During EA’s press conference at E3 2017, the official Battlefront II gameplay trailer was revealed. They also had a 15 minute multiplayer gameplay session which showed off some exciting new features. Check out that gameplay below, and five reasons to be excited for Battlefront II!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZzlDoW-3w[/embedyt]
A Single Player Campaign
What can be said but “finally.” During their conference, EA showed a series of social media requests – led by Star Wars star John Boyega – recognizing the demand for a campaign. As a result of the overwhelming demand, a single player story was developed. It follows protagonist Iden Versio an elite Imperial special forces officer that sets out to avenge the death of The Emperor. It runs between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, giving a good 40 year timespan to play with. Test plays from the floor of E3 have lauded the visuals, though the gameplay mechanics remain largely the same. In any case, this is a sigh of relief to fans of the original franchise.
Prequels and Sequels
Battlefront primarily included maps, weapons, and characters from the original trilogy of films. Through DLC released before Rogue One, players were able to expand from the OT and experience the beaches of Scarif. Battlefront II will finally give players the chance to explore the other two cinematic time periods of the franchise: both the prequel and sequel trilogy. Players will be able take control of B-1 battle droids, clone troopers, First Order troops, and members of the Resistance. But it’s not just troops…
Saga-Spanning Heroes
It’s the heroes too. Shown off in the multiplayer gameplay and confirmed so far are Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey, Kylo Ren, Boba Fett, Yoda, and Darth Maul. If the original game is any clue, there are likely many more heroes to come. Expect perennial favorites like Darth Vader, Leia Organa, and many more.
Free DLC – No, Seriously
Yep. You read that right. EA announced that the first DLC, based on The Last Jedi, will drop in December ahead of the film, and is free. Every subsequent DLC will also cost you nothing. That’s a fantastic departure from EA’s typical playbook of season passes. However, the tradeoff will be micro-transactions that allow you to upgrade your gear and aesthetics. Hopefully there is still a wealth of free content for those who don’t want to purchase loot boxes.
A Badass Leading Woman of Color
That’s right: for the first time in franchise history, a canon Star Wars story is being led by a woman of color. Imperial Officer Iden Versio was both voiced and motion captured by Janina Gavankar, an alum of Sleepy Hollow, The League, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, and Far Cry 4. Her character is still largely a mystery, though it has been confirmed that she is in command of Inferno Squadron, an Imperial special forces unit. After the destruction of Death Star II and the death of Emperor Palpatine, Inferno and Versio look for revenge, and begin their hunt for Luke Skywalker. No matter their story, having yet another leading lady in a Star Wars story is welcome. Having a woman of color leading a terrifying sounding special forces unit in a Star Wars story is downright thrilling.
Battlefront II will be released on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 17, 2017.
Are you planning on picking it up? What are you most excited for in the sequel? Let us know in the comments on Twitter, Facebook, and below!
