E3 2015: Star Wars Battlefront Looks Cool On Hoth
Have you ever been saddled with a task because of your ability to maintain an impartial and thus, potentially valuable perspective? I have. I just was, actually. My particular burden (so to speak) is to come to discuss the new Star Wars Battlefront gameplay trailer, now hot off the press, from E3 2015. So now I have the chance to play a tenuous game where I try not to tread on everyone’s toes while I evaluate the video I’ve just watched. And no, I have not played either of the previous two Battlefront games, so chew on that as you need.
It’s strange, I feel like I don’t even need to preface this article by saying something like: I love Star Wars and have since I was a child. I don’t know many people who lack some kind of an opinion about the series. I have opinions too, albeit not as brutal or persnickety as the average true Star Wars fan might have. Though, what I can say when I watch something like EA’s new adaptation of Star Wars Battlefront is that I want to play it. Isn’t that what it’s all about at the end of the day?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXU5k4U8x20]
The gameplay trailer starts the audience in the familiar and snowy Hoth. I am immediately giddy, because of course, when it comes to Star Wars, I love the hype. How many times can a trailer that flashes bizarre and new toys (read: lightsabers) to me get me to suck in my breath and be ready for further fireworks? Many times. First thought: How many words for snow have the DICE team come up with and are there more than the Inuit have? Seriously, I could watch the snow graphics alone and be impressed with the quality. Yes, indeed, I am less impressed with the character models, but seriously: the snow!
I am also made reminiscent of my first venture into Star Wars Video games. My own adventures on Hoth began with Shadows of the Empire for N64, and being able to see the cable-trips-the-walker tactic is all I ever wanted out of a modern video game iteration. Thank you E3 trailer for giving me that. I am totally excited by the possibility of messing with giant robotic war machines with amazing design flaws (…death star?).
The gameplay is both third and first-person and switches between the two perspectives. In addition, the different sides of the battle are given: both Rebels and Imperials clashing and attempting to complete goals and capture strategic points. The sounds of the battle are riddled with blaster fire and of course, the whizzing about of the usual suspects in the realm of space vessels. There are little hints of potential: non-human rebels making a small appearance as well as a surprising side lightsaber battle between our favorite menacing helmeted supervillain and his son. As always, I look for more and I haven’t been disappointed in the five minutes I watched and, I’m not asking for it back. The battle is somewhat staged by those who made the trailer to be awesome looking, which is fine in my book. I’m intrigued by the multiplayer and by the mess that seems to be going on with all of the different pieces to the battle sequence. The whole game seems like it’ll be either really busy, or somewhat predictable.
The debate that I cannot partake in currently revolving around the game is the bitter one. I dont know the disappointment that is waiting for this third game and watching it get picked up by another company. I can’t wage a boycotting war against a company that is producing a game that may trod on the dreams of fans. All I can tell you is that Star Wars is cool. Huge, unprecedented news, I know. This new game isn’t anything new in theory, just like a lot of the rehashed, reimagined, rehyped, and redone games have been within the umbrella of the universe. Let me tell you, I still get excited. That’s why I’d still pick up the game and give it a chance. Until then, I say unto you: let it be pretty until it’s not.
Edit: A second trailer was released after this was written, depicting a co-op battle fending off waves of AI controlled Imperials. This included a Wilhelm scream, so I’m sold.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg_ht2GfQJU]
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