Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)

I decided to give this a try again. Last time was about 9 months ago,
and I couldn't even get it to load. Maybe it was my old video card not
being up to it?

Anyway it loaded. I just finished the solo campaign which I highly
enjoyed. You get to play a variety of characters throughout including a
bit with Luke, a bit with Leia, a bit with Han, a bit with Lando, a bit
as Kylo. Most of it is as a new Empire special forces character
though.

I wish there was more of that. Only a couple days worth of play there.
So I moved on to multiplayer. There's at least a co-op mode, which I've
read is the place to start for newbies. I'm not sure if I'm actually
fighting against other players, or just NPCs, but it's kind of fun.
However there's upgrades you need to buy/unlock by getting levels with
different characters, and there seems to be a problem doing that.
I keep getting errors that 'the transaction can't be completed.'

I got one once, but that's it, it keeps failing now. I looked this
up and apparently it's a server side issue that they can't handle
the number of people playing. So still not really playable,
but if you want a short fps type star wars campaign with a bit of
starfighter play too, I'd recommend installing it if you have it from
the free epic/origin giveaway.

The epic/origin launching is a mess. You have to have both open,
launch it from origin, then it goes and checks the epic client,
then opens it if you're lucky, it may take some retries, and
have to give it a couple minutes to launch.

It also took a good 5 minutes to load the campaign after I hit
play on it the first time, it was fine after that, though a
little slow loading in general.

- Justisaur

>Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)

I'll bump this one up the play list (for the campaign), thanks! Along
with titanfall 2 :)

rms

I still have my original retail Battlefront games. :O

Justisaur <justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:
> Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)
....
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On Fri, 3 Jun 2022 20:10:07 -0600, "rms" <rsquiresMOO@MOOflashMOO.net>
wrote:

>>Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)
>
> I'll bump this one up the play list (for the campaign), thanks! Along
>with titanfall 2 :)
>

I enjoyed the campaign, but more because of the setting than the
gameplay, which was... well, not awful, but it didn't really
memorable. The FPS bits were quite forgettable; the flight-sim bits
were far more enjoyable, although they were hampered by how limited
they felt (both in the scale of the maps and the capabilities of the
simulator. "Star Wars Squadrons" those missions are not).

The visuals were nice, though; I still think the Endor levels are the
current high-point for PC games graphics fidelity. All the
photogrammetery of the undergrowth really paid off.

Still, if you're not a Star Wars fan, I can't think of any reason to
play the game.

I should play "Titanfall 2" again, though. Overall I wasn't that
impressed with the game, but that time-warp level was something
else...

On Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:50:13 PM UTC-7, Ant wrote:
> I still have my original retail Battlefront games. :O
> Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)

I have the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) game on steam, never tried it.
I'm installing it now. Not the original one though.

The 2017 version kept telling me it was offline so I couldn't play
multiplayer this morning.

- Justisaur

On Sat, 4 Jun 2022 18:12:38 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:50:13 PM UTC-7, Ant wrote:
>> I still have my original retail Battlefront games. :O
>> Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)

>I have the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) game on steam, never tried it.
>I'm installing it now. Not the original one though.

I have a lot of fond memories of the original "Battlefront" games, but
I have to admit, I have a really hard time getting back into them. The
visuals definitely play a part in that; while the LucasArts
"Battlefronts" were never /ugly/ games when they were new, neither
were their graphics particularly impressive, and they haven't aged
well.

But they fact that they are multiplayer-focused titles is a more
serious issue; multiplayer is only really fun with friends, and nobody
I knows plays this oldie anymore (and, at least last time I looked,
the servers were pretty empty anyway, so even playing with randos was
a challenge). Plus, I just don't find that sort of gameplay all that
engaging anymore; even in 2005 I was tiring of it, and nowadays
running around like headless chickens shooting other people to
increment the scoreboard seems incredibly uninteresting to me. The
game did feature a nominal single-player, but it was essentially
offline multiplayer against bots, so not much better.

Still, I do have some fond memories; in particular, the space maps
(where you fly space-fighters to engage and/or board enemy capital
ships) were always a favorite. I may not be able to rekindle the magic
that made the games so memorable back then, but that doesn't negate
the enjoyment I got from the games back in 2005.

