Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Review - A Nostalgia Trip With Limitations

The Star Wars franchise has captivated audiences for decades, and its video game adaptations are no exception. Among these adaptations, the Star Wars: Battlefront series stands out, allowing players to immerse themselves in the iconic battles of the galaxy. With the recent release of the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, fans are eager to revisit these classic titles. However, this collection is not without its issues, raising questions about its value and appeal to both new and returning players.

The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection brings together two beloved titles: Star Wars: Battlefront (2004) and Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005). Players can expect an engaging experience filled with the excitement of epic galactic battles. But does this collection deliver the nostalgia and fun fans crave, or does it fall short with technical problems and outdated mechanics?

As we dive deeper into the collection, we will examine its gameplay, features, and how it compares to the original versions. We will explore whether the nostalgic appeal is enough to overlook its flaws and if it’s worth your time and money in today's gaming landscape. So, let’s embark on this journey through a galaxy far, far away!

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was once a Star Wars sub-franchise beloved by fans. In a landscape filled with games that made you feel like a Jedi, Commando or Bounty Hunter, only Star Wars: Battlefront put players in the shoes of an ordinary soldier. Developed by Pandemic Studios, Star Wars: Battlefront and its sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront II, were Battlefield-like games that tasked players with playing as generic soldiers and conquering/saving the galaxy. Fun and beloved, especially the second, the classic games have received the port treatment to modern hardware courtesy of Aspyr. Does the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection deliver an unparalleled Star Wars multiplayer experience or is this collection just a nostalgia trap?

The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection packages together the entirety of Star Wars: Battlefront (2004) and Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005). Players can expect both games' campaigns, all base content and game modes, and some previously Xbox-exclusive DLC. Overall, the collection does its main job of providing enough content on paper for players to recreate battles from the first six Star Wars films.

What's in it for Solo Players?

Star Wars: Battlefront features campaigns from both the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War eras, but don’t go in expecting much storytelling. You’ll play through crucial moments like the Trade Federation’s battle with the Gungans, the Battle of Geonosis, the assault on Hoth, and the climactic Battle of Endor. With no cohesive plot thread, Star Wars: Battlefront is more of a collection of famous battles.

Star Wars: Battlefront II, however, is more ambitious with its campaign. Telling the story of the 501st Legion, the campaign focuses on the final days of the Republic and up to the Empire's assault on Hoth. It’s a more personal tale that better explores unseen parts of the now Legends Star Wars mythos. You’ll participate in iconic battles like the sacking of the Jedi Temple, taking down General Grievous on Utapau, and attempting to take back the Death Star plans on Tantive IV, but also battle Acklay on Felucia, put down a clone rebellion on Kamino, and get revenge for the destruction of the Death Star.

Neither campaign is overly long nor tells much of a story, yet the gameplay is enjoyable enough, and the missions are short enough to speed through both quickly. There is one major problem with Star Wars: Battlefront II's campaign, though: half the cutscenes are missing. Every outro cutscene is missing from the collection and has not been addressed by Aspyr as of publication (Reviewer’s Note: As of 3/19, Aspyr has patched the missing cutscenes back into the PC version).

From a content perspective, the rest of the single-player package is meaty. Instant Action allows you to play any map against AI, pick and choose from a handful of game modes, apply various modifiers, and just have fun taking down bots. Then there’s the beloved Galactic Conquest mode, where players go on a strategic conquest to control the galaxy. All modes can be played cooperatively with a friend, which is excellent, but the game only allows for two-player split-screen, a downgrade from the original Xbox’s four-player split-screen offering. Considering the original Xbox version is playable via backwards compatibility, this is a significant downgrade for Xbox players.