STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT - BATTLE OF JAKKU

jackcooper98
Dec 1, 2015
2 min read

Today the first expansion for Star Wars Battlefront became playable for those of us who pre-ordered the game. Don't worry, it's out later this month for those who didn't pre-order.

The expansion is simple, one new map and one new game mode for that map. The map itself is a battle-scared Jakku, the desert planet seen in the upcoming The Force Awakens. It features several AT-ATs already downed and a Star Destoryer that's not in great shape either. The sky above is filled with warring star ships. The landscape is very much the same as Tatooine, which makes sense seeing as they are both desert planets. Craters and wreckage form the cover and mass of the map, as well as a crashed ship resembling the one from the opening of Episode IV.

Jakku's new game mode is Turning Point, which is basically King of the Hill. As Imperials, you defend several spots. As Rebels, you strive to take them. Simple. Combat is no different and the only vehicles available are the AT ST and Landspeeder.

While the map is a nice back-drop to a fun game mode, it would be nice to have some interaction with it. Perhaps a Star Destroyer crahsing half way through the game.

I have two problems with the Jakku expansion. First, It does nothing to add new landscapes to Battlefront. With Tatooine, we already have a desert planet. The game still feels very limited here, even if EA want us to pay stupid amounts of money to play on new planets when they finally come out.

Second, it does nothing to set up The Force Awakens, despite the advertising. As the game mode is multiplayer, there is no intended winner. I thought the map would also be a single player mission, with either the Light side or Bad meant to be the winners. No such luck. The only thing it has incommon with what we've seen of The Force Awakens so far is the Star Destroyer crashed into the desert.

So, all in all, the expansion was less than expected. Actually, it was exactly as expected, and just as mediocre. While it's a nice addition, it has no achievements and does little to expand Battlefront's limited, if beautiful scope.

6.5/10

All pictures are from my own gameplay experience.