Just announced at the latest Nintendo Direct event is a Star Wars Battlefront collection – but is it one that you need?
The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is coming to current and last gen consoles (and PC) next month, but you might be wondering exactly what it is and whether you should buy it.
You may be familiar with 2015’s Star Wars: Battlefront or 2017’s Star Wars: Battlefront II (which features a superb story mode). But they’re not included in this collection. Instead, this classic Star Wars collection features the original-but-identically-named Star Wars: Battlefront (2004) and Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005), but developed by Pandemic Studios.
Yes, we know.
Here’s a look at the trailer, complete with Aspyr’s heavy handed Tomb Raider remasters placement midway through. (Those guys, eh?)
Although visually limited by comparison, the older games are well-regarded. They were based on the Battlefield 1942 game, and shone in their online multiplayer modes. The original game was initially released on Windows, MacOS, Xbox, and PS2 (and later released on GOG).
At one point the first Battlefront “classic” was considered the holy grail (kyber crystal?) of Star Wars games, a must-have gaming experience that arguably kept the series going amid failures such as Star Wars Galaxies and the later SWTOR online efforts.
(Apparently, Star Wars: The Old Republic is still “a thing.”)
The collection includes:
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Includes Bonus Map: Jabba’s Palace
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Includes Bonus Maps: Bespin: Cloud City, Rhen Var: Harbor, Rhen Var: Citadel, and Yavin 4: Arena
- Includes Bonus Heroes: Asajj Ventress & Kit Fisto
The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on March 14, 2024.
Should you get it? Well, unless you don’t like Star Wars or don’t already have them running on a classic system, yes!
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.