Star Wars Battlefront 2 (all eras)

[Tales]

Looks awasome indeed. Probably my most anticipated game for the rest of the year.

[Julius]

Single player story scene

 

[Julius]

Beta begins next Wednesday (4th) for those that pre-ordered and on Friday (6th) for those that didn't. Ends on the following Monday (9th) when a trailer for TLJ is also expected to drop. Exciting stuff!

Four modes will be included in the beta:

• Galactic Assault on Naboo (as seen at E3)

• Starfighter Assault over Fondor (as seen at Gamescom)

• a Strike scenario on Takodana (8 v. 8 objective-driven play)

• single-player Arcade mode (also on Naboo)

On consoles, the beta will take up ~15GB. There will be no pre-load available, with the download going live at 09:00 BST.

The completion of daily challenges in the beta will also earn players rewards, which will be transferable to the full game.

Edited September 30, 2017 by Julius Caesar

[gaggle64]

Been playing a lot of the 1st one recently and interested in this but hearing about the card-pack/loot box stuff is giving me pause. I thought it would just be things like grenades & special attacks but having stronger heroes with certain rare cards turning up in paid random loot boxes seems over the pail. I'll have to wait until it comes out and we've all gotten a look. 

[Tales]

If I pre order on PSN, which I did, am I automatically in the beta, or am I supposed to get an e-mail with a code? Because I have not been checking my junk mail for this spesifically.

[Julius]

1 hour ago, Tales said:

If I pre order on PSN, which I did, am I automatically in the beta, or am I supposed to get an e-mail with a code? Because I have not been checking my junk mail for this spesifically.

It just requires downloading on the 4th and you're in then

[Julius]

Only two more days to go! Beta early-access code received and redeemed...can't wait

(Also, Rey's TLJ skin looks great!)

Edited October 2, 2017 by Julius Caesar

[Julius]

Spent about three hours on the beta today after getting back from college, and boy oh boy is this game drop dead GORGEOUS. Whilst you can tell from afar that it's still very clearly a beta (i.e. 'flat' water outside of Maz's Castle on Takodana), it makes up for it by being a heck of a lot of fun to both look at and play.

Took a while to get used to the controls, mind, but my last game I got ~10000 battle points, played as Rey and got 15 kills and 20 assists; it's much more fun once you get the hang of what they've changed about it.

TIP: when starting Galactic Assault on Naboo, select the Specialist class. They are the only class with a weapon capable of accurately hitting the opposition from the starting position, and is a great way to rack up some early points; let off 3-5 focused shots, move about, refocus and repeat.

[drahkon]

Quick reminder: Open beta is out now (for PS+ subscribers).

[bob]

Didn't realise you could just download it without having pre ordered the game or anything. Had a go on it this evening briefly. Seems pretty good albeit quite similar to the first game. Only played a couple of arcade matches though.

 

Edit: OK played a proper couple of games on Naboo. It's pretty good. Really like the new way hero and upgrade tokens are dealt with. Played once as droids and once as clones. Lost the first and won the second by the skin of our teeth after a hectic shootout in the throne room.

[Choze]

The shooting seems better. The map design is weak though. Episode 1 stuff isnt appealing.

The flying is nice but it has an odd control design where it never feels fully free in advanced.

Hope it gets better. IMO has good potential.

 

Technically it seems rough but thats EA as always.

Edited October 8, 2017 by Choze

[gaggle64]

Based on the beta this may not be the best multi-player game from DICE but it's definitely a good chunk of Star Wars in your face and the star-fighting is good enough (once you change the ridiculous default control options) to make me hope Criterion will get to make an entire starfighter game one day. Still waiting to see what the money-in system relating to the card packs is though. Not a must buy but I wouldn't put myself past treating myself sometime with it either. 

Edited October 8, 2017 by gaggle64

[Hero-of-Time]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-09-star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem

Absolutely disgusting. It's essentially a pay to win game now.

The AAA industry is an absolute mess right now. Loot boxes are cropping up in everything and gating off content left and right.

[bob]

Hmmm, they've apparently extended the Beta til Wednesday, but I'm on it now, and have been waiting for players for about 10 minutes. Did the number of players really drop off that much?

[Tales]

I can't say much about the lootboxes, too early to tell. Will buy and play the game a lot anyway. But as for the game and what was shown I love it. Was positively surprised by the Starfighter Assault.  Much more fun than the basic and boring Fighter Squadron. I can see myself spending a lot more time on that than I did in the original. I just hope that this and Galactic Assault have different objectives for each map and not just the same MTT and four reactors in every map.

[Ronnie]

3 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-09-star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem

Absolutely disgusting. It's essentially a pay to win game now.

The AAA industry is an absolute mess right now. Loot boxes are cropping up in everything and gating off content left and right.