TL;DR: unless you have a crew waiting to play the game with you, or
have an overwhelming love for really old multiplayer games, don't
bother with the original Battlefronts. They were good for their time,
but there are better alternatives today (although not necessarily the
newer Battlefronts)

>The 2017 version kept telling me it was offline so I couldn't play
>multiplayer this morning.
>
Ah, the joys of not ever owning or having control of the software you
paid for. It's such a pleasure to be a modern gamer, isn't it? ;-)

On Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 10:56:35 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Sat, 4 Jun 2022 18:12:38 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:50:13 PM UTC-7, Ant wrote:
> >> I still have my original retail Battlefront games. :O
> >> Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)
>
> >I have the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) game on steam, never tried it.
> >I'm installing it now. Not the original one though.
> I have a lot of fond memories of the original "Battlefront" games, but
> I have to admit, I have a really hard time getting back into them. The
> visuals definitely play a part in that; while the LucasArts
> "Battlefronts" were never /ugly/ games when they were new, neither
> were their graphics particularly impressive, and they haven't aged
> well.

> But they fact that they are multiplayer-focused titles is a more
> serious issue; multiplayer is only really fun with friends, and nobody
> I knows plays this oldie anymore (and, at least last time I looked,
> the servers were pretty empty anyway, so even playing with randos was
> a challenge). Plus, I just don't find that sort of gameplay all that
> engaging anymore; even in 2005 I was tiring of it, and nowadays
> running around like headless chickens shooting other people to
> increment the scoreboard seems incredibly uninteresting to me. The
> game did feature a nominal single-player, but it was essentially
> offline multiplayer against bots, so not much better.
>
> Still, I do have some fond memories; in particular, the space maps
> (where you fly space-fighters to engage and/or board enemy capital
> ships) were always a favorite. I may not be able to rekindle the magic
> that made the games so memorable back then, but that doesn't negate
> the enjoyment I got from the games back in 2005.
>
> TL;DR: unless you have a crew waiting to play the game with you, or
> have an overwhelming love for really old multiplayer games, don't
> bother with the original Battlefronts. They were good for their time,
> but there are better alternatives today (although not necessarily the
> newer Battlefronts)
> >The 2017 version kept telling me it was offline so I couldn't play
> >multiplayer this morning.
> >
> Ah, the joys of not ever owning or having control of the software you
> paid for. It's such a pleasure to be a modern gamer, isn't it? ;-)

I had read the multiplayer was active. I did find one server with a
few people on it, but yeah the combat mostly consisted of me falling
off walkways and dying as they seemed to by slippery for some reason :(

I went through the tutorial and first 'campaign' mission, uninspired
is an understatement, mission objectives and 'story' were read like
the narrator was reading a shopping list.

The new one is far better. I played a bit more, I tried to get in a space
battle, but not enough people there and gave up after 5 minutes in the
que. I played a bit more 'first thing available' but it's starting to get a
bit repetitive. I need to try some more specific modes.

The server/connection issues continue as after that play I took a break
and tried to return and it kept telling me I was offline again. I also
found some in game achievements which it appears unlock some
weapons in multiplayer you have to be online to get and more than
half the campaign I played offline and didn't get the mission completed
achievements as it didn't seem to be important at the time to be
connected.

- Justisaur

On Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 3:50:36 PM UTC-7, Justisaur wrote:
> On Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 10:56:35 AM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> > On Sat, 4 Jun 2022 18:12:38 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
> > <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >On Friday, June 3, 2022 at 8:50:13 PM UTC-7, Ant wrote:
> > >> I still have my original retail Battlefront games. :O
> > >> Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> > Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017, EA)
> >
> > >I have the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005) game on steam, never tried it.
> > >I'm installing it now. Not the original one though.
> > I have a lot of fond memories of the original "Battlefront" games, but
> > I have to admit, I have a really hard time getting back into them. The
> > visuals definitely play a part in that; while the LucasArts
> > "Battlefronts" were never /ugly/ games when they were new, neither
> > were their graphics particularly impressive, and they haven't aged
> > well.
>
> > But they fact that they are multiplayer-focused titles is a more
> > serious issue; multiplayer is only really fun with friends, and nobody
> > I knows plays this oldie anymore (and, at least last time I looked,
> > the servers were pretty empty anyway, so even playing with randos was
> > a challenge). Plus, I just don't find that sort of gameplay all that
> > engaging anymore; even in 2005 I was tiring of it, and nowadays
> > running around like headless chickens shooting other people to
> > increment the scoreboard seems incredibly uninteresting to me. The
> > game did feature a nominal single-player, but it was essentially
> > offline multiplayer against bots, so not much better.
> >
> > Still, I do have some fond memories; in particular, the space maps
> > (where you fly space-fighters to engage and/or board enemy capital
> > ships) were always a favorite. I may not be able to rekindle the magic
> > that made the games so memorable back then, but that doesn't negate
> > the enjoyment I got from the games back in 2005.
> >
> > TL;DR: unless you have a crew waiting to play the game with you, or
> > have an overwhelming love for really old multiplayer games, don't
> > bother with the original Battlefronts. They were good for their time,
> > but there are better alternatives today (although not necessarily the
> > newer Battlefronts)
> > >The 2017 version kept telling me it was offline so I couldn't play
> > >multiplayer this morning.
> > >
> > Ah, the joys of not ever owning or having control of the software you
> > paid for. It's such a pleasure to be a modern gamer, isn't it? ;-)
> I had read the multiplayer was active. I did find one server with a
> few people on it, but yeah the combat mostly consisted of me falling
> off walkways and dying as they seemed to by slippery for some reason :(
>
> I went through the tutorial and first 'campaign' mission, uninspired
> is an understatement, mission objectives and 'story' were read like
> the narrator was reading a shopping list.
>
> The new one is far better. I played a bit more, I tried to get in a space
> battle, but not enough people there and gave up after 5 minutes in the
> que. I played a bit more 'first thing available' but it's starting to get a
> bit repetitive. I need to try some more specific modes.
>
> The server/connection issues continue as after that play I took a break
> and tried to return and it kept telling me I was offline again. I also
> found some in game achievements which it appears unlock some
> weapons in multiplayer you have to be online to get and more than
> half the campaign I played offline and didn't get the mission completed
> achievements as it didn't seem to be important at the time to be
> connected.

