Playing Star Wars: Battlefront's beta made me realize what I like most about Battlefield: how seamless the experience is. You can ride into battle in a helicopter, parachute to the ground, hop in a jeep, and then secure an objective on foot. The word "immersive" gets tossed around far too often but that sums it up. The virtual battle is so convincing because there are so few limits to where you can go.
Battlefront's choice to make vehicles into power-ups that teleport you to the cockpit has its advantages. By simply spawning players into a TIE Fighter in the air, the developers didn't have include an entire base and airfield on the periphery of the map. It also cuts down on the "commute" players need to make to the battle. Still, this makes vehicles and infantry feel like different modes. You're essentially becoming a different character by climbing into a vehicle. This somehow makes me nostalgic for those legendary killstreaks from Battlefield that stretch across land, air and sea.
All that said, I'm curious what the full version of Battlefront will be like. Will I keep comparing it unfavorably to Battlefield or will it offer up enough fun ideas of its own to make me consider it a completely separate experience? We'll see in a few weeks.
Top Stories Of The Week
Why EA Isn't Making HD Remakes - They're really hoping Konami takes their slot in the next Worst Company in America poll.
Is DOTA 2's Latest Patch Trolling Us About Half-Life 3? - In truth, everything Valve does these days feels like Half-Life 3 trolling.
Friday The 13th Video Game Lets You Become Jason - Finally, a legal way to interrupt teenagers having sex.
Street Fighter 5 Story Very Different Than Past Games - For starters, there's a story.
Nintendo NX Development Kits Already Being Sent Out, Report Says - We're never getting Legend of Zelda Wii U, are we?
Kanye West Doesn't Like Microtransactions - Weird, because you're making millions off them.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Has 300 Items Purchasable With Cash - Look at it this way: some day, we'll consider 300 microtransactions to be a low number.
Batman: Arkham Knight Still Has Tons Of DLC On The Way - What's the opposite of reassurance?
Payday 2 Will Sell Stat-Boosting Weapon Skins - I'm noticing a theme this week.
Star Wars Battlefront Beta's Biggest Flaw Is Being Fixed - One down, ten to go!
Video Of The Week
The Witcher 3's developers sent a virtual taxman after players using an exploit to earn money:
Quote Of The Week
"Fuck this stupid disease. The average is going up after I'm done with it" - YouTuber John Bain (aka TotalBiscuit), after announcing his cancer has returned. He said that the average life expectancy for his condition is two to three years.
