The video game critics have spoken, and the consensus seems to be that Star Wars Battlefront is solid but not spectacular.
The much-hyped reboot of the series that began more than a decade ago with the original Star Wars: Battlefront has taught us exactly where the line on Metacritic is between “mixed” and “generally favorable” reviews thanks to its 74 score on Xbox One falling in the former category and its 75 on PS4 barely qualifying for the latter. While almost everyone agrees that EA DICE did a fantastic job getting the game to look and feel like Star Wars should, reviewers don’t universally love the gameplay.
Forbes declares that Star Wars Battlefront is a good Star Wars game but a mediocre shooter:
"What you get out of Star Wars Battlefront depends entirely on what you expect from it. If you’re looking to capture that feeling of playing in a beautifully-realized Star Wars sandbox, albeit one lacking variety and depth, EA DICE nails it. If you’re looking for a shooter stacked with substance, engrossing character progression, and endlessly addictive gameplay to sink your teeth into for the months ahead, Star Wars Battlefront misses the mark."
IGN liked it a bit more, saying that it “comes with baggage” but ultimately giving it an above-average 8 out of 10:
"Star Wars Battlefront captures everything I love most about Star Wars. It’s playful and imaginative, driven by a sense of adventure and fun above all else. By embracing this, and improving on the classic original Battlefront, developer DICE has made almost exactly the Star Wars multiplayer shooter I’ve always wanted."
On the other end of the spectrum, Giant Bomb felt that preaching to the Star Wars choir got in the way of making the game all it could be, ultimately giving it a 6/10:
"There’s a whole lot of Star Wars seeping out of every pore of Battlefront, and no amount of forced fan service took away from the fact that some moments in this game reminded me of the many things I love about the film franchise. If the impending release of The Force Awakens has you in the mood for a casual online shooter set in the Star Wars universe, this game can certainly provide that for a dozen or so hours. Battlefront initially checks all of the boxes for being a great Star Wars game, but its limited amount of content and lack of meaningful progression kept me from wanting to return for more than a brief visit."
Read more of the professional reviews and you end up with the very definition of a mixed bag. The user reviews on Metacritic, for what they’re worth, have been even harsher. That suggests a lot of fans were disappointed, though it seems like the general hardcore gamer crowd was more let down than the Star Wars fan base.
The silver lining is that EA will have a chance to course correct with the series since it intends to make more Battlefront games over the course of its 10-year deal with Disney. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Are you enjoying Star Wars Battlefront, or did it leave you wanting more? Hit us with a comment or reach out on Twitter and let us know.