REVIEW - Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection does what it needs to do, but lacks ambition
Ticking the necessary boxes.
By Jonathan Garrett
25/03/24
Reviewed on Xbox Series X.
Review copy provided by Aspyr.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection was never pitched as some elaborate remaster or a from the ground up remake. It was always intended to be a modern re-release of the games in their original form, but formatted to work online with all current gen platforms. In that sense, Aspyr have delivered on their initial pitch, and without any particular flourishes, both Battlefront 1 and 2 are functionally complete.
But is nostalgia enough? It’s a tricky premise to address, and there’s no clear answer. Adhering so strictly to a sense of authenticity does to a certain degree guarantee that those looking for the convenience of playing two well regarded titles on their console of choice is now technically possible. From a game preservation standpoint, it’s an effective way to preserve that experience.
The familiar soundtrack, fiercely accurate character designs, and overall gameplay feel haven’t been meddled with. The inclusion of 64 player online multiplayer is also an important win, and for the most part, seems to be running well. But age has not been kind to the game from a mechanical perspective, and the surprising lack of official server support is worrying for a license this potent.
There is a frustrating stiffness to movement and aiming that doesn’t lend itself well to modern displays and controller design. So while the pursuit of bringing the game as it stands onto contemporary platforms is a noble one, the lack of any meaningful tweaks is baffling. Subsequent reports of uncredited mods being incorporated without permission does little to convince that this has been handled appropriately.
What we’re left with is a collection of two games that are about as divisive as can be. Any die hard fans of the original releases will be chuffed that their beloved retro experiences have been brought forward, but for those looking for something beyond rose tinted glasses, Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection isn’t convincing or ambitious enough to be fairly deemed a genuine success.
I can aim about as well as a stormtrooper.
WORTH IT?
At the bottom of every game review, we ask the question: Worth it? And the answer is either “Yeah!” or “Nah”, followed by a comment that sums up how we feel. In order to provide more information, we also have “And” or “But”, which follows up our rating with further clarification, additional context for a game we love, or perhaps a redeeming quality for a game we didn’t like.
NAH.
Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is too bare bones and functionally dated to recommend.
BUT
If you’re just looking to play these older titles on modern hardware, the original experience is preserved.
TARPS?
At the bottom of some of our articles, you’ll see a series of absurd looking images (with equally stupid, in joke laden names). These are the TARP badges, which represent our ‘Totally Accurate Rating Platform’. They allow us to identify specific things, recognise positive or negative aspects of a games design, and generally indulge our consistent silliness with some visual tomfoolery.
