A playlist of ‘Star Wars’ hits
Luke Skywalker was surrounded.
A Stormtrooper, this one a woman with her helmet off, was directly ahead. To the left, behind the curvature of sand dunes, stood three more. Luke’s lightsaber went into a block position, deflecting blaster fire to knock out two of the Stormtroopers, but it was too little, too late. Luke had taken damage earlier, and she got him.
Luke Skywalker was dead — for a few seconds, at least.
In “Star Wars Battlefront,” players can rewrite “Star Wars” history. The arcade like action allows for the narratives of battle to change at a moment’s notice. Play as Luke, Leia, Han or maybe Boba Fett, and be prepared to play with others. This is a multiplayer-focused game that skimps on singleplayer content.
The Electronic Arts published game is the first major “Star Wars” title to be released since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, and it’s coming at a time when “Star Wars” mania, the 2015 edition, is at a high point.
The release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is just weeks away.
Now a $60 video game seeks to distill the franchise’s galactic action into frenetic yet accessible set pieces. “Battlefront” is like a “Star Wars” clip show. You want to see AT-ATs? They’re here. The Emperor’s deadly lightning bolts? Those are here too.
“Battlefront” looks like “Star Wars.” It feels like “Star Wars.” It sounds like “Star Wars.” But it raises a question: Is that enough?
“Battlefront” won’t embarrass anyone, but capable will have to do.
The game, a mix of blaster battles, lightsaber wielding and dogfights in I just wish there was something more substantial to do with its elegant world than blast away.
Solo players, in fact, will likely want to steer clear of the title. There are some single-player-focused training runs — piloting an Imperial speeder on Endor is indeed a thrill, albeit an extremely brief one — but the push here is to get players online and take part in the game’s large battle arenas.
Competitive in nature, the game boasts nine different multiplayer modes, some allowing for as many as 40 players, one based on capturing droids, some in which ships can be piloted and a couple that allow players to cycle in as recognizable heroes or villains. Smaller arenas, such as “Hero Hunt,” pit seven players versus one “Star Wars” icon.
Expect some corniness, such as Leia taunting Stormtroopers by hollering lines of dialogue such as, “You want to try that again?”
But what would “Star Wars” be without a little silliness? “Battlefront,” in fact, could benefit from a little more — more corniness and more content.
“Battlefront” hits the right notes and then keeps on hitting them. Again, and again and again. Mileage, dependent on one’s penchant for battling online, will vary.