Star Wars: Battlefront
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| Star Wars: Battlefront | |
| |
| Developer(s) | Pandemic Studios |
| Publisher(s) | LucasArts |
| Release date(s) | September 21, 2004 |
| Genre | First-person shooter/ Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Mac |
Star Wars: Battlefront is a first-person shooter/third-person shooter (interchangeable) video game based around battles featured in the Star Wars movies. It was developed by Pandemic Studios and Lucas Arts, and released on September 21, 2004 for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC, the same day as the release of the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set. You can either play Battlefront online with up to 32 players on PC, Mac and Xbox, and 16 players on PS2, or offline with up to 2 players. Aspyr is working on a Mac port, which is set to be released in June 2005.
The game features four main factions from both the Prequel and the Classic trilogies. They are: the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (Separatists aka CIS) of the prequel era, and the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire of the classic trilogy. However, factions can only play their historical adversary; there can't be any Rebel vs. Separatist fights, for example. Within each unit, five different classes of characters become available. Four of the classes are fairly similar for each faction: a basic infantry soldier (a Super Battle Droid for the Separatists), a heavy weapons soldier, a pilot, and a sniper. The fifth class is different for each faction. The Imperials have the Dark Trooper, with a jetpack which enables short but high jumps. The Republic has Jet trooper, with a jetpack, which enables long but low jumps, and an EMP launcher. The Separatists have the Droideka, which is very powerful and fast, but can't enter vehicles. The Rebels have the Wookiee smuggler, with extra health, time-bombs, a bowcaster, and a grenade launcher.
Jedi heros are featured in the game: the Rebel Alliance gets Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader wields his lightsaber for the Empire, Mace Windu fights along with the Republic, and Count Dooku is with the Separatists. Jedi characters appear but are not playable; they may only be your allies in battle, under certain circumstances.
There are also non-playable characters (NPCs): Tusken Raiders roam the Dune Sea of Tatooine, Jawas patrol the streets of Mos Eisley, Ewoks inhabit the jungle of the forest moon of Endor, Gungans battle on the Naboo Plain, and Wookiees fight for the freedom of their homeland on Kashyyyk.
There is a playable demo on the Star Wars Trilogy bonus DVD. If someone puts it into an Xbox, they can play the Battle of Endor mission.
Voice cast
- Chris Cox as Alliance Infantry, CIS Infantry, CIS Officer, Gungan Infantry
- Nick Jameson as Alliance Officer, Darth Sidious, Emperor Palpatine
- Tom Kane as Admiral Ackbar, Yoda
- Temuera Morrison as Republic Infantry, Republic Officer
- David Robb as Imperial Officer
- David W. Collins as Briefings Officer
Archive Footage appearances
- Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin (archive footage)
- Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia (archive footage)
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo (archive footage)
- Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian (archive footage)
Playable methods of transport
AT-STs
The All Terrain Scout Transport appear in the levels on Hoth, the moon of Endor and Tatooine. Incapable of strafing like its Rebel counterpart, the landspeeder, its attack is much more powerful. This vehicle appears nearly everywhere, including Naboo:Plains, both Tatooine maps (Capture the Hangar in Mos Eisley), and Yavin 4:Temple.
AT-ATs
The All Terran Armored Transports appear in the Hoth and Rhen Var:Harbor levels. Helpless from behind and weak against the Snowspeeder's Tow Cables. When taken down, it creates a massive explosion that often wipes out those around it.
X-Wings
Armed with four rapid-firing laser cannons, X-wings are among the best fighters. It can also fire a pair of proton torpedoes with secondary fire upon lock-on. The X-wing appears in Tatooine:Dune Sea, Bespin:Platforms, and Kashyyyk:Islands.
Y-Wings
The Y-wing has 2 seats - a gunner and the pilot. Unlike the Imperial bomber, the Y-wing can be operated with less people, but the TIE Bomber is more capable against aerial adversaries. Secondary fire unleases a series of bombs. This vehicle appears in Kashyyyk:Islands and Bespin:Platforms.
Speeder bikes
Speeder bikes are light and the fastest non-aerial vehicle in the game. Its singular laser cannon is capable of firing intermittently powerful shots that deal devastating damage to infantry. It edxplodes when it crashes on obstacles. The Republic version features a fast-firing machine-gun like attack. This vehicle appears in many maps including Tatooine:Dune Sea and Naboo:Plains.
