Despite the relative 'meh' quality of most video games based on the Star Wars franchise, there have been a few bright points and pleasant surprises. I've heard nothing but good things about the Lego Star Wars games, and there are many people who swear by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords, or as my optometrist likes to call it, SWKotOR2:SL. For me, the Battlefront games have been a Wookie-sized dose of fun and entertainment for long after the game's completion. Battlefront II, in particular, makes for plenty of empty nights alone in one's parent's basement, dreaming of a menage with Leia and Marra Jade (although Aayla Secura, Twi'lek Jedi, is the only one for me).

What would our kids look like?

Battlefront II is a shooter with little story or plot, only playing through the Star Wars saga. This means that you can play for any faction represented in the movies, like the Rebel Alliance, the Empire, Trade Federation, Republic, etc... The campaign consists of a planet-hopping crusade to eliminate the enemy, whomever he may be. Defeating the enemy in battle earns general power-ups such as bacta tanks that heal your troops, sabotaged enemy vehicles, and the ability to play as a Jedi or Sith hero, all of whom have augmented health, speed, fighting ability, and the like, although one is especially vulnerable to sand. It gets everywhere.

The ability to play as several different types of soldier is a nice touch, although there are some serious discrepancies in combat efficiency. While Rebel Sharpshooters and Riflemen are very strong, Wookies and Pilots are relatively weak, due mostly to significantly weaker weapons. This problem isn't relegated to just the Rebels, though. Playing as a droideka is fun, but battle droids are pretty much superior in battle. That said, it's almost too easy playing as a rifleman or marksman. There have been many times when I've killed more than 100 enemy soldiers before dying. Sometimes it's as simple as finding a good spot with an ammo droid nearby (the elevated corridors on Kashyyk are a perfect example).

The year I took all of my old Halloween costumes and combined them.

A positive addition to Battlefront II was the ability to engage in space combat with a multitude of vehicles, including X-Wings, Jedi Starfighters, A-Wings, as well as a gamut of Imperial Fighters: Tie Fighters, Interceptors, etc... Aerial combat is a definite plus, as it breaks up any monotony to be found between ground combat levels. The fighters look and handle very nicely, and each one has its own balance between power and speed, although there are certain craft that are just superior in terms of dogfighting and bombing capabilities. That said, the process of destroying all of the enemy's large craft tends to become monotonous in itself, even when piloting the X-Wing (Rogue Squadron rules, Wraith Squadron drools!)

Twas a shame, what happened to poor Porkins

Unfortunately, several problems that were in the first Battlefront are still there in the sequel. The first of these is the relative lack of control one has over the outcome of the battle. Because of the immense size of the maps, it is impossible to cover all of the pitched battles occurring at the same time. While it is almost always guaranteed that the player will have more kills than any of the AI on either side, one can't help but feel as though sometimes it is impossible to win, no matter how many enemy one kills.

Another nagging problme is the half-baked controls over one's fellow soldiers. While it's obvious that Battlefront is a solo shooter and not squad-based like Ghost Recon or Brothers In Arms, it is unnerving that the player is given control of surrounding comrades, but only a little bit. Any nearby soldiers can be directed to push forward, fall back, etc... until they don't feel like it any more and just do their own thing anyway, which is stand there and fire their weapons. Being in charge of soldiers is a good idea, although it seems poorly exectuted and should have been polished or wiped from the concept of the second Battlefront.

George Lucas: "Look, Jake! There's Haley Joel Osment. I should have gotten him for this movie." Jake Lloyd: "Yippee!"

Battlefront II is a solid game by all accounts, and while it doesn't take a Star Wars fan to enjoy it, there is a certain element of novelty in fighting wars that follow the main storyline so much. Unlike games that take one element of the massive Star Wars universe (Bounty Hunter, Podracing, etc...), the Battlefront games are the Star Wars movies; you didn't think it was the dialogue, did you?

RANKING: 8 OUT OF 10