Battlefield 1942 transferred to the world of Star Wars. Thus could be summed single / multi shooter Star Wars: Battlefront, whose biggest advantage is the ability to control the vehicle or the fighter known from movies.

In May next year, will see its premiere awaited Episode III, which completes a new film trilogy and bridge the gaps and unanswered questions in the entire series, whose first series George Lucas in the late 70s and 80s stunned the whole world. The first ingenious marketing move was the September issue of the original three films on DVD, and then followed up by the game Star Wars: Battlefront. It is not only the name but also the gaming concept strikingly similar to Battlefield 1942 (the only BF1942) from Electronic Arts, which ranks among the most popular multiplayer titles. Rankings and four million units sold showed that this style started long ago Flashpoint is much in demand on the market. And so the idea was born LucasArts that the same principle could work well as a copy of BF1942 set in the attractive environment of Star Wars.

• As in the movies
Like its main pattern is also Battlefront focused on multiplayer. Yet it also offers two (off-line), the single player campaign, which live opponents are replaced by bots. The main emphasis in both cases is placed on fun gameplay and not the most realistic processing of the Star Wars films and their storylines. In the first campaign for the Separatists and the Republic you will taste the most significant battles of the first three episodes. Then follows a small outro and a smooth transition to the second campaign, which differ only planets and parties - will therefore Rebels and the Empire known from fourth to sixth episodes.

Authors of games from Pandemic Studios (Battlezone II, Dark Reign II) is too much bother to explain the situation and the reasons for the conflict neznalce film series, so willy-nilly, you have to identify how those worthy and those with evil. The only tool for drawing the matter to represent the films cut sequences that surround the most battles. Immediately after loading buoyant in which you watch satellite approach the planet from space directly to the battlefield, you are thrown into battle. In it, you control an ordinary soldier who has profiled personality and the others differ only in their equipment, which in the course of the game, also giving change.
Everything begins with a clash on Naboo, therefore, the first major conflict that appeared in the Star Wars movies. In the next fifteen battles alternated with any known battlefield - Geonosis, Hoth, Bespin, Endor, and more. In the game there are also two locations that we have seen in the movies yet could not. Specifically on Kashyyyk, which will be up to the forthcoming Episode III and Rhen Var, most of us are still unknown icy planet that knows except hard-core Star Wars fans probably only the owners of console games The Clone Wars.

• Proven gaming principle
The map has one base each of the two opposing parties that the fight progresses slowly towards the enemy headquarters. Along the way, there is always a few minor spawn-points, which can be cast to the killing of the soldiers could again "born" closer to the action. The goal of each game as well as the Conquest of BF1942 keeping most base under the control of your team. Both sides have had at the beginning of a fixed number of points, and if they are not marked location on the map checked evenly, the side that occupies them less points decreases. For all the bases you can heal or repair of damaged vehicles, which can be controlled, which is the main attraction of the entire battlefront.

• In TIE Fighter, X-Wing or AT-AT
The game contains almost full combat equipment from all six films, so there's more choice than in BF1942. All models are created very precisely and as a true Star Wars fan, I was totally blown away by them, because none of the previously published titles did not offer something similar. There are tanks Trade Federation machines from Episode II, the good old X-Wing and TIE Fighter - in short, everything you ever wanted to manage or control (complete list on the homepage).

I'm just a bit annoyed occasional indestructibility AT-AT, which is reasonably get rid except perhaps obmotáním his feet gripping the rope Snowspeederu. Motorbikes flying for my taste again too quickly and uncontrollably until both the maps, which can be used, I was in the rugged terrain after a few seconds each time quickly demolished. All machines in the game behave like in the movies, so maybe AT-AT really strong shoots laser beams at smaller intervals, whereas, for example, with X-Wing you can go for perfect strikes with deadly volleys of shots.

• Four of the army and the influence of the natives
As already mentioned, the campaign has gradually play all four armies, that is. Republic Separatists, the Empire and the Rebels. Apart differ mainly offering cars (in the fight but you can also use the abandoned enemy), the ability to special units (see below) and weapons. In the game, by the way, you meet the four central characters from the films, such as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from the old trilogy or Mace Windu, Count Dooku and the new line.