Rebel Snowspeeders
Snow speeders, featured on Hoth, have two seats - a pilot and a rear gunner. The pilot has two standard cannons while the rear gunner is capable of tow-cabling AT-ATs. After the pilot loops three times around the walker's legs, the tow cable automatically detaches and the AT-AT crashes.
Republic Gunships
Raining green death from the sky is the Republic LAAT/I Gunship. It features one of the highest carrying capacities and the most powerful weaponry. The main pilot can fire lock-on missiles and front lasers. The Co-pilot can fire two beams from the wings while the two ball gunners can fire from the sides. The final position is the passenger and features no weaponry. This vehicle is seen in Bespin:Platforms and Geonosis:Spire.
AT-TEs
While weaker than the AT-AT in terms of strength and resistance, it makes up for this with its wide firing arcs. While AT-ATs are completely vulnerable from the rear, AT-TEs have rear gunner positons to protect the back and a 360 degree cannon capable of destroying anything from the sides. It appears in the Geonosis level as well as the Rhen Var:Harbor map.
Separatist Gunships
This disc-shaped gunship can be seen in Kashyyyk:Islands or in Bespin:Platforms.
Droid Starfighters
Similar to the TIE Fighter in many respects, the Droid Starfighter fires a volley of twin lasers from its wings, just like in the movies. It can fire much faster than the Jedi Starfighter but lacks missiles. This vehicle can be seen in Bespin:Platforms, Tatooine:Dune Sea, and Kashyyyk:Islands.
Jedi Starfighters
Similar to the X-wing in many respects, the Jedi Starfighter can fire less before its lasers overheat but features dual lock-on missiles effective against armour and speeder bikes. This vehicle is featured in Bespin:Platforms, Tatooine:Dune Sea, and Kashyyyk: Islands.
Geonosian Starfighters
The Geonosian starfighter, found only at the Spire on Geonosis:Spire, features one of the most rapid-firing lasers in the game; almost as fast as the legendary droideka. Its power, however, is below-average, but it is one of the biggest threats to the Republic gunships.
TIE Fighters
The TIE fighter is the Imperial equivalent to the X-wing. It can fire more shots per volley and is faster, but is more fragile and does not feature lock-on missiles. This swift fighter appears in Bespin:Platforms and Kashyyyk Islands.
TIE Bombers
TIE Bombers is the Imperial equivalent to the Y-wing. The pilot has control of cannons and lock-on missiles, making it much better at targeting X-wings, but bombs are controlled only by the second position. This bomber appears in the Kashyyyk:Islands level and Bespin:Platforms.
Imperial Combat Speeders
Imperial Combat Speeders, or IFT-Ts, are powerful hovertanks that are more akin to Combat Landspeeders than the AT-ST. The Republic version is the IFT-X and features identical weaponry save the colour of the lasers. The pilot position features two blaster cannons which fire singularly as well as two missile launchers which also fire singularly. The second gunner position is an open-cockpit beam attack similar to that of the Republic Gunship's. This vehicle appears in Tatooine:Dune Sea and both Naboo maps.
Naboo Combat Speeders
Gian Speeders are less-powerful versions of the Rebel Combat Landspeeder. Its open cockpit leaves the people open to fire. This vehicle appears in Naboo:Theed, but only during the campaign.
Desert Air Skiffs
A lightweight but not very nimble floating craft. Useless with one person, it requires the use of, in addition to one pilot, three gunners who man the turrets in front. It appears at the Sandcrawler in Tatooine:Dune Sea.
Rebel Combat Speeders
A powerful and swift vehicle lethal to even an AT-AT if manoeuvred properly. It features a driver seat with side cannons and a hood-mounted cannon which fires in bursts of three. The pilot's secondary fire unleashes twin rockets. This vehicle appears in many maps including Rhen Var:Harbor, Tatooine:Dune Sea, and both Naboo maps.
Separatist Hailfire Droids
Hailfire droids are large but swift missile platforms. The purple no-lock missiles home in on the target at the center of the targetting reticule. Its secondary fire is a small but powerful laser that fires from underneath. It appears in the Geonosis:Spire map.
Kaadus
Kaadus, like Tauntauns, are animals which players use to traverse large distances. No weapons can be used while on the back of a Kaadu. This animal appears only in the Naboo:Plains map.
Separatist "Spider-Walkers"
Homing Spider droids are the large four-legged walkers armed with beams that fire from large dishes. Primary fire fires a long highly-damaging beam attack which causes considerable damage to the target. Secondary fire fires a smaller laser in pulses, effective against infantry. This vehicle appears only in the Geonosis:Spire map.