Updates on the 2017 version. I've still been playing it on and off.
I figured out for the sever issues just disconnecting and reconnecting
the wifi works (yeah, wifi sucks for gaming, but can't really get the cords
through to where my computer is)

The space mode seems to be pretty active on the weekends, it's just
the weekdays it seems dead. It's not anywhere near as fun fighting
other players in that as it was in the single player campaign though.

I haven't really got into the multiplayer pvp modes much as it's mostly
heroes, and those are mostly Jedi, which the vets are obviously far
better at. I just discovered yesterday that you can parry, there was
nothing about that in the tutorials or the hints that I can remember.
It also doesn't really look like a parry (or I just can't follow the lightsaber
fights) I only found out because someone on one of the forums
mentioned it.

I also have no idea how you reflect blasters. I'm not sure if it just
happens when you block or you have to aim or do something else.

I found the campaign stuff achievements is just small credit rewards,
which apparently there's nothing to spend them on now. I did get a
pose for Palpatine from the arcade mode, but whatever. You don't
actually get abilities or weapons for the achievements, like I said
above.

The last couple days I've been having an issue in co-op where it tosses
me in a game that only has a few seconds left, and it takes a couple
minutes to join a game. At least 3 or 4 games in a row now.

Another bug I've been encountering is it quits letting me sprint in
co-op somewhere in the middle of the scenario.

It's a fun game, but boy is it buggy/ bad QoL with stuff like that, I
can see why they ended up giving it away. It's too bad, as it's
the most fun SW game I've played in a long time.

Also Epic doesn't seem to remember that I've played it, and any time
I do I have to go down my now huge list of games to find it, and it
takes a couple minutes to load the full list. It's not my computer as steam
& gog don't have that issue.

- Justisaur

Justisaur <justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:
>Also Epic doesn't seem to remember that I've played it, and any time
>I do I have to go down my now huge list of games to find it, and it
>takes a couple minutes to load the full list. It's not my computer as steam
>& gog don't have that issue.

Unfortunately, the Epic Game Store client is implemented as a bloated
app, so it's absurdly slow. Well, ok, so is the Steam client these days,
and GOG Galaxy too, but Valve and GOG actually care about their users.

You might want to make a shortcut for the game so you don't have to
launch it from the client. Click the ... next to the game, and after
waiting only a few seconds for it to render, a menu should appear with a
"Create a shortcut" option.

--
l/ // Ross Ridge -- The Great HTMU
[oo][oo] rridge@csclub.uwaterloo.ca
-()-/()/ http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca:11068/
db //

On Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 6:26:03 PM UTC-7, Ross Ridge wrote:
> Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Also Epic doesn't seem to remember that I've played it, and any time
> >I do I have to go down my now huge list of games to find it, and it
> >takes a couple minutes to load the full list. It's not my computer as steam
> >& gog don't have that issue.
> Unfortunately, the Epic Game Store client is implemented as a bloated
> app, so it's absurdly slow. Well, ok, so is the Steam client these days,
> and GOG Galaxy too, but Valve and GOG actually care about their users.
>
> You might want to make a shortcut for the game so you don't have to
> launch it from the client. Click the ... next to the game, and after
> waiting only a few seconds for it to render, a menu should appear with a
> "Create a shortcut" option.

*Facepalm* I already have one, I don't know why I never thought to use it.
Or did I? Getting old I guess. I'll try it next time I have a hankering.

Today I tried to play again, and it just chucked me out of the scenario, so
I gave up again.

- Justisaur