Staying on Target: Star Wars Battlefront: Death Star Review

We expect that many of you gamer folk out there introduced yourself to the newest addition to the Star Wars Battlefront family. The third expansion pack for the online multiplayer game has been released, and players are storming the new game modes and maps with a refreshingly positive reception. We've played it, spent time with it, seen a movie with it, bought it snacks and reviewed it. Let's begin.

As we pilot our trusty X-Wing star fighter past the slender Rebel Alliance cruisers, a cluster of asteroids and smoldering starship debris comes into view. John Williams orchestral presence reverberates deeply in the vacuum of space, but so do the sounds of encroaching TIE fighters and laser blasts. Then we see it - the seemingly indomitable Death Star, with three menacing Star Destroyers perched just above the field of rock and wreckage, like silver triangular watch dogs. Welcome to Star Wars Battlefront: Death Star.

Battlefront had a rocky start with its initial lack of content and unvaried gameplay. It felt, like many games often do, incomplete. A handful of weapons with no modifications, a limited character customization feature and four planets in total. With their Outer Rim, Bespin and now Death Star expansions, they've quelled the impatient masses with new playable characters, weapons and locations. These new blasters, gear and outfits are a welcome addition to the sometimes monotonous gameplay that the otherwise gorgeous game provides. However, one of the most exciting new features are the new game modes and the new heroes.

*Unintelligible Wookie roar* The most lovable walking carpet, Chewbacca is now a playable hero. Chewie, along with a villainous alien bounty hunter named Bosk, are now available as options when picking up a hero upgrade. It took us a while to get a hang of these two characters' gameplay quirks, but like the others, they make blasting storm troopers or rebel scum an absolute breeze. Chewbacca can empower surrounding rebels with his ever-enchanting roar, while Bosk can sometimes regain health by defeating enemies.

Aside from the fantastic inclusion of the ferocious fur ball, the newest game mode is really what has players reinvested in the game. Battle Station features a three tiered battle as Rebels launch a strike on the Death Star, and the Empire attempts to defend it. It begins with an assault on the flagship of the three Star Destroyers on guard in the aforementioned asteroid field. The Empire must survive several waves of Y-Wing bombers that are dispatched to the starship when enough TIE fighters have been destroyed. Once the massive battleship's shields and bridge are exposed, the Rebels must throw all they have at them until the ship suffers complete failure. Once this is completed, the game mode moves into the Death Star as the Rebels must rescue everyone's favorite droid, R2-D2. If that is successfully completed, then the game shifts to the Trench Run.

The famous showdown between a single fighter and a planet-sized war machine is a thrilling a creative finale. A culmination of the new space combat, the game will randomly assign three "trench runners" who must pass through the entire trench in order to destroy the station. Players on the Imperial side can easily see who are the designated wingmen, and must focus their attention on identifying each wave of trench runners, and blast them to smithereens. The run is difficult at times, but if each team is good, it can result in some wonderfully thrilling and memorable chases through the trench.

We've raved about how pretty this game is before, and we see no reason to stop now. The surroundings of every environment is vibrant and reactive to every source of light down to the last particle. The stoic metallic walls of the Death Star's interior responds appropriately to each stray laser strike. Outside the infamous space station, the final and joyous inclusion of space combat shows off DICE's first dance with zero gravity interaction. Our TIE Interceptor ripped an attacking A-Wing to shreds and we watched as the parts floated helplessly from the destroyed ship's frame. Before that, our laser cannon's shots impacted the A-Wing with sputters of flame and smoke, aimlessly meandering off the ship into the vacuum of space. So, we have nothing to report but praise for the game's engine once again.

This expansion is quite honestly, an anomaly of public reception. It pleases us far more than it should. We'll explain - it only features one new location and only three new maps. Not only that, but it again only introduces a small amount of weapons and gadgets, more so than usual, but still fairly small for such a huge game. You may be asking, "if it comes with such a singular pack of new goodies, why do you like it so much?" Great question. Don't get us wrong, it is a small amount of intergalactic wonders, but there's something this expansion introduces to the game that makes it enjoyable - a willful effort to make it better. EA and DICE are trying! Still charging a lot, but for better stuff! The game mode is different, the weapons have some spice and the character customization has finally been updated. It's a good move.

Star Wars Battlefront is desperate for our approval. The game has been enjoyable since the beginning, but its content has been cut and dry. With the release of Death Star, we feel a bit reinvigorated and hopeful about the game. With any luck, a fourth and final expansion will impress and please us further. The fourth paid expansion, called Rogue One: Scarif, is due out early 2017.

Star Wars Battlefront: Death Star is available for individual purchase and download and inclusion in the Season Pass on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

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