The classic Star Wars games have always been a big deal for gamers, especially the original Battlefront titles. So when EA decided to return to the series with 2015’s Star Wars Battlefront, it was an exciting proposition. Despite some amazing visuals and what appeared to be a refreshed take on classic Star Wars multiplayer, reviewers and gamers alike were less than impressed when it finally hit store shelves. The core experience was certainly there the first time around, but EA is looking for some serious redemption with Star Wars Battlefront II.
This week the early beta kicked off for those who pre-ordered and today it is now open to everyone…
EA decided to launch a nice open beta ahead of the the worldwide November 17th release date. While those who dropped down the cash early to pre-order the title have already been blasting away for a couple days now, the beta is open to everyone starting today. This is a great chance for gamers to get a taste of some of the major enhancements EA has made to the experience, and judging from early impressions it looks like it is headed in the right direction.
EA has brought the class system seen in the original games back, a feature that was oddly omitted from the 2015 release. The four new classes (assault, heavy, officer, and specialist) encourage players to take on various roles on the battlefield and tend to make for a more well-rounded and interesting experience. The assault and heavy classes cater to your typical run and gun or tank-like players. Whereas officers can dish out buffs to allies and specialists can mark enemies while picking them off with a sniper rifle.
Another issue from the 2015 Battlefront game was the way special classes and vehicles were handled. This time around, earning battle points for solid performance, kills and completing objectives will allow you to spawn as various vehicles, starfighters or even Darth Maul. In other words, the better (and more) you play, the more often you’ll be able to bring vehicles and special classes on to the battlefield.
Once again, the visuals are absolutely stunning here, which is to be expected from a Star Wars title running on EA’s Frostbite engine. And it looks like the devs have listened to gamers (for the most part) when it comes to creating a better experience in the long run this time around.
Here’s some tips for getting the most out of the beta in video form and you’ll find the official trailer below:
Early Access begins Oct 4 at 8:00 AM UTC. Open to All Oct 6 at 8:00 AM UTC. Beta closes Oct 9 at 4:00 PM UTC.
Star Wars Battlefront II is releasing on November 17th for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Amazon Prime and Best Buy GCU members can pre-order it right now at 20% off.
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