Star Wars: Battlefront II
- July 8, 2009
- Pandemic Studios
- 37h median play time
Get on SteamStar Wars: Battlefront II is the sequel to Star Wars: Battlefront. It is a high-selling Star Wars video game following the many adventures of several characters. The two games are very similar, as both revolve around troopers from various factions fighting in different locales. Battlefront II, however, includes elements and missions from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, as well as enhan…
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 2
PSP
Xbox
Reviews
- graphics1,941 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Star Wars: Battlefront II" (2005) are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its age as a game from 2005. While many players acknowledge that the visuals do not hold up to modern standards, they often emphasize that the gameplay experience compensates for this shortcoming. Additionally, a robust modding community offers various enhancements, allowing players to improve graphics and overall gameplay, making the game still enjoyable despite its visual limitations.
“The graphics may be dated, but the gameplay is still as fun as ever.”
“For a 2005 game, the graphics hold up very well.”
“The graphics are good for its time and with a couple of mods, it will improve the game a lot.”
“The graphics may be dated, and AI primitive, but the game is still super fun.”
“The graphics and AI may not hold up to today's standards, but the charm certainly does.”
“This game desperately needs a remaster, or a graphics update so that it can tolerate modern day graphics engines.”
- gameplay1,606 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Star Wars Battlefront II (2005) is widely praised for its addictiveness, variety, and depth, featuring satisfying combat mechanics and a range of game modes, including the beloved Galactic Conquest. Players appreciate the unique abilities of different classes, the engaging single-player campaign, and the nostalgic feel of the game, which still holds up well despite its age. While some criticize the outdated graphics and occasional bugs, the overall consensus is that the gameplay experience remains enjoyable and superior to many modern titles, particularly the newer Battlefront games.
“It's an extremely addicting game with satisfying combat and mechanics as well as a semi-open world experience to explore and play around in.”
“The gameplay is where Battlefront II truly shines.”
“The variety of maps and gameplay options offers a lot of value, replayability, and most importantly, fun.”
“The gameplay didn't age well.”
“The graphics are terrible, the gameplay is a bit clunky and stiff, and it took forever to remap the controls to a controller.”
“The gameplay is simple and dated, and the AI is just alright.”
- story1,481 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Star Wars Battlefront II" is centered around the 501st Legion, providing a unique perspective on the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, including pivotal moments like Order 66. Players experience a mix of iconic battles and original missions, narrated through the eyes of a clone trooper, which adds depth to the gameplay despite some criticisms regarding mission design and AI behavior. Overall, the campaign is praised for its engaging narrative and nostalgic connection to the Star Wars saga, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Play the rise of the empire campaign and get the full story of how Anakin turned to the dark side and helped found the empire.”
“The story is amazing where you get to play as a regular clone trooper during the closing days of the clone wars and the start of the empire.”
“The campaign follows the story of the 501st clones throughout the clone wars and empire eras, giving you a new perspective on the series.”
“The story is just okay; the later missions are literally a series of long halls, and the more missions you get into, the more annoying the spawn points become, to the point where you're running 60+ seconds to get to the objective just to probably die because your AI is terrible, even for 2005.”
“The campaign is written well and the story is focused on the 501st legion of the republic, yet there is a narration from the perspective of a common clone.”
“The story mode is not all that amazing; it follows the events of the 501st clone trooper legion through the clone wars to the rise of the empire and the battle of hoth. Unfortunately, aside from the cutscenes, the missions are just to protect an area for a designated amount of time, destroy something, or collect something and bring it back.”
- monetization337 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised for its absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and additional paid content, which many players view as a refreshing return to a more straightforward gaming experience. Reviewers frequently criticize modern iterations of the franchise, particularly those published by EA, as cash grabs filled with predatory monetization practices, contrasting them with the classic game that offers a complete experience without hidden costs. Overall, players recommend the classic version for its fair pricing and full access to content without the burden of in-game purchases.
“It's a great game with lots of potential without EA taking over the Star Wars franchise and wrecking it with microtransactions... grab the old game and play it!”
“No microtransactions, skill-based gameplay, and everything unlocked from the start.”
“The greatest Star Wars game made, with 100% no loot boxes, microtransactions, or anything else you have to pay for, and in fact, has more to offer for free!”
“It's a shameless cash grab selling this game to you a second time.”
“Don't waste your money on the 'battlefront collection'; just get BF1 and BF2 and you can go get snacks with all the money you saved not buying the lazy cash grab.”
“To revive such a beloved game only to make a half-assed sequel full of microtransactions and other corporate scams.”
- stability248 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some players find it enjoyable despite these issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that can be frustrating and unplayable at times. Overall, the game's age contributes to its instability, making it less polished compared to modern titles.
“Runs great on PC 10/10.”
“I greatly enjoyed the fact that even on an old Windows XP desktop it still runs great without any lag (at least for me).”
“The best Star Wars game to play with friends and its mod support is great, the issues with crashes seem to have been solved and the game runs great, much better than all of Disney Star Wars.”
“The battlefront classic collection is 70 gigs of unpolished, buggy, and AI upscaled bloatware.”
“Game is broken and buggy and I'm sure no one's gonna fix it.”
“It's buggy as hell and not satisfying to shoot things.”
- replayability232 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its diverse game modes, including Galactic Conquest and Instant Action, as well as extensive mod support that enhances the experience. Players report countless hours of enjoyment, with many stating it offers infinite replay value, making it a timeless classic in the genre. While the single-player campaign may not provide long-term replayability on its own, the multiplayer and modding aspects significantly boost the overall replay value.
“The variety of maps and gameplay options offers a lot of value, replayability, and most importantly, fun.”
“I always come back to it and it is never boring, especially galactic conquest and instant action. The wealth of mods you can get gives it infinite replay value.”