In the game are present natives (NPC), who in a few maps to help one side or the other, but their loyalty is no longer any influence. For example Tuskenové have two bases on Tatooine and strongly inhibits the invasion of the Empire, which is thereby drawn opposition from two sides. Conversely Republic does have a lighter position and improved technique on Geonosis, but local residents sympathize with the separatists and support them as much as possible. From time to time also appears invulnerable Jedi laying without jetpack or any vehicle usually inescapable. The only way is at least a few seconds to slow down, it hit a shot from a tank or rocket launcher. Fortunately can not get into the car, but I can quite strongly influence the course of the battle in one's favor.

• Differences between professions

Each of the four available armies has put together five military classes, from which you can choose for your character. In addition to the common soldier, equipped with a rifle, there's also a sniper, raketometčík, a pilot and a special unit. Sniper can reasonably long intervals, sometimes with exaggerated precision (without hand shake or limited range) to kill enemy infantry or remove soldiers from the towers.

Pawn with a rocket launcher in turn, is mostly useful protizbraň tanks and generally more challenging opponents. Pilot is sort of similar to the engineering profession in other games. If you sit in a machine, over time, that tank or fighter will automatically correct itself. In addition, the pilot is able to manage itself and heal the damaged tower comrades.

The only thing left to explain the significance of the special unit, which is different for each side. In the case of the Empire and the Republic regards the soldiers with a jetpack that allows them to occasionally flit above the battlefield. Jetpack have a different life, with the jetpack soldier with worse is better equipped for changing weapons. In Rebels form a special unit of the Wookiees, huge furry animals with lethal weapons.

Finally Separatists have droidekas which are robots of Episode I, which can be rolled into a ball and then quickly move from place to place. When he wants droidekas attack, while the second can deconstruct the robot with two blasters. Although droidekas need strong compared with infantry, shoot from the tank usually prevail, and moreover, they can not get into any machine.

• Choice of view and weapons

In Battlefront can switch between first-person and third-person view, which is the similarly conceived games always welcome, if not necessary. Personally, I view from a third person used primarily in machinery and fighters in it much better and clearer dominated, as in BF1942. Of course, the focus is always perfect view from our own eyes, which can be switched for each weapon and gentle approach for accurate shooting

Regarding the weapon as such, the game not particularly neexceluje. Wookiees have his powerful crossbow and the Jet Trooper's EMP, or laser cannons, but in addition offer is the same in all armies and weapons must be Separatists from the Imperial different maximum respect. Almost all of the soldiers are also equipped with several grenades. These extra lights on the sides, so they are easily visible at a distance.

• Artificial Intelligence
Battlefront includes three difficulty levels, which can vary even between battles in the middle of the campaign. The biggest change between stages is not so much individual intelligence bots in one on one battle, but rather the overall organization and razantnosti enemy who is able to lead the attack, and even more intensively on multiple fronts simultaneously. As an individual, however bot works sometimes very insecure and it often happens that just as confused scurrying around, sometimes stops completely or trying to shoot over the tree or railing.

C Elkova but bots are a reasonable substitute for human opponents, and I think they are definitely capable than the (true now obsolete) artificial intelligence from BF1942. Holds the team together, you can use any vehicle to fly a fighter on Hoth and even harpoon obmotávat AT-AT. You can navigate their comrades, unfortunately, but there are only four commands. Most often you will probably use those urges to launch an attack or vice versa downloaded back into their own ranks. Sometimes it comes by itself and sometimes even repeated calls for the defense contested the base will not save, but that's how it goes with bots.

• Maps

ZvětšitV Battlefront is sixteen maps that you can try in the above-mentioned campaigns or in Instant Action mode, simply select the one for which you're craving. Everything happens for ten planets, and most of them are located two levels. Usually it's a direct copy of some scenes from the movies (Hoth) or artificially created space, but with things that are in the movies on that planet actually seen (Tatooine). Most maps are reasonable, spread and offers enough space for both fighters in the air and on the ground firefights.

