Star Wars: Battlefront Elite Squadron PSP

Star Wars: Battlefront Elite Squadron Product Details

Released on 06/11/2009

• Star Wars: Battlefront Elite Squadron Review

  Battle Royale

  What's your take on Star Wars? Is it a richly detailed modern parable whose universe just keeps getting bigger and better with each new cinematic and videogame spinoff? Or is it like a wheezing old relative who keeps trotting out the same old anecdotes but, due to failing memory, these anecdotes differ slightly each time he splutters his way through them?

  If you're of the latter opinion we would suggest you look elsewhere for your next PSP purchase. If on the other hand Star Wars remains an intriguing and entertaining prospect, here's yet another reason to get excited.

  The Brothers Clone

  The Battlefront series – there have been five previous games on multiple platforms – enables players to take part in key battles across the Star Wars universe and influence actual conflicts from all six episodes of the long-running saga.

  Elite Squadron features a substantial single-player campaign that follows the trials and tribulations of a clone trooper called X2.

  Elite Squadron (the third Battlefront game on PSP) features a substantial single-player campaign that follows the trials and tribulations of a clone trooper called X2. He was originally tasked with destroying Jedi under Order 66 (stop us if you've heard this one before) but decides to give up this unsavoury career and instead joins the Rebellion. Unfortunately, while X2 follows a path of righteousness, his clone brother, X1, takes a darker turn. This, as you could probably have predicted, leads to an almighty confrontation.

  Aeriel Assault

  As with previous Battlefront games, the action largely plays out in a third-person fashion, with players getting stuck right into the battling on foot and in various vehicles. The difference here is that for the first time you can conduct your campaign over multiple arenas so you can go from battling on foot to commandeering a vahicle and continuing in that way. Or perhaps start off in a dogfight in space before landing and continuing the assault onboard a starship itself.

  Start off in a dogfight in space before landing and continuing the assault onboard a starship itself.

  Fans of the series will be delighted by the inclusion of the Heroes and Villains mode first seen in Battlefront II. This is just part of an impressive multi-player package that delivers 16-player battles and in-depth stat tracking (mmm... stats). And who wouldn't be over the moon at the prospect of playing the part of any number of well-known Star Wars characters? These include Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Kit Fisto and Darth Maul as well as characters from previous Star Wars games Renegade Squadron and The Force Unleashed.

  There's also a breathtaking range of customisation options available for added replay value. Players will be able to build characters from the ground up assigning species, gender, appearance, physical attributes, armour and weapon combinations as well as unlocking additional weapons and objects that will add more versatility to their capabilities in battle.

  Far from being a disposable bit of casual handheld gaming, Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is very much a Star Wars game on a truly galactic scale. Who knows? Maybe even those whose faith in the saga has lapsed might find the breadth of options here irresistible.

  GAME's Verdict

  

  • Meaty campaign mode
  • Fight on foot, in vehicles and in space
  • Loads of characters
  • Great multi-player options
  • It's Star Wars, wahay!

  

  • It's Star Wars, boohoo!

  Review by: Simon 'Boba Fatt' Kirrane
  Version Tested: PSP
  Review Published: 11.11.09

  Published: 11/11/2009

• LucasArts unveils new Star Wars game.

  We've been waiting for an announcement on the brand new Star Wars franchise teased by LucasArts recently, and the cat is finally out of the bag. Star Wars 1313 is the name of the third-person adventure game being cooked up by the studio.

  The collaboration between a diverse array of Lucas's companies which include Lucasfilm Animation, Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light & Magic, Star Wars 1313 will result in a mature, 18-rated game. Taking on the role of a bounty hunter, LucasArts is promising "a dark and mature" gaming experience powered by the Unreal Engine.

  A statement from the developer outlined the grand vision for this new adventure:

  "Named for Level 1313, a ruthless criminal underground deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant, the game puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy," it read.

  "Star Wars 1313 emphasizes epic set pieces and fast-paced combat with a hero who uses human skills and gadgets, rather than supernatural Force powers, to make his way through this dangerous world."

  According to LucasArts president Paul Meegan, we can expect to find out much more about the game at next week's E3 gaming extravaganza in Los Angeles.

  "We're excited to share one of the projects LucasArts has been hard at work developing," he said.

  "Star Wars 1313 dives into a part of the Star Wars mythos that we've always known existed, but never had a chance to visit. We are committed to bringing the best gameplay experience and visual fidelity to life and I truly believe the work we are showcasing at E3 will speak for itself."

• Star Wars Game License Acquired by EA.

  When Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars universe, following the purchase of George Lucas's LucasFilm, many fans were left wondering what it would mean for the future of videogames set within the epic franchise.

  Well, it turns out that Disney has decided to license out the property to EA for multi-platform console development, while keeping social, online and mobile opportunities for itself. Frank Gibeau, EA Labels President, confirmed that Dead Space and Battlefield studios Visceral and DICE respectively would be creating games in the franchise - and so will the creators of the Knights of The Old Republic series, BioWare.

  "Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe," began Gibeau.

  "The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay. Powering it all will be the Frostbite 3 development engine - guaranteeing incredible graphic fidelity, environments and characters."

  Well, if the publisher's looking for any suggestions, both Knights of The Old Republic 3 and Battlefront 3 have been clamoured for by fans in recent years, and would surely put the massive publisher back into gamers' good books, following the troubled release of SimCity.
  

  Published: 07/05/2013

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