The AAA industry is pretty disgusting at the moment, but to play devils advocate, it's the price we pay for games costing the same amount of money (if not cheaper thanks to inflation) these last few gens, despite costing significantly more than the old days.

[Julius]

10 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-10-09-star-wars-battlefront-2-has-a-loot-crate-problem

Absolutely disgusting. It's essentially a pay to win game now.

The AAA industry is an absolute mess right now. Loot boxes are cropping up in everything and gating off content left and right.

Whilst I agree that this is disgusting if this is how it turns out, I don't think this is the whole story by a long shot, and certainly shouldn't be taken at face value yet. If the game is launched and it's still the same case, then sure, but there's still time for change.

Players who have played both the Alpha and Beta have noticed some key changes in balance, and whilst the Beta is typically a later testing phase than the Alpha, some have actually suggested that this build of the game is built the way that it is simply because it is a beta, and that the Star Card situation doesn't truly reflect what we've seen up to this point, or what we'll see at launch. The game will, I'm sure, be pay-to-win-faster, but I wouldn't conclude that it's pay-to-win just yet.

We'll have to wait and see, and to anyone who was on the fence, I suggest seeing how launch week goes. If these problems are still in abundance, it bothers you that much and you don't care much at all for the first real story in a SW video game for nearly a decade, then I would suggest passing on this one.

I just think it's a shame because you just know that the DICE devs didn't originally design the game to be this way, and yet here we are.

[Hero-of-Time]

8 hours ago, Ronnie said:

The AAA industry is pretty disgusting at the moment, but to play devils advocate, it's the price we pay for games costing the same amount of money (if not cheaper thanks to inflation) these last few gens, despite costing significantly more than the old days.

I know you aren't keen on the bloke but Jim Sterling just happened to make a video about this very issue, yesterday. 

The point he makes right at the very end about developers pushing the graphical and technical limits is spot on.

 

1 hour ago, Julius Caesar said:

Whilst I agree that this is disgusting if this is how it turns out, I don't think this is the whole story by a long shot, and certainly shouldn't be taken at face value yet. If the game is launched and it's still the same case, then sure, but there's still time for change.

Players who have played both the Alpha and Beta have noticed some key changes in balance, and whilst the Beta is typically a later testing phase than the Alpha, some have actually suggested that this build of the game is built the way that it is simply because it is a beta, and that the Star Card situation doesn't truly reflect what we've seen up to this point, or what we'll see at launch. The game will, I'm sure, be pay-to-win-faster, but I wouldn't conclude that it's pay-to-win just yet.

We'll have to wait and see, and to anyone who was on the fence, I suggest seeing how launch week goes. If these problems are still in abundance, it bothers you that much and you don't care much at all for the first real story in a SW video game for nearly a decade, then I would suggest passing on this one.

I just think it's a shame because you just know that the DICE devs didn't originally design the game to be this way, and yet here we are.

The fact that these things are even in the game in the first place is bang out of order. Loot boxes, especially ones that alter the gameplay, have no business being in a fully priced game. Yeah, things may change before the release, but this is EA we are talking about. Even if it does turn out to be pay-to-win-faster this is unacceptable. 

It's good to see people on Gaf cancelling their preorders and waiting to see how this plays out. These kind of practices should no be supported, no matter how much you want to play the game.

[Julius]

2 minutes ago, Hero-of-Time said:

The fact that these things are even in the game in the first place is bang out of order. Loot boxes, especially ones that alter the gameplay, have no business being in a fully priced game. Yeah, things may change before the release, but this is EA we are talking about. Even if it does turn out to be pay-to-win-faster this is unacceptable. 

It's good to see people on Gaf cancelling their preorders and waiting to see how this plays out. These kind of practices should no be supported, no matter how much you want to play the game.

For sure, I absolutely agree, and whilst EA's studios certainly create some of the best looking games for casual audiences out there, I do have to wonder why exactly Disney handed them of all companies the license to the franchise for 10 years. 

Ultimate Team has been a thing on EA Sports' portfolio for years, but it's never gone this far (surprisingly): there's still an element of skill and luck required when playing FIFA, for example, which means whilst those that don't spend will be at a disadvantage, they can still win if they play well enough. It's the stuff buff themselves, like the 100% no damage on Boba Fett, rub me the wrong way more so than the fact that others are seemingly desperate enough to spend money on the game.

It would have been difficult enough to skip the game at launch and instead buy it at Christmas before jumping in, but for sure, this doesn't make you competitive at all.

I hear you @Hero-of-Time, I really do, and whilst I will still pre-order the game - I have a great deal on it - I absolutely agree that this is wrong, but there's simply not enough to yet prove how far this template goes into informing the game's meta.

