E3 on TWITCH: Star Wars Battlefront

Ok, so the worst kept secret for the past year was that EA Studio DICE was exclusively working on a reboot of the classic Lucas Arts franchise, Battlefront.

What we didn't know is if DICE was going to be able to pull off a game that would be faithful to the lore and canon of Star Wars or just be another Battlefield game with Star Wars textures.

This week at E3 we got an answer, sort of.

With the reveal of 2 new trailers and gameplay footage we see a beautifully rendered environment that at times is cinematic.

Here's my take based on what I've seen.

First, The game looks great but I'm seeing a lot of Battlefield Influence here.  The HUD is more advanced but targeting, loadouts and objectives share a lot of DNA with Battlefield: 4 and Battlefield:Hardline.

That's no surprise considering DICE is the driving force behind most of EA's FPS titles.  (DICE LA did Battlefield: Hardline)

Second, They're already talking Pre-orders and DLC disease which could sink the game.  If it's not technically perfect it could turn off a lot of those Battlefield fans EA is hoping to capture.  That means launch day has to go off without a hitch ( which never happens on XBOX) and the game can't be crippled for those who prefer not to buy "Premium" subscriptions.

Speaking of "Premium" you know it's going to happen.  The "Deluxe" version of the game ($69.99) already includes DLC and weapon unlocks.  That's a clue folks.

Actual gameplay looks like a mashup between a current Battlefield game and Unreal Tournament.  That means it's going to be too complex for the casual gamer just looking for a good Star Wars Shooter.

I do like the emphasis on smaller multiplayer and co-op modes which is something that's been missing from Battlefield games for the past 5 years.  During the interview (provided below) it was revealed that maps with up to 40 players would be supported.

However, if Battlefield has been guilty of anything recently (besides the obvious) it's having bad map design in BF4 and Hardline.  If that carries over to Battlefront, all that gorgeous scenery could go to waste on an unbalanced and unplayable map.

All you Battlefield jet jockeys out there know this scenario: Imagine having a jet on air map and not being able to hit your afterburner because every time you did you ended up flying off the map.

Early DICE promo videos for Battlefront showed the development team's love for the Star Wars franchise and lore.  Hopefully that will translate into a solid story-line for the single player experience.  

That's not a given, however, as DICE  has come up short in that department with both BF3 and BF4.  Hardline was only passable but again, that's DICE LA which is NOT DICE and from what we've been told has had nothing to do with Battlefront.

I'm intrigued but no way will I do a pre-order.  Especially when the inevitable happens and there's suddenly 5 DLC packs, 12 shortcut kits and a $60 Premium subscription if you want to find a server to play on.

Star Wars:Battlefront is set to launch on November 17th.  

Pre-order pricing for Standard version: $59.99 (Deluxe $69.99)


I've provided the E3 TWITCH video below.  In it you'll find an interview with one of the devs as well as gameplay footage.  See what you think...

NOTE:  Fast forward to 5:42 to get past the Black Ops 3 chatter.

Watch live video from Twitch on Twitch