With a new trilogy on the horizon, a movie in December, and of course video games, the Star Wars universe is buzzing with activity. Using E3 2015 as an excuse, Electronic Arts decided to treat the public to five minutes of Star Wars Battlefront, pitting the Rebel forces against the Empire on Hoth. EA has made some questionable calls in the name of gameplay, but we can't deny that it looks really good...
The Star Wars universe, or rather the way we interpret it, has united entire generations, but it has also been responsible for some of the most bitter arguments and divisions we've seen. The feeling surrounding Episode VII isn't just excitement, but also doubt. In other words, there's a significant group of fans waiting for "the movie to suck" to attack, and that's a reality the franchise will have to live with. Disney's involvement and J.J. Abrams' previous work on the two Star Trek films add friction, and on the video game side... enters Electronic Arts. When it manages to set aside its reputation as a "serial destroyer" of studios and franchises, the company can create some very interesting titles. Could the new Battlefront be one of them? Let's take a closer look.
A Visual Triumph
Graphically, there's no doubt: this is the best pre-alpha footage we've seen in a very, very long time. The decision to capture this video directly on a PlayStation 4 gives Star Wars Battlefront a welcome dose of honesty. The scene transitions, shifting between rebel and imperial forces, are worthy of a movie, and for a moment I wondered what a Star Wars film from a soldier's perspective would look like. DICE seems to have nailed the balance: the AT-ATs are terrifying in their march, but the T-47s are definitely the key to stopping them, no matter how improvised their weaponry is. The jetpacks give rebel soldiers an excellent tool to avoid the massive fire of imperial troops, and despite the trenches, all the combat takes place in constant motion, at an impressive speed.
The Nitpicks
However... details. Details that would be irrelevant in the midst of battle if this were anything else but Star Wars. As expected, enthusiasts didn't waste a second: Star Destroyers should fall like flies against the ion cannon, X-Wings were limited to an escort role, imperial forces didn't need air support, there are orbital bombardments despite the shield on the base, and Luke vs. Vader closes the list of complaints. Several comments indicate that the battles in Battlefront "are not canon", which would justify some liberties in favor of gameplay... but the answers will come on November 17. PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
