Just a few days ago, Star Wars: Battlefront 3 released a limited-time beta for players to test out the game. And it was Star Wars -The Way It Should Be.
The game is expected to be released on November 17th, 2015 and is being developed by EA DICE on the Frostbite 3 engine. Over nine million people played the game during the beta.
I'll be up front. I'm a huge Star Wars fan, but not a huge fan of their games up until now. I really like the movies and universe, but I've never really gotten into any of the games. This one has changed my mind. I really want this game. Running along as a storm trooper trying to take the Rebel base on Hoth while escorting a pair of AT-AT walkers was invigorating. Stopping the walkers as a rebel (and watching them fall) was even better. The blasters sound "realistic" to the point I could swear I was in one of the movies (especially when a player controlled Darth Vader shows up and starts swatting Rebel scum left and right).
So enough fanboy-ing about the game. Here's some of the mechanics that make Star Wars: Battlefront 3 worth buying.
First off, let's talk graphics. With up to 40 players in a match, there were minimal difficulties with lag, drag, what have you so long as your system can handle the specs. And that was with the graphics turned up. The maps in the game are beautiful and well designed. On the Hoth map, the fighting starts out in a mountain/hilly area before moving into trench warfare complete with rather potent weapons emplacements that can be used by either side. Yes, stormtroopers were getting in the back of the trenches, grabbing a turret, and slicing'n'dicing up rebels from the back. Even when flying a Tie-Fighter/Interceptor or X-Wing/A-Wing, everything still looked good. In fact, when strafing (or being strafed) you can see puffs of dirt/snow popping up all over where your shots land. Watching plasma lance back and forth in a firefight, hearing the signature pew-pews of Star Wars weapons, and the shake of the screen as that thermal detonator goes off, these things all lend to an incredible feel of being in a movie.
Another well-designed mechanic is the power-up system. This has two/three parts. As a player, you get three "card" slots with which to equip various power-ups that you purchase with in game money, kind of like credits from Call of Duty: Blackops (the first one). Better yet, the in game money will be earned only through playing. No microtransactions. The other part of the the player side of customization is the ability to use your in-game, randomly assigned partner's load-out. Say you are level one with nothing. You might get partnered up with a level seven player that has some cards equipped, so you are then able to use that load-out. The other part of the power-up system is the in-match power-ups. These include anything from imploder devices (inverse explosion) to flying a Tie Fighter or X-Wing to handling the AT-AT guns on the Hoth mission. These power-ups are also the way you get to play as hero characters, such as Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker. Other hero's are expected to be in the game as well (I just didn't see them in my time). And, seriously, doing a strafing run in a Tie up and down Rebel trenches is a blast.
The maps also seem to be well designed and balanced. The Hoth mission, for example, I've seen won by both sides, which is a bit surprising to me due to the team work required for the rebels to win. Remember, play the objective. It's kind of important in these modes. If that's not your thing, there is a deathmatch mode as well. The game caters to all player types.
I hope this review has helped you make a decision. Tell us what you thought about the Star Wars: Battlefront 3 beta in the comments below!
