Xbox

Star Wars: Battlefront II

As George Lucas swims through his mountains of money and dreams up what Jar Jar's cousins might be like, developers like Pandemic are creating some of the most memorable Star Wars experiences to date. The movies may be don, but with games like Battlefront II, I have a feeling that the best in Star Wars is yet to come.

If it’s more of the same action-packed battles you crave, Star Wars Battlefront II for the Xbox will not disappoint. With more playable maps, including the excellent space combat battles, and the inclusion of heroes and villains makes this a particularly satisfying Star Wars games fans will love.

If Battlefront II seems like it's treading over familiar ground, that's because it is. If you already played the first game, you won't be surprised to see the same maps in this one. You'll keep fighting on the icy wastes of Hoth, the steamy swamps of Dagobah, and among the buildings in the dusty town of Mos Eisley. Some incremental feature improvements, like the new single-player campaign modes, playable Jedi, and space battles have also been tossed in for good measure. While there haven't been any radical changes made since the first game, Battlefront II remains a worthwhile choice for Star Wars fans looking for a good team-based shooter.

The new space dogfights are decent, but it's not like you've all of sudden stepped into the Rogue Squadron series. Levels are fairly short, and you're never that absorbed into things before a poorly-compressed cutscene pops up to introduce the next mission. Even a faceless clone yearns for a life of significance every now and again.

All in all, Star Wars: Battlefront II is more of the same from last year, with a few additions tacked on for good (and not so good) measure. If you loved the first game, you will be in familiar territory once again… the feeling of déjà vu hits hard on the maps you’ve played before. Battlefront II is also a great way to recreate those childhood fantasies of being smack in the middle of Hoth, Mos Eisley, Dagobah and the like, but in order to really experience the fun the game can offer you will need either a bunch of friends to play with or an Xbox LIVE account.

I know what some might be saying, "Joel you gave Battlefront II the same exact score as the original Battlefront". And what I would say to you is you're right, I did. And I did this because I truly believe that the developers did a nice job of upgrading the game in many areas. But on the same token, I don't think they upgraded everything enough to take it to the next level. Should Battlefront fans go run out and buy this game? My answer is try this game as a rental first and see if you like the changes. If you do, you will have yourself a game that you will probably playing for months on in.

Star Wars Battlefront II is a fun romp that stays interesting no matter how you play it. It has its share of flaws, but for fans, this is the first Star Wars game to have it all.

Even with the spotty AI, rehashed maps and sounds, and the been there, done that feeling this game is still one of the best online experiences currently available. With up to 32 player matches, the ability to use bots, and the incredible amount of customizable options this game will be played for a long time to come. If the first game didn’t impress you, this one won’t change your mind. However if you loved the first one, you will certainly appreciate all that Pandemic has added to its sequel. So if you meet all the criteria you need to own this game, it is more than worth its weight in Republic Credits.

Bien plus convaincant que son vénérable grand frère, Star Wars Battlefront 2 aurait même pu prétendre à se hisser sur les hauteurs lumineuses de la Xbox. Très réussi plastiquement, amenant son lot d'innovations et se révélant immersif, il souffre néanmoins de maux déjà diagnostiqués auparavant. Assez déséquilibré et manquant quelque peu d'ampleur en multi, il ne parvient pas vraiment à saisir le joueur, malgré une ambiance particulièrement attachante. Si elle suit cette évolution, la saga Battlefront pourrait finir par occuper le devant de la scène. Agréable et sympathique elle est.

It's because of this that we're inclined to rate Battelfront II a considerable amount lower than its father. Of course, we must still consider that the underlying mechanics behind online shooting and the collaborative use of Star Wars branded vehicles is still obviously decent. So we must then come to a nice and healthy 7.0.

Star Wars Battlefront II is a solid, but slightly flawed action experience. It may seem a little familiar, but the new content is worth a look, even if some of it isn't for the better.

L’ampleur des batailles a donc pris beaucoup et d’importance et, malgré beaucoup d’action, le jeu reste toujours cohérent et ne subit de plus aucun ralentissements. Malgré pas mal d’efforts techniques, le jeu a, avec le recul, des allures de remake ou d’add-on plus que de vraie suite. A réserver donc en priorité à tous ceux qui ne se sont pas essayés au premier Battlefront. Les autres peuvent aller voir ailleurs…

There's potential here, like a thermal detonator tucked deep in the bunker of the whole Battlefront concept.

Overall Battlefront II, like its predecessor, is decidedly mediocre. Being able to play as a Jedi is definitely one of its strongest qualities, but it really doesn't make up for a really lackluster massive battlefield shooter. While it has many different gameplay dynamics, they aren't always utilized properly and rarely can turn the tide of battle, a burden that the player must often shoulder. With a group of friends this can be a really fun game; unfortunately that scenario isn't all that common. So if you were a fan of the first game, this one is definitely worth a shot once the price gets a little lower.

One major new feature is the ability to engage in space battles, but these aren't the least bit fun. Destroying a huge battleship by mindlessly pelting its hull is shallow, and traveling between ships is a tedious process. In fact, these space battles are so worthless that the game actually gives you the option to skip them altogether! And you will. The single player experience is only mildly amusing, and the multiplayer split-screen mode is unsatisfying. There's plenty of eye candy and cool concepts abound, but Battlefront 2 does a poor job of putting you "in the game".