"Star Wars Battlefront II" is set to be released on November 17. As with most multiplayer based games, a beta has been made available for the public to try out and was set to end on October 9. EA has announced that players could still experience the game for a few more days, as they extended the beta period until Wednesday.
Game Modes
A follow-up to the multiplayer only reboot of the series released in 2015, EA DICE has made four different modes available for "Star Wars Battlefront II's" beta. One of the game types included is Galactic Assault, which allows players to take part in a massive 20 vs 20 battle set on Theed, the capital city of Naboo.
This mode is actually a great deal of fun.
Starfighter Assault takes the fighting to space, as players experience the "Star Wars" universe from behind a cockpit. Some of the most impressive and jaw-dropping visuals can be found in this game mode.
Strike is considerably smaller in scale than the previous two modes, offering team-based missions with clear-cut objectives.The one included in the beta sees the Rebels defending Maz Kanata's castle from The First Order's invading forces.
The last and least exciting is Arcade mode, a sort of tutorial which can be experienced solo or co-oped with a friend. There are a few different challenges to cover, but it is best used as a way to try out new weapons before diving into multiplayer.
Controversy
While "Star Wars Battlefront II's" game-play has largely been praised, EA has received some backlash for the progression system implemented in the game. Loot boxes are needed to unlock new weapons or crafting material, which can be opened by using in-game currency. They are completely randomized, meaning it can take forever to actually receive the materials that you want.
As this is the only method to receive items in the beta, players can either spend real life money to purchase the best weapons or grind for dozens of hours.
"Middle Earth: Shadow of War" received a lot of criticism for the way Warner Bros. locked away parts of the game behind loot boxes, and "Star Wars Battlefront II" seems to have followed suit.
Randomized loot is addictive and can be a lot of fun, but to lock the entire progression system behind it is bound to lead to frustration. There is no way to know how long it will take to receive the desired upgrades, leading to a pay-to-win situation where players who spend real life money will automatically be at an advantage.
