STAR WARS™ Battlefront (Classic, 2004)

A series of slanted skirmishes masquerading as a campaign, Galactic Conquest being a set of floating icons to "war" over, and completely whack balancing with harsh damage swings, odd level structures and strange projectile speeds. It's the first try, the underfunded rush job, the bones of a great game that was to come. Only worth it for nostalgia, or history, but Battlefront 2 surpassed it in every way. I missed Bespin Platforms, though.

Star Wars Battlefront — A Galaxy of Beauty, Chaos, and Redemption Few franchises in entertainment history inspire as much devotion, nostalgia, and scrutiny as Star Wars. When Electronic Arts and DICE revived the Star Wars Battlefront name in 2015, it came freighted with the weight of two distinct legacies: the beloved original Battlefront series developed by Pandemic Studios in the mid-2000s, and the technical excellence of DICE’s Battlefield games. Fans dreamed of large-scale galactic warfare rendered with next-generation fidelity. What they got was both breathtaking and deeply frustrating — a visual triumph that too often felt hollow beneath the surface. Over time, though, Battlefront and its sequel, Battlefront II, would tell one of gaming’s more fascinating redemption stories, evolving from controversy to acclaim. A Visual and Auditory Masterpiece From the moment you step into Battlefront (2015), it’s impossible not to be awestruck by its presentation. DICE’s Frostbite engine delivers a Star Wars experience that borders on photorealism. The shimmering sands of Tatooine, the lush forests of Endor, the icy vastness of Hoth — every environment feels like a living diorama meticulously crafted by artisans. The lighting work alone deserves endless praise: blaster bolts cast neon reflections across metallic walls, while the smoke and dust of battle lend scenes a cinematic grit. But it’s not just about visuals. The sound design — painstakingly authentic to the films — elevates every firefight. The whine of a TIE fighter, the distinct pew pew of a Rebel blaster, John Williams’ soaring orchestral cues swelling at key moments — all of it coalesces into an almost transcendent sensory experience. Even the menus hum and click with the tactile satisfaction of Star Wars control panels. DICE nailed the fantasy of being there, a feat so profound that many fans continued to play the game long after its mechanical shortcomings became apparent. Gameplay: Accessible, But Shallow The 2015 Battlefront reboot was designed to be approachable — perhaps too approachable. DICE stripped away much of the tactical depth that defines Battlefield, opting for fast-paced, arcade-style gunplay meant to appeal to both shooter fans and casual Star Wars enthusiasts. There’s an undeniable charm in that accessibility; players could jump in, blast a few Stormtroopers, and feel like heroes. Yet, beneath the spectacle, the gameplay loop felt limited. The blasters lacked recoil or nuanced handling, and maps, though stunning, often funneled players into chaotic choke points. Power-ups — floating holographic icons granting temporary weapons or hero transformations — felt more like gimmicks than meaningful objectives. Modes such as Walker Assault captured the epic scale of the films, but they often devolved into repetitive, unbalanced slugfests. The absence of a single-player campaign, space battles, or deep progression system only amplified the sense of missed opportunity. Critics argued that Battlefront was a technical demo disguised as a full-priced game — a showcase of potential rather than a fully realized experience. EA’s decision to rely heavily on paid DLC for new maps and heroes fractured the community further, turning what could have been a lasting multiplayer ecosystem into a fleeting, fragmented experience. Battlefront II: The Fall and Rise When Star Wars Battlefront II launched in 2017, the promise was clear: everything fans wanted was finally here. A single-player campaign, all three Star Wars eras (prequels, originals, sequels), and a deeper class-based multiplayer system. Yet the launch was overshadowed by one of the most infamous controversies in gaming history — loot boxes. In an attempt to integrate progression with monetization, EA introduced a system where key gameplay abilities and upgrades were tied to randomized “Star Cards” obtainable through paid loot crates. The result was a perception — and in many cases, reality — of pay-to-win imbalance. The backlash was immediate and ferocious, culminating in a Reddit comment from EA defending the system that became the most downvoted in the site’s history. Governments investigated, players boycotted, and the once-promising sequel seemed destined for ruin. But what followed was a remarkable turnaround. Under sustained pressure and player feedback, DICE overhauled the entire progression system, removing pay-to-win mechanics and rebalancing the game around earned progression. Over time, they delivered a steady stream of free content updates — new heroes like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, new maps such as Geonosis, and modes that captured the cinematic scope fans craved. By 2020, Battlefront II had become the game it was always meant to be — not perfect, but deeply enjoyable and faithful to the Star Wars spirit. The Single-Player Campaign: A Missed Opportunity Battlefront II’s campaign was billed as a chance to explore the Star Wars universe through the eyes of the Empire, following elite Inferno Squad commander Iden Versio. The concept was promising — humanizing the Empire and showing the transition from the fall of the Death Star to the rise of the First Order. Unfortunately, execution fell short. While visually stunning and packed with fan-service moments, the story was unevenly paced and emotionally shallow. The campaign quickly shifted from an Imperial perspective to a predictable defection arc, robbing it of its moral complexity. Still, there are highlights: piloting iconic ships, inhabiting heroes like Luke and Han, and witnessing major lore events from new angles. It felt less like a true narrative experience and more like a guided tour of Star Wars set pieces — fun, but fleeting. Heroes, Villains, and the Joy of Chaos Both Battlefront titles shine brightest in their “Heroes vs. Villains” and large-scale multiplayer modes, where players embody iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Rey, Boba Fett, or Yoda. These encounters encapsulate the sheer fantasy of Star Wars — the clashing hum of lightsabers, the interplay of Force powers, the thrill of turning the tide of battle as a legendary figure. Hero combat, especially in Battlefront II, evolved into a finely tuned system of rock-paper-scissors dynamics. Vader’s brute strength counters agile heroes like Yoda, while ranged fighters like Leia or Bossk can dominate open fields. The balance isn’t perfect, but the chaos is exhilarating. Few games capture the cinematic exhilaration of watching Luke Skywalker deflect blaster fire while jet troopers soar overhead and AT-STs rain down fire on Rebel trenches. Community and Legacy Over time, Battlefront II grew into one of the most beloved modern Star Wars games — not through marketing or hype, but through perseverance and community support. DICE’s dedication to post-launch content rebuilt trust, and players gradually returned, drawn by free updates, improved balance, and the pure joy of inhabiting their favorite galaxy. By the time development officially ended in 2020, the game had achieved something rare in the industry: a redemption arc so complete it became a case study in how to listen to players. Today, both Battlefront titles stand as paradoxes. The first remains a masterclass in presentation yet a lesson in design restraint gone too far. The second, once derided as a symbol of corporate greed, ultimately emerged as a model for transparency, live-service recovery, and fan collaboration. Final Verdict Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefront II are, collectively, a story of ambition, beauty, and hard-learned lessons. They capture the feeling of Star Wars — that heady mix of wonder, nostalgia, and scale — like few other games ever have. When you’re sprinting across Hoth as a Rebel soldier, snow whipping around you, TIE fighters screaming overhead, and an AT-AT lumbering in the distance, there’s an undeniable magic that transcends mechanics

Do not buy GoG version. Disk version works great; GoG version gives a win32 error and is unplayable.