Star Wars: Battlefront II - T
Common Sense Note
Parent should know that this is an action game that is part of the vast Star Wars merchandising universe. The game involves killing hundreds of humans and aliens, and destroying vehicles and robots with a range of weapons. Although the action is intense, there is no blood or gore. Parents should also be aware that the game is geared for online play, so kids who take the game online with headsets could hear coarse language there.
Families who play this game might want to talk about marketing games based on popular movies. Are kids more likely to want to play games that are based on movies they like? Are the games better when they are based on familiar franchises? Families may also want to talk about responsible behavior in online communities.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Chris Jozefowicz
This game is a solid update of the original Battlefront, but it is likely to only be loved by fans of either online multiplayer battles or the Star Wars universe.
In story mode, players become storm troopers in the 501st division, an elite group of soldiers eventually known as Vader's Fist, fighting through many major battles of the Star Wars films, both old and new. In this wide-ranging narrative, players will encounter most of their favorite characters, including Yoda and Boba Fett.
Players defend positions, capture bases from the opposition, and carry objects from one base to another. Many game maps include vehicles like speeder bikes, tanks, or AT-ATs to complement the foot-soldiering.
In Galaxy Conquest mode, players control a fleet of Empire or Rebel troops as they fight for control of planets in a star system. Capturing planets and creating more units adds an element of strategy missing from the heavy firefights of the story mode.
Both modes benefit from updates to the action of the first game, including space battles before landing on some planets, and adding the Jedi as playable characters. But they are pretty short.
The game is pretty much gore free, even though most of the action involves killing people and blowing stuff up. There is violence aplenty and destruction is delivered in many forms (lasers, grenades, bullets, rockets, tanks, etc.), but there is no blood.
The game really seems designed for online multiplayer (although there is a split-screen option for multiple players on one system). Battlefront II supports 24-player matches on the PlayStation 2, 32-player matches on Xbox, and up to 64 on a computer. The multiplayer action is heavy on team-based modes in which one side must overrun the territory controlled by another, but the game also has the old standbys like capture-the-flag and deathmatch.
Fighting against real opponents is much more satisfying than the computer-controlled enemies of the single-player mode. For one thing, enemies become much more challenging and devious. And it also allows for some just-plain-cool action, like all out lightsaber slaughter-fests between Jedis.
Ultimately, there isn't much story here, and while the controls are relatively simple, so is the action. There's a lot more button-mashing than careful, controlled fighting and maneuvering, and fighting grows repetitive. For a more creative take on the Star Wars universe, try LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game.
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ViolencePlenty of shooting and destruction with an array of sci-fi weapons, but no blood. |
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CommercialismAnother entry in the constant stream of Star Wars related merchandise. |
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