Trade Federation Tanks
AATs, or Armoured Assault Tanks, are powerful vehicles that, unlike the AT-ST, can strafe somewhat. The main pilot can fire several powerful blasts of yellow lasers from the sides while the main gunner can fire a single powerful blast that deals heavy damage. This vehicle appears in both Naboo maps as well as both Tatooine maps, and others.
STAPs
STAPs are slower than speeder bikes but their attacking power is much greater. In addition they do not take damage when you crash them. These appear in many maps including Naboo:Plains and Tatooine:Dune Sea.
Tauntauns
Tauntauns, like Kaadus, are used to traverse the snowy plains of Hoth. You cannot use weapons while riding one.
Bespin Cloud Car
Like the movies, the Cloud Car features a pilot and a gunner position. The pilot position fires yellow lasers while the gunner position fires a long string of rockets at ground targets. This appears only in Bespin:Platforms on the Fuel and Dock Command posts on the opposite side.
In addition to the above, various blaster turrets and emplaced guns are available on various maps. These vehicles have many capabilities from the movies - a Republic Gunship can carry up to hold six people, and Rebel Snowspeeders are able to launch a tow cable out of the rear of the vehicle to trip the AT-ATs.
There are no A-Wings or B-Wings, but A-wings will be featured in the sequel.
Planets
Playable Classes
Every class, unless otherwise noted, has a pistol and thermal detonators. (non-stick grenades)
Soldiers are the standard infantry armed with 'sticky' concussion grenades, normal thermal detonators, and in the case of the Sepratist's Super Battle Droid, rockets (in place of grenades) and a tri-shot attack effective against nearby enemies. The Republic's soldier has EMP Grenades effective against the Droideka's shields.
Anti-Vehicle has, aside from thermal detonators, a powerful lock-on missile launcher. He also has a pistol and four mines that can be deployed anywhere. Mines are especially effective around corners and can stick to walls or droids. The Rebel's Vanguard fires two missiles at once while the Republic's ARC trooper can fire two rockets (not simutaneously) before reloading. The Imperial and Sepratist's anti-vehicles must reload per shot.
Snipers have sniper rifles which can zoom once (Republic, Imperials) or twice (Rebels, CIS). They also have a recon droid which can fall without taking damage but cannot climb. It is armed with a weak blaster and a radio uplink triggered by the secondary fire button. After secondary fire is activated, four beeps will trigger an airstrike, devastating nearby enemies.
Pilots have a health/ammunition dispenser as well as a fusion cutter which can repair damaged droids and vehicles. Imperial and CIS pilots have grenade launchers which explode on contact. Rebel Pilots have a Blaster cannon which fires shotgun-like blasts effective against enemies nearby. Pilots do not have grenades except in the cast of CIS and Imperials. The Republic has a DN Boltcaster lightning gun which can be charged for an instant-kill.
Wookie Smugglers, available only to the Rebels, have extra health and a bowcaster which can be charged to fire a spread of bolts. He also features a grenade launcher which explodes after a few seconds. Their only secondary weapon is a time bomb which explodes after ten seconds. Time bombs are most effective against the Shield Bunker in Endor.
The Republic Jet Trooper has an EMP rocket launcher which does not deviate from its course, unlike the ARC Trooper's rockets. The EMP blast is especially effective against Droidekas. The Jet trooper (or 'Jetties') also features an upgraded Commando pistol with a faster refire rate. Jet troopers have the ability to fly by jumping twice.
Imperial Dark Troopers feature a jump pack which can be used to jump very high in a single direction. Dark troopers also feature a Blaster Cannon which is instant-kill at close range.
The CIS Droideka has the least health of all units. In its wheel form it is the fastest unit available, but it cannot return fire. When it reshapes itself into its battle configuration (use enter button to toggle) it features a shield generator which can absorb two direct EMP blasts or twenty ordinary bullets. Its one and only weapon is a pair of lethal automatic blaster cannons.
Sequels
A sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront II is set to be released in November of 2005 for PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. At E3 2005, the next installment is confirmed to include large space battles, a playable jedi class, and content and settings from Episode III in it.
External links
- Official site (http://www.lucasarts.com/games/swbattlefront/)
- MobyGames' entry on this game (http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,15220/)
Categories: 2004 computer and video games | First-person shooters | Third-person shooters | PlayStation 2 games | Windows games | Xbox games | Star Wars computer games
