Release Date: Nov. 27, 2017

Made by: Electronic Arts, DICE

ESRB Rating: T for Teen

Our Rating: A-

Star Wars has had a long history of video game titles on computers, consoles and handheld devices. The wide range of story arcs within the Star Wars universe allows for a large variety of games to be created. The latest edition to the Star Wars video game franchise is the second installment of the Star Wars Battlefront reboot: Star Wars Battlefront 2. Although Battlefront 2 came out more than two years ago, the game has come a long way from its initial release.

Star Wars Battlefront is a first person shooter made by Swedish-based developing company DICE and sponsored by Electronic Arts. Dice is known for their success in the FPS genre with the war-based Battlefield series. EA is the more well-known of the two as it sponsors and collaborates on games such as Apex Legends, the popular battle royale game. It is also well known for its sports division, EA Sports, that makes sports games such as FIFA, Madden and NBA Live.

The game currently includes several modes in both its single and multiplayer content. The game offers a single player story chronicling the story of Iden Versio, a Special Forces Stormtrooper who has to command her squadron through the tumultuous times that occurred after the destruction of the second Death Star and the death of Emperor Palpatine. The story mode also includes an additional part that has an older Iden.

The story mode is the most refreshing part of the game as there are obstacles that can be faced in a variety of ways. Whether you are zipping through air vents as a drone or shooting your way through the droves of rebel fighters, the story mode, although being short, is an enjoyable and fun take on the Star Wars Universe. The story mode also has a way of switching in between iconic characters like Princess Leia, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. These elements never leave a dull moment in Iden’s story.

The focal point of Battlefront 2’s success is its multiplayer modes. When the first game launched, the multiplayer mode was a source of controversy within the gaming world. With its highly anticipated release, the amount of content was sub-par and usually required paying money for more maps. Another issue with the game was its loot box system.

“Loot boxes are common in video games.  However, in Battlefront 2’s case, the games became an issue of who could get the most loot boxes by paying the most to get more upgrades. This is exceptionally unfair on the average gamer who is not able to spend large amounts of money” said freshman Alan Maldonaldo.

Star Wars Battlefront 2’s multiplayer comes with “loot boxes”. Loot boxes are an additional micro-transaction that had been implemented into the game. These boxes can be purchased and can contain special items. These items are usually only cosmetic and do not affect the level of one’s game-play. However, these loot boxes did affect gameplay in the early stages of Star Wars Battlefront 2. The gaming community responded harshly and swiftly, claiming these “pay to win” loot boxes were unethical. Electronic Arts finally complied and got rid of the aspects that could be bought for improving game-play.

Currently, the game offers a staggering variety of modes, both single and multiplayer. Starfighter Assault allows the player to engage in one of several different ultimate airborne battles across the galaxy. Whether in an X-Wing, Vulture Dorid or Imperial TIE Fighter, Capital Supremacy is a game of tug of war within either the Age of the Republic or The Age of the Resistance. Soldiers fight for checkpoints on the ground and when all the checkpoints are gained by a side, that side will attack the other’s capital ship for victory. Finally, Heroes vs. Villains is the ultimate 3v3 battle between iconic heroes like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey and  Anakin Skywalker against Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Kylo Ren and Jango Fett. These are a few of the many multiplayer modes in Star Wars Battlefront 2.

“My favorite game mode is Capital Supremacy because it is not just one round. It feels more like a significant battle than just a quick round” sophomore Diego Moran said.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 has come a long way since 2017. From being staked in controversy to becoming an exceptional first person shooter game, Star Wars Battlefront 2 has truly returned to the light side of the Force.