[Hero-of-Time]

To be honest, i'm getting a little tired of all of these kind of practices seeping into console games. It's a big reason why I wanted the mobile gaming market to crash and burn. I loved Shadow of Mordor but won't be touching the sequel due to the loot crate inclusion. I was ready to play NBA 2K18 on the Switch but won't be touching that as it's essentially a FTP game. With this, i'm a huge Star Wars fan, loved the original game ( well, sequel if you count the actual original Battlefront games ), but now i'm forced to sit on the sidelines.

I'm just happy that certain outlets are starting to rise up against these types of things being in fully priced games. Reviewers need to start to marking games down for including such things as loot boxes that can alter gameplay or cause the player to heavily grind.

Edited October 10, 2017 by Hero-of-Time

[gaggle64]

I normally find Jim Sterling a little contrarian but I finding it difficult not to be compelled by his arguments on loot boxes, especially from someone who claims to have suffered from gambling addiction. A point I agree with wholeheartedly is rejecting the idea that games need loot box systems AND a full-price tag to recoup their costs. Replacing the entire progression system with them and still charging up front is disingenuous at best and absurdly greedy on a guaranteed-hit franchise game like this. 

[Choze]

Oh agreed. I havent looked into Battlefront's lootboxes though. Battlefield 4 had a bad system where unlocks became difficult and more time consuming by a massive factor compared to BF3. The lootboxes were there but total trash. Unsatisifying system all round. Big turning point for me with DICE games.

As people noticed with games like Overwatch, You can spend more than a season's pass worth of DLC and extras and still be nowhere near all the visual unlocks. Plus it harms the experience. There are other issues also brewing around game experiences.

Destiny is interesting because it appears alot (people love to complain about destiny without playing it) though so far its not been that bad as I expected, as you earn engrams constantly making payments look like a waste so far. But Halloween and other events will be the real test.

 

Edited October 11, 2017 by Choze

[Julius]

DICE's official beta debrief is out (see bold for some Crate clarification):

Quote

As game makers, watching millions of passionate players get their hands on our game has been incredibly exciting and – in many ways – inspiring. Believe us when we say that your participation is making the game better, and we’re humbled that so many of you took time to not only try the Star Wars Battlefront II Beta, but to share your thoughts with us too.

The Beta was just a small piece of what we're making. Yes, there’s more content (new locations, heroes, modes, and the all-new single-player campaign), but we heard your feedback loud and clear after the first game. There is more player choice in multiplayer through a deeper progression system and an evolving, event-driven live service that keeps the community together by moving away from Season Pass and having all new gameplay content free for all Star WarsBattlefront II players.

Rest assured, we’re continuing to listen to you coming out of Beta. We’re taking a look at some of the most discussed topics, from Crates and progression to Strike mode (which we're considering changing to a best of three), the Specialist’s Infiltration ability (which might be a little too overpowered) and more. Oh, and the First Order Flametrooper needs some work – we agree he could use a little more... firepower. We are also looking into more ways to allow players to stay and play together as a team – for launch, we’ll have a new feature for you that rewards all players in a spawn wave. These are just a few examples of how your feedback is helping to shape the game.

We know you have a lot of questions about Crates and progression, so we want to clarify a few things, as the complete system was not in the Beta and will continue to be tuned over time:

• There are many things you can earn in the game, including weapons, attachments, credits, Star Cards, Emotes, Outfits and Victory Poses.

• As a balance goal, we’re working towards having the most powerful items in the game only earnable via in-game achievements.

• Crates will include a mix of of Star Cards, Outfits, Emotes or Victory Poses.

• Players earn crates by completing challenges and other gameplay milestones, or by purchasing them with in-game credits or Crystals, our premium currency.

• If you get a duplicate Star Card in a crate, you will get crafting parts which you can then use to help upgrade the Star Card of your choice.

• And lastly, you have to earn the right to be able to upgrade Star Cards and unlock most Weapons. You can only upgrade or unlock them if you have reached a high enough rank, which is determined by playing the game.

We also have heard some players are looking for a way to play where all players will have the same set of Star Cards with flattened values. Like everything else, we will be continually making necessary changes to ensure the game is fun for everyone. We will work to make sure the system is balanced both for players who want to earn everything, as well as for players who are short on time and would like to move faster in their progress towards various rewards.

And you, our community, will play a big role in the evolution of the game. Whether it’s comments on our forums or posts over social media, we’re listening. Your feedback makes a difference, and your passion is what keeps us creating.

Again, we want to thank you for taking part in the Beta and helping us make sure that the launch will be, to quote a certain masked Sith Lord, a day long remembered. We’ll have much more to share with you before we see you on the battlefront in November.

 

[Julius]

The Star Wars Show has confirmed that a new story trailer will be dropping tomorrow.

Less than a month to go!

[Julius]