Star Wars Battlefront lacks content, but it’s the simplistic shooter we need

There’s no doubt Star Wars Battlefront is very light on content for a full price game, with no campaign and shallow multiplayer options. The extras in the expensive season pass should be included in the price of admission — the maps and modes at least — so in essence Battlefront is a $170 (AU R.R.P.) shooter for the base game; everything you’ll need to keep playing beyond the holiday season. However, what it lacks in overall content Battlefront also lacks in depth of gameplay — and that’s a good thing.

Battlefront is multiplayer mayhem easy to pick up for 15 minutes, or three hours, after a long day at work or school when you don’t have the focus to play a deeply engaging game. It doesn’t require much thought, nor does it mandate commitment to master how to play.

The weapons are basically all the same, there’s no massive advantage with unlocks, and the Star Cards add abilities, but don’t require regular tinkering. It’s straight up point and shoot; and even the objective-based modes don’t add much more effort. It’s one of the easiest multiplayer games to get into and just start playing.

Multiplayer shooters continue to become more convoluted, and favour players with the most time to invest in levelling up to unlock better weapons. Time-poor players increasingly don’t stand a chance once launch day has passed. Call of Duty, Halo and Battlefield all fall victim to their own detailed intricacies. They’re not fun for casual bursts, and require commitment to unlock anything of value. Rainbow Six: Siege will take it a step further in December, by demanding you play in a squad of five willing to strategise and work together tirelessly. It’s not something you’ll be able to play for half-an-hour before dinner.

What it lacks in overall content Battlefront also lacks in depth of gameplay — and that’s a good thing ... It’s one of the easiest multiplayer games to get into and just start playing.

Star Wars Battlefront is that game, and it’s why I’m surprised how much I’ve enjoyed the six hours I’ve spent with it. That isn’t very long, but it’s representative of lasting-appeal. If you’ve notched weeks in Destiny, this isn’t the game for you. If you struggled to get into Black Ops III, maybe it is. It won’t be played for days on end.

I’ll be surprised if my playtime ever reaches 24 hours — even with the ambitious estimates of the Xbox One counter. Battlefront is fun in short bursts; it’s a game that will hook you on two or three modes, and those won’t provide the substance to keep you playing all night, once the initial thrills at launch subside.

While it’s nothing like the original Battlefront (and not trying to be), it feels more like a PS2 shooter than a re-skinned Battlefield. If it weren’t for stunning visuals, captivating sound and a horrendous season pass that will horribly segregate the community, plus gameplay cards as is the annoying fashion trend of today, Battlefront wouldn’t feel like a shooter from 2015.

Power-ups scattered throughout levels, like new weapons or vehicles, are reminiscent of shooters from the late-90s and early-2000s, when better guns were picked up during the match, not unlocked by playing more than your opponents.

Movement is clunky, with no option to drop to prone, and feels limited next to the double jumps and wall-running of late. It's more natural to play in third-person, but that carries a dated style, as characters bob up and down as they shuffle forward and are unable to recognise cover.

Power-ups scattered throughout levels, like new weapons or vehicles, are reminiscent of shooters from the late-90s and early-2000s, when better guns were picked up during the match, not unlocked by playing more than your opponents. It feels like running through a map in GoldenEye or TimeSplitters 2, snagging the best weapons on route to a firefight, rather than the meticulous planning of CoD perks.

With blasters, and to a lesser extent Star Card abilities, all relatively on an equal footing, the tokens systems brings balance to the Force. There are still collectibles and unlocks designed to entice playing and ranking up, but ultimately the best power-ups are equal for all Rebels and Imperials, regardless of stats. It's not as epic grabbing a token to spawn into an X-Wing as it is scrambling into the cockpit, but it fits Battlefront's ease of access mantra.

Visually Battlefront is one of the best shooters of the current-generation, but mechanically is like a relic from the past. It’s not a modern shooter, and with that comes a welcome simplicity. It’s an option the market needs, and something I’ll enjoy playing when I can’t be bothered dealing with a quest in Fallout 4 or a mission in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. It’s the game to play when you want to pick up a controller, but can’t be bothered playing a game.

It’s not for everyone, and in trying to be casual, it’s actually become quite niche. It’s for hardcore Star Wars fans that want to love online multiplayer, but can’t get into more complicated shooters like Battlefield and don’t have the time to commit hours to play each night to keep up with the community. It’s a casual game fans of Star Wars and more hearty shooters will still enjoy, but it’s hard to justify the cost when they’ll be pushed back to the much more engaging Halo 5 and Black Ops III.

I’d recommend trying the 10 hours on EA Access on Xbox One (it’s $7 for a month). That may well be your fill, and will be more than enough for a lot of players drawn in by Star Wars nostalgia. On PS4, a similar option is to buy from EB Games and return within 7 days if it’s not to your satisfaction; and it won’t be for millions of buyers expecting something different. The lack of gameplay depth won’t be enough for some; for others, the lack of modes will see interest wane; but for those that just want to pick up a controller and shoot Stormtroopers, it's just right.

Whatever you do, don’t by the season pass at launch. As a general rule, never do that, especially when it costs more than the base game ($63 at Big W). Plus the first DLC in December, Battle of Jakku, adds two new maps for free, as they all should have been. Always wait to see if you’re still playing when the first paid DLC is released, for any game, and in the case of Battlefront, that’s going to be less likely than usual. It’s here for a good time, not a long time.