Average gamers devoted to George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away, can now take part in 16 epic engagements within key locations tied to the original trilogy of “Star Wars” films in Star Wars: Battlefront (Electronic Arts and DICE, Rated: Teen, $49.99).
Through a first- and third-person perspective, this medium-sized, multiplayer shooter offers a hyper-realistic and dynamic cinematic presentation while visiting over 13 maps spread out on the planets of Hoth, Endor, Tatooine and Sullust (the volcanic home of Nien Nunb, a co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon).
Players engage in firefights with opposing forces on the ground and in the air as part of the Rebel Alliance or the Empire in easily one of the best-looking “Star Wars” games ever produced.
Solo and co-operative (with a friend on or offline) missions act as a warm-up to the larger multiplayer skirmishes.
They feature surviving 15 waves of Imperial forces (look for Probe Droids and AT-ATs to attack), AT-ST driving lessons and taking on the role of the iconic characters Han Solo, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, the Emperor, Princess Leia and Boba Fett.
All heroes and villains, by the way, boast character models looking scarily ripped out of the movies.
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The nine types of online multiplayer battles can include up to 40 players in skirmishes ranging from dogfighting T.I.E. fighters and X-Wings over Tatooine’s Jawa refuge, capturing droids in the ice caves of Hoth and hunting an iconic hero in the sulfur fields of Sullust (teams of seven rebels or Imperials are out for the kill).
“Star Wars: Battlefront” makes an epic gift for any human wondering what it would be like to pilot a snow speeder and wrap its tow cable around a AT-AT to bring the mechanical monster to its knees; become the Emperor to unleash Force lightening on aggressive rebels infidels; or drive a speeder bike through the a cluttered forest on the moon on Endor.
Action-enhancing gadgets or extras: Appreciate aural “Star Wars” pleasures such as John Williams’ fantastic score, blaster fire, the hum of a lightsaber and Princess Leia’s sultry voice through the Star Wars Battlefront Sandtrooper Gaming Headset (Turtle Beach, $99.99).
Plugging right into the PlayStation 4’s controller, the over-the-ear headphones, with 50mm diameter speakers, feature an adjustable and removable boom microphone, inline controls for volume and mic mute and a set of Imperial-sanctioned speaker plates that complete a device that one might find at Watto’s used Empire equipment shop on Tatooine.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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