Star Wars: Battlefront II

About Star Wars: Battlefront II

Star Wars: Battlefront II dropped on October 31, 2005, from Pandemic Studios and LucasArts. This shooter spans PC, Xbox, PS2, and PSP. It serves as the sequel to the original Battlefront but expands the scope significantly. The game covers the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, pulling heavily from Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. You fight across sixteen new battlefields as a clone trooper or stormtrooper. The key difference here is the inclusion of playable Jedi heroes and actual space combat modes. This isn't just infantry fighting anymore; you can pilot starfighters or wield lightsabers in massive ground wars. It bridges the gap between the prequels and the original trilogy while offering both single-player campaigns and frantic multiplayer matches.

Gameplay

You start Campaign Mode by following the 501st Legion through specific story objectives. The gameplay loop differs from standard conquest because you manage limited reinforcements against an enemy with unlimited supplies. You might spend minutes defending a position on Coruscant or attacking a base on Kashyyyk while managing your squad's morale and resources. Space combat adds a new layer where you pilot ships to destroy enemy capital vessels or escort transports. On the ground, you can switch classes to play as Jedi characters who use Force powers alongside blasters. Multiplayer modes support split screen and online battles where teams compete to capture control points. The controls feel weighty for infantry but require precise timing when piloting vehicles. You spend most of your time moving between cover, reloading, and coordinating with teammates to push back enemy lines or defend key locations until reinforcements run out.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community rates this title at 80.5 out of 100 based on 695 IGDB reviews. Players describe the vibe as intense, with four votes leaning that way and two more calling it hardcore. Two users specifically noted the cooperative nature of the experience. The average playtime suggests people stick around for a long session to complete the campaign or grind through multiplayer. Critics praise the space combat mechanics and the ability to play as Jedi heroes, which separates it from the first game. Some players find the difficulty spikes in the campaign frustrating due to the reinforcement limits, but the chaotic scale of the battles keeps them engaged. The historical low price on Steam sits at 3.19 dollars, making it a cheap entry point for new players who want to jump into the Clone Wars era without paying full retail.

PlayPile's Take

This game is for fans who want large scale battles with vehicles and heroes rather than just infantry skirmishes. The campaign offers a structured narrative through the 501st Legion that feels more purposeful than generic conquest modes. At 3.19 dollars, it is an easy purchase if you can find it on sale or buy the cheap version. You should expect to spend several hours unlocking achievements and mastering the space combat missions. The replay value comes from trying different factions and hero classes in multiplayer matches. If you dislike games where your reinforcements run out while enemies keep spawning, this might feel punishing at first. Otherwise, it delivers a solid shooter experience that captures the epic feeling of the movies without needing constant updates or microtransactions.

Storyline

In Campaign Mode, the player follows the campaigns of the 501st Legion as told through the Journal of the 501st. As players progress through the game, they play as a clone trooper during the reign of the Republic and as a stormtrooper during the reign of the Empire. The action brings players to multiple planets through a story arc that stretches from the dawn of the Clone Wars to the formation of the Empire and later, bridging the gap between Episodes III and IV. Unlike the first Battlefront, Battlefront II's campaign gives players certain objectives with a given number of reinforcements with the enemy's reinforcements unlimited and an occasional time limit rather than playing an ordinary conquest match. The game also gives the option to skip space missions.