After nearly two-and-a-half years of regular updates, support for Star Wars: Battlefront 2 has finally come to an end. The video game overcame a rocky start to become arguably the best Star Wars game the galaxy has ever seen, with fans now able to enjoy all three eras both on and offline, all while playing as some of their favorite characters.
Things have certainly come a long way since the game’s early controversy, so this list will take a look at the 10 best changes EA made to the title following its release back in November 2017.
10 Progression System
When the game first launched, it involved numerous ’loot crates.’ Basically, if you wanted to play as the likes of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker right away you had to put hours upon hours into the game. Either that or pay to win.
Fortunately, this was changed. EA’s Reddit post received the most downvotes in the social media site’s ENTIRE history and the developers immediately set about changing things. Now you could unlock everything through playing only - and pay to win went out of the window.
9 Credit Payout Increased
Another complaint at launch, in tandem with the loot box controversy, was that end-of-round credits simply weren’t enough. Players argued that they should be better rewarded for their hard work and, again, EA listened.
They increased the credit payout for each game mode and that satisfied those who had been hoping for change. It also made it far easier to unlock things within the title, including skins and emotes. One complaint is that co-op mode doesn’t have the same payout as others - but hey, it’s good enough nonetheless.
8 Clone Wars Content
2015’s Star Wars: Battlefront was an enjoyable experience - but focused solely on the original trilogy, neglecting both the prequels and the sequels during its time in the sun. Star Wars: Battlefront 2 promised more eras and they delivered in 2018 by giving players an abundance of Clone Wars maps and characters to play with.
Geonosis came out, making players feel like they’re in Attack of the Clones. And players were finally able to play as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, General Grievous and Count Dooku. The quartet have all been good additions and are all great assets to the game.
7 Arcade Maps Added
Another thing fans were pining for when Battlefront 2 released was more stuff to do offline. Initially, the title released with five maps to play on. But, over time, EA updated it.
The last of those was quite some time ago but the fact remains there are 17 different maps for players to enjoy - and that’s not including the six you can play on in Starfighter Assault. The mode should have gotten more love from EA before support was stopped but, nonetheless, it’s a mode far better than it used to be.
6 Instant Action Added
The old Battlefront 2 game released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox is a classic. And one of the reasons it was so loved by fans was because of it’s ‘instant action’ mode. This allowed you to roam big maps offline while taking on a team of enemy AI, capturing command modes along the way.
And EA launched its own version earlier this year, giving fans the chance to play on maps like Naboo, Kamino, Kashyyyk, Geonosis, and Felucia. That was just the start…
5 Expanding Instant Action
Five maps were just the start for Instant Action. Since it’s release last year, EA has expanded the mode, now giving fans even more options.
You can choose to play against not just enemy troopers but enemy ships and heroes as well. It’s quite a spectacular sight, fighting on the battlefield while you can see iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in the corner of your eye. You can also now play on eight more maps - five from the original trilogy and three from the sequels. It’s now a really great experience.
4 Co-Op Mode
Fans had been calling for EA to add a co-Op mode to Star Wars: Battlefront 2. They listened last year, creating numerous new maps and giving players the chance to capture command posts online with up to three other players.
It’s terrific fun. The credit payout, as mentioned above, isn’t totally great. But it’s all-out chaos and the AI are difficult to take down, whether it’s just the regular trooper or Darth Vader himself. Many were hoping more additions would be forthcoming but, alas, that won’t be the case.
3 More Reinforcements
If you get enough battle points while playing online, Jedi Knights and Bounty Hunters aren’t the only reinforcements you can play as on the battlefield. Instead, you can play as Special Units, too, with EA adding many before the decision to pull the plug.
There are four for the Galactic Republic, four for the Separatists, three each for the Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire, and also three each for the Resistance and First Order. There are also countless vehicle reinforcements, including iconic Star Wars ships such as the AT-TE, U-Wing, and AT-ST.
2 Lightsaber Combat
Initially, when Battlefront 2 first came out, lightsaber combat wasn’t fun. Each time you locked swords with an enemy you’d end up staggering backward and the best players tended to avoid using the iconic Star Wars weapon as much as possible.
But EA changed this as well. Now you can take countless swipes at each other with no staggering involved - but be careful to watch your stamina. The last thing you want is to be a sitting duck when you’ve got formidable foes such as Kylo Ren, Rey, Anakin Skywalker and Darth Maul raining down blows on you.
1 Skins Galore
The first Star Wars: Battlefront game was criticized for its lack of customizable options. Fortunately, the sequel learned from the mistakes of the first.
There are countless skins from the movies and other Star Wars media for players to unlock. Want Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker’s iconic Clone Wars look? Check. Fancy rocking Palpatine’s robes from The Rise of Skywalker? Also, check. Other favorites include Rey’s hooded appearance from TROS, Darth Maul’s Star Wars: Rebels look, and Count Dooku’s Exquisite Pajamas. There’s so much to unlock and it’s satisfying kitting your heroes out to look the way you want them to.
NEXT: 10 Best Star Wars Games Without Lightsabers