Battle resemble real conflict of Star Wars exactly as we know from the movies. Separatists clash with the Republic on the Red Geonosis in more people truly amazing experience. The maps are plenty of ideal places for camping or even hiding, and there are nooks suitable for one on one duels (that game but did not support). For most bases also worth droids for refilling cartridges. Both can be arranged but also directly on the battlefield, because after each fallen foe will pack health or ammunition.

• Galactic Conquest
The game is still present Galactic Conquest mode, where I spent the most time. They differ mainly in the way in which the individual battles are chosen. Define your side you want to play a planet occupied by the enemy, you will conquer. Then one remaining option Planetary Bonus, that is your advantage over the enemy. This may occur, for example in the form of Sabotage (vehicles and enemy fighters will be corrupted from the beginning), Jedi Hero (your army will assist the Jedi) or, for example, Sensors Jamming (hangs foreign radar and make it impossible for the enemy to see your units on the map). Bonuses choosing both you and your computer. Following the battle itself, which when you lose, it is to move opponent and you must defend the contrary retaliation. This style of play continues until such time as one party occupies the entire galaxy.
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Computer attacking mostly still on the same planet, which apparently considers to be strategically important. But because of the Galactic Conquest mode, a great motivator, repeatedly playing the same maps I surprisingly enjoyed. The stakes were always a lot and I was therefore compelled to maximize deployment. Incidentally, in any game mode against itself can not stand the Empire or the Republic Separatists against the rebels. This limitation is especially true because it is the party in different time periods (Republic fought the separatists in a new trilogy, ie. Episodes I-III, while the conflict with the rebels of the Empire is the subject of old movies, Episodes IV-VI).

• Multiplayer and technical aspects

Battlefront is primarily a multiplayer game and the more people it's obviously a completely different experience than with shoes. Like the BF1942 also be combined living opponents with artificial intelligence. The game supports up to 32 players still alive in one map at a time, to which it still can add more bots. The most popular are now understandably battlefield Hoth and Geonosis. In the game, unfortunately, still missing a few seconds of protection of players as soon as they are born (Spawn Invulnerability). So in the battle against live players sometimes happens that the enemy parked their tanks with your base and in pursuit of frags simply kill everyone who will be there.

On the technical multiplayer a little bit behind. For example, in the search engine to browse through game servers very slow pace and is not sort the map, which was long the norm. Network code probably is not completely etched, because often there is a lag even on a fast connection as my 1.5 Mbps. Shortly after finishing writing this review was indeed released the first patch, but that only solves little things like playing through NAT or server-browser.

Battlefront is driven by its own engine, which developed simultaneously for PC and console versions (PS2 / Xbox), which is also known to him. The maximum detail but offers excellent spectacle to which it is necessary to possess the appropriate hardware. Especially if you're playing single player that the processor must take care of all shoes. On my now slightly below average assembly (Athlon XP 2600+, 512MB DDR, GeForce 4 Ti4200) I was glad that the game is moving too smoothly at 800x600 with medium details and an effect that blurs the distant objects. Music forms as usual selection of film score by John Williams and the like are doing some sounds. Tracks in addition, each map corresponding to those played at a given point in the film, which adds a lot to the atmosphere.

• What is better - Battlefield or Battlefront?

As you surely guessed from previous lines, the Star Wars: Battlefront I was very satisfied. If I had to compare him but with BF1942, it is difficult to decide which of these titles are better. Originality, the theme of World War II, thousands of regular players, plenty of game modes and unofficial additions - those are all pluses for Battlefield.

Enlarge contrary Battlefront is in the field of multiplayer games novice and its success largely depends on how the gaming community accepts it and whether he had some players can before UT2004 or BF1942 priority. But I dare say that the single player has Battlefront due to more vehicles being offered a great atmosphere, a bit funnier than the competition. Its role can be played by the fact that not everyone enjoys themes of the Second World War as the vast majority of current games. Therefore, if you like Star Wars, you have a solid Internet connection or možostí games over a local network, do not hesitate and go for it! Better have it (at least until the arrival of Battlefield 2 in the spring) will not.