Star Wars Battlefront II arrived on PS4, PC and Xbox One in 2017 as a sequel built around a simple promise: bigger maps, more modes, and a single-player campaign that finally gave the multiplayer shooter a story to anchor it. The result is a game that delivers on some of those promises while stumbling badly on others. This is a shooter that wants to be everything at once — a tactical battleground, a character-driven adventure, and a living history lesson — and rarely manages to hold all three together at once.
Trailer, via EA Star Wars.
Campaign Design
The single-player campaign is the clearest example of where Star Wars Battlefront II reaches for ambition and comes up short. It follows Iden Versio, a stormtrooper rising through the ranks during the Empire’s final days, and it leans heavily on cinematic set pieces rather than player skill. The pacing is slow, the dialogue is thin, and the missions feel like extended cutscenes broken up by brief firefights rather than genuine gameplay.
The campaign is not without merit. It introduces players to the galaxy’s factions and gives Iden a personal arc that carries some weight. But the level design is static, and the player character often feels like a prop in a movie rather than a participant in a battle. The campaign is a curiosity, not a highlight, and it is best treated as a palate cleanser between multiplayer sessions.
Multiplayer Maps and Modes
The multiplayer is where Star Wars Battlefront II earns its keep. The maps are larger than the original, and the modes are varied enough to support both casual play and serious competition. The game includes classic objectives like capture-and-hold and destroy objectives, as well as new modes like domination and a large-scale ground war that lets players fight across multiple fronts.
The modes are serviceable, but they lack the polish of other shooters in the genre. The shooting mechanics are solid, but the game’s handling of cover and movement feels clunky compared to rivals. Players will spend more time dodging obstacles and getting stuck on scenery than they will engaging with enemy fire.
Technical Troubles
On PS4 and Xbox One, Star Wars Battlefront II struggled with frame rate issues from day one. The game was plagued by stuttering during matches, and the load times were painfully long. On PC, the situation was better but still far from ideal. The game required significant hardware to run smoothly, and even then, performance was inconsistent.
The game’s online infrastructure also showed cracks. Server instability caused frequent disconnects, and matchmaking took an age to find games. These problems were addressed over time through patches, but the initial release was a rough ride for anyone playing online.
Heroes Mode
One of the most talked-about additions to Star Wars Battlefront II was Heroes Mode, which let players call in famous characters from the franchise to fight alongside them. Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Boba Fett — these heroes could be summoned mid-match and used to turn the tide of a battle. It was a clever mechanic, but it was also controversial.
“Players who spent real money on microtransactions could unlock heroes faster than those who did not.”
The mode was criticized for being pay-to-win. Players who spent real money on microtransactions could unlock heroes faster than those who did not, and the disparity became noticeable in public matches. The controversy eventually led to changes in how the game handled loot boxes, but the damage was done. Heroes Mode remains a fun novelty, but it is not a fair one.
The Good Stuff
Not everything about Star Wars Battlefront II is bad. The visuals are stunning, especially on PC, where the game looks sharp and detailed. The sound design is excellent, with the iconic John Williams scores adding a layer of nostalgia to every firefight. The maps themselves are well designed, offering a variety of approaches to each objective.
The game also does a good job of capturing the scale of a Star Wars battle. Ground wars can involve hundreds of troops on screen at once, and the chaos of a large-scale skirmish is genuinely exciting. When everything lines up — the graphics, the sound, the action — Star Wars Battlefront II is a thrilling experience.
Loot Box Fallout
The biggest stain on Star Wars Battlefront II’s reputation was its loot box system. The game included a progression system tied to microtransactions, meaning players could spend real money to unlock cosmetic items and hero characters. The system was widely criticized as predatory, and it drew comparisons to the gambling industry.
The controversy led to investigations and regulatory action in several countries. The game was eventually patched to remove the worst excesses of the system, but the damage was done. The loot box issue overshadowed everything else about the game, and it is a mark that will likely stay with it for years to come.
Comparison to Modern Shooters
| Feature | Star Wars Battlefront II | Modern Shooter Benchmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Map Size | Larger than original | Mixed, varies by title |
| Modes | Capture-and-hold, domination, ground war | Diverse, often focused on objectives |
| Campaign | Cinematic, linear | Often absent, sometimes present |
| Online Performance | Stuttering, long load times | Variable, generally smoother |
| Loot Box System | Pay-to-win controversy | Mostly avoided or regulated |
The comparison shows that Star Wars Battlefront II was not a failure by every measure. It had strengths — the visuals, the sound, the occasional thrilling moment — but those strengths were undercut by weaknesses that were hard to ignore.
Final Word
Star Wars Battlefront II is a flawed but occasionally brilliant shooter. It captures the scale and spectacle of Star Wars battles better than most games in the genre, but it fails to deliver a satisfying single-player campaign or a fair multiplayer experience. The loot box controversy will linger over the game for years, and it is a mark that the developers will not easily erase.
The game is worth playing for a few hours, but it is not a purchase for everyone. Those who want a deep, rewarding campaign should look elsewhere. Those who want a fun, chaotic multiplayer experience with a Star Wars twist will find plenty to enjoy. Just be prepared for the technical issues and the questionable design choices along the way.
Star Wars Battlefront II is a game that tries to do too much and succeeds at only some of it. It is a mixed bag, and it deserves a mixed score.
