At Gamescom 2017, we were able to play the space battles of Star Wars Battlefront 2 in the Starfighter Assault game mode on PlayStation 4 for the first time. Read our conclusion here!
Intense space battles are as much a part of Star Wars as lightsabers and furry Wookiees. Therefore, many fans were disappointed that this aspect of the setting was so poorly treated in Battlefront 1.
Space battles in Star Wars Battlefront were mindless arcade shooting galleries with auto-aim and evade maneuvers executed at the push of a button. It didn’t take much skill back then to shoot down masses of enemies.
Battlefront 2 – Starfighter Assault – The Battle for Fondor
In Battlefront 2, the developers learned from their mistakes and kick things off correctly. The PvP mission “Fondor Shipyards” that my colleague Leya and I played on PlayStation 4 doesn’t let us play any boring dogfights. Instead, as Imperials, we are tasked with protecting a repair dock with a Star Destroyer from a rebel attack.
The attacking team must gradually move forward, first taking out the cruiser escort, then destroying the shield generators, followed by blowing up the energy couplings, and finally blowing up the main reactor. They will be constantly supported by AI-controlled corvettes and bomber squadrons.
As Imperial pilots, we had to prevent the destruction of the defenseless dock and hold off the rebels long enough. Throughout the mission, something was always happening, and the original sounds from the movies and the familiar ships like X-Wings and TIE Fighters create the perfect Star Wars atmosphere.
Battlefront 2 – Starfighter Assault – More Simulator, Less Arcade
The cool Star Wars atmosphere is incredibly impressive, but what about the gameplay? Are the space battles still just shooting ducks with X-Wings and TIEs?
Sure, the Starfighter mode in Battlefront 2 won’t be a complex space simulation like TIE Fighter from the 90s. But thankfully, the days of auto-aim and evade buttons are also over.
Instead, you have to aim and hit with the laser cannons yourself. A small lead indicator is the only help you have as a pilot. If an enemy is on your tail, you’ll have to figure out how to shake them off instead of just pressing the button for “barrel roll” or “looping”.
Battlefront 2 is therefore more challenging than its predecessor but still plays intuitively and is easy to learn.
Battlefront 2 – Starfighter Assault – Bomber, Fighter, or Interceptor?
Before the fight and after each respawn, you choose your ship. As Imperial pilots, we had the option of:
- the thick TIE Bomber, which carries a lot of torpedoes and is particularly good at taking out heavy enemy ships like corvettes and other bombers.
- the nimble TIE Interceptor, which excels particularly in dogfights against other fighters.
- the TIE Fighter as an all-rounder, capable in dogfights with cannons and with torpedoes against large ships.
On the Rebel side, we encountered the corresponding counterparts like agile A-Wings and X-Wing all-rounders.
Unlike in the predecessor, there are no more power-ups that float aimlessly in space and grant you access to special hero ships. Instead, you collect points in battle, and those who have enough can spawn with a special hero ship like Boba Fett’s Slave One or Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon at the next respawn and really wreak havoc.
Jürgens Conclusion: Everything is just right here
I already somewhat liked the space battles in the old Battlefront, but the annoying power-ups and automation functions eventually made them boring. Therefore, I was totally thrilled when I got to play the battle for Fondor at Gamescom. Everything is just right here. The atmosphere is amazing, something is always happening, and the sound is on point.
TIE Fighter engines have their characteristic whine, proton torpedoes burst out of their launch tubes with a crack, and when Slave One drops a “seismic charge,” it produces that cool explosion sound from Episode II. That’s total Star Wars!
I also like the gameplay, and for me, it’s the ideal mix of arcade and simulation. After the somewhat lackluster space battles of the first part, the starfighter missions in Battlefront 2 leave me satisfied again, and I’m really looking forward to the release of Battlefront 2.
Leya’s Conclusion: Good, but I got bored quickly
I particularly enjoyed the feeling of controlling the ships. The maneuvers you can perform were full of action and excitement. It’s fun to weave through other players with the ships, evade with rolls, and chase down your opponents.
The demo ran smoothly on the PS4, which is essential for the fast-paced space battles.
The Star Wars feeling is strongly conveyed, not least through the typical “pew-pew!” sound effects. But the dynamics of the battles also come close to the films.
However: I probably won’t play it, even though I consider Battlefront to be successful. But I got bored of the space battles quickly. I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over, and the battles seemed too repetitive. You’d probably have to invest more time to notice the differences in the matches.
Also interesting: Star Wars Battlefront – Hit or Flop?
