timeline then jumps to right before The Force Awakens, and picks up with none other than Kylo Ren.

This is not the end of the story, however.

On December 13th, another piece of the campaign will be unlocked.

It's called Operation Resurrection, and will detail the early days of the First Order's rise to power.

Here's a summary straight from the devs-

"…The DLC features three new chapters of Iden’s story and picks up after the campaign’s epilogue. In "Resurrection", Iden is on a quest to search for her missing husband, when she stumbles across a First Order conspiracy that crosses paths with both 'The Force Awakens' and 'The Last Jedi' film timeline."

That sounds awesome.

In addition to new story content, there will be new heroes and villains. Finn and Captain Phasma will become available and on December 5th, players will be asked to choose a faction- The First Order or The New Republic. Unlocks will be faction-specific, so choose wisely.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

There have been a ton of complaints circulating the internet about this game. From the star card system being "flawed and pay-to-play" to the story being regarded as "Star Wars tourism."

In my opinion these complaints are completely unfounded, and it's a real shame that people are ungrateful little bitches.

Are we really going to complain about optional microtransactions and a chance to travel Star Wars universe hotspots? I suppose that's what instant gratification and media oversaturation has gotten us, assholes bitching about fanservice.

Star Wars Battlefront II (2017)

Star Wars: Battlefront II is a fantastic game, and I definitely recommend picking it up.

9.5/10

(UPDATE) Tons of new free stuff has been added to Battlefront II- General Grievous, Count Dooku, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker are all available now, each with their own customizable emotes and appearance options.

There are a ton of new Clone Wars trooper skins as well.

There are several new maps as well, including Geonosis, playable across all modes.

And do yourself a favor-check out Ewok Hunt, an incredibly fun standalone mode that pits a team of stormtroopers against a band of ewoks in a timed survival mission.