“The game's variety of game modes, including galactic conquest and instant action, offer endless replayability, while its split-screen multiplayer ensures fun for friends and family alike.”
“Singleplayer is good for some messing around but don't expect long-term replayability in the vanilla version if you've played this game before.”
“Not much is to be said about the campaign but it is enjoyable to play; however, I didn't see much replay value in it, all the replay value is in galactic conquest.”
“The game has aged some since its release, and the replayability may be slightly lacking in single player.”
- music213 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its iconic Star Wars soundtrack, primarily composed by John Williams, which enhances the immersive experience during gameplay. Players appreciate the nostalgic and atmospheric quality of the music, although some report occasional glitches and repetition. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
“The attention to detail and the immersive sound design, including the iconic Star Wars soundtrack, further enhanced the experience.”
“The music is the classic Star Wars score you know and love.”
“This game has got the best Star Wars music and moments in it, so I recommend this really good, over the moon game of the year good.”
“I was so hyped to play this and when I got into a match it was just a black screen; music was playing but no video, so disappointed.”
“Really disappointed that I spent 10 bucks on a game that'll run for about five minutes then just get a black screen with the soundtrack behind it.”
“Then in-game, the music would just be dead for the most part, and the announcer's voice lines would sometimes go on like a broken record in the funniest way.”
- humor106 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its clunky mechanics, glitchy animations, and the often ridiculous behavior of AI characters. Many reviews highlight the hilarious moments that arise from chaotic multiplayer experiences, funny NPC interactions, and the absurdity of certain gameplay scenarios, making it a source of laughter and nostalgia for long-time fans. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to create entertaining and memorable moments, even amidst its dated graphics and mechanics.
“This game can sometimes be clunky and glitchy, but for me, this only improves the game, offering plenty of funny experiences which keep me entertained.”
“The extra large army modes add a hilarious sense of chaos to classic battles.”
“Playing as an Ewok is even more hilarious.”
“No pointless and unfunny levels that include Lando for no reason at all.”
“Oh my god, this is so horrendously bad it's not funny. I was hoping it would be like the Xbox version, but it's not even close. Never get this, even if it's free.”
- grinding73 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 66 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience. While some players appreciate the lack of tedious grinding for unlocking characters and items, allowing for a more straightforward gameplay experience, others find certain campaign missions and AI behavior to be repetitive and frustrating. The absence of microtransactions and loot boxes is frequently highlighted as a positive aspect, contrasting with more grind-heavy modern titles.
“No grinding, no gimmicks, you just grab your gun and get out there.”
“There is no shenanigans with this game, the objective is clear and cut out for you, no skipping hoops to get an item which allows you to damage the AT-AT, no grinding to unlock content, and no goddamn loot boxes to control your progression.”
“No grinding to obtain 'star cards' or heroes.”
“The only downside is that the campaign missions can be a bit tedious and painful at times.”
“The campaign is solid enough, albeit a bit easy, and galactic conquest can be cool to play, even if it does get a bit grindy.”
“Singleplayer missions feel a bit grindy though since the enemy has infinite reinforcement tickets and you don't, while friendly AI don't like to assault the command posts and you have to get out of vehicles to capture them.”
- optimization73 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews. While many players appreciate its ability to run smoothly on older and lower-end PCs, some report significant performance issues, particularly on modern systems and with certain configurations. Users suggest that while the graphics are dated, they are well-optimized for play, though there are still notable bugs and glitches that detract from the experience.
“The cheaper graphics here take less of a toll on your battery, disk space, and performance, and allowed the developers to make more environments even with limited development time.”
“Game is very well optimized and runs like a dream on my potato of a PC, and looks great.”
“The graphics are rather complex (for their time), but still hold up nicely today and are well optimized for play on modern PCs.”
“This game is a little dated, and you will likely run into some performance issues on occasion.”
“Amazing game just don't buy it on Steam because it has real bad optimization issues.”
“Unfortunately, the game has optimization issues that may cause crashes or permanent framerate drops on newer computers, especially on Windows 7.”
- emotional36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic and wholesome experience, with many players expressing deep connections to its impactful storyline and character journeys. The campaign, particularly the narrative of the 501st, evokes strong feelings, showcasing the emotional weight of war and personal sacrifice without relying on high-budget production. Overall, players find the game to be a touching and memorable experience that resonates with their childhood and evokes genuine emotional responses.
“Battlefront 2’s campaign, whilst fairly short, follows an emotional and unique storyline of a group of clones fighting in the Clone Wars.”
“Star Wars Battlefront 2 shows that you can deliver a compelling, emotional, and gritty narrative without the need for big budget CGI cutscenes, scores of voice actors, and complex backstories.”
“The story mode is impactful and gripping, the performance of the actors is emotional but not distracting, and are consistent with the tone of the piece.”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Star Wars battles through iconic sound effects, music, and detailed environments. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the sense of large-scale conflict, although some note inconsistencies in atmospheric execution across different maps. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a key strength, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay and evoking the spirit of the Star Wars universe.
“In the heat of battle, the sound, the music, the atmosphere becomes one.”
“Fantastic atmosphere and worlds taken right from the movies, perfect jump straight into action and modes, iconic campaign taking the clone's view from Order 66 onward, Hoth, just to name a couple of reasons.”
“The atmosphere and sound effects are top-notch and make the whole experience hugely enjoyable.”
“No atmosphere.”
“- lack of atmosphere, Dagobah doesn't feel spooky and mysterious, Hoth doesn't feel cold.”
“Gameplay feels floaty and constant hiccups in gameplay and graphics really ruin the atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is appreciated for its depth, though not all players may notice the finer details in visual design and lore. This suggests a varied engagement with the narrative elements, where some players may focus more on gameplay than on intricate character backstories or aesthetics.
