Star Wars: Battle Front II TV Commercial 1 for PlayStation 2 & Xbox - PS2 - 2005

Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
Release Date: November 1, 2005 (North America), October 31, 2005 (Europe).

Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable (PSP). No SNES version exists due to hardware limitations.

Developer/Publisher: Developed by Pandemic Studios, published by LucasArts.

Gameplay:
Genre: First/third-person shooter set in the Star Wars universe.

Features large-scale battles (up to 24 players in multiplayer) across iconic locations like Hoth, Endor, and Naboo.

Players choose factions (e.g., Galactic Republic, Separatists, Empire, Rebels) and classes (e.g., soldier, sniper, engineer).

Includes ground combat, vehicle use (AT-STs, speeder bikes), and space battles (new for the series, with dogfights in X-wings, TIE Fighters).

Unique “Hero” system lets players unlock Jedi, Sith, or iconic characters (e.g., Darth Vader, Yoda) after earning points in battle.

Modes: Conquest (capture command posts), Capture the Flag, Hunt, and Hero Assault. Single-player includes a campaign with story-driven missions.
Story:
Single-player campaign follows the 501st Legion, an elite Imperial clone/stormtrooper unit, through key Star Wars events from the Clone Wars (Episode II-III) to the Galactic Civil War (Episode IV-VI).

Narrated via a clone trooper’s journal, covering missions like the Battle of Geonosis, Order 66, and the attack on Hoth.

Ties into Revenge of the Sith (released 2005), with a focus on the Empire’s rise.
Graphics and Sound:
Built on an updated version of the original Battlefront engine, offering improved textures, lighting, and character models for 2005.

Iconic Star Wars sound design with John Williams’ score, authentic blaster sounds, and voice acting for characters like Darth Maul and Luke Skywalker.

Space battles featured detailed ship models and dynamic environments (e.g., asteroid fields, capital ship hangars).
Reception:
Critically praised, scoring ~84/100 on Metacritic (PS2/Xbox). Lauded for improved multiplayer, space battles, and Star Wars authenticity.

Criticisms included a short campaign and occasional AI issues.

Won awards like IGN’s “Best Online Game” for PS2 (2005).

Considered a fan-favorite, often cited as one of the best Star Wars games.
Multiplayer:
Online multiplayer (via GameSpy for PC, Xbox Live for Xbox) supported up to 24 players, with dedicated servers for PC.

Local co-op and split-screen modes available.

Online servers shut down in 2014, but PC modding communities (e.g., Steam/GOG versions) restored multiplayer.
Expansions and Legacy:
No formal expansions, but PSP version included exclusive modes like “Challenge.”

Modding community kept the game alive with custom maps, heroes, and factions (e.g., Battlefront: Ultimate Edition mods).

Followed by EA’s rebooted Star Wars Battlefront series (2015, 2017), but the 2005 game remains a classic for its era.

Re-released on modern platforms (e.g., Steam, GOG) with restored multiplayer as of 2017.
System Requirements (2005 PC):
Minimum: 1.5 GHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 64 MB GPU (GeForce 3/Radeon 8500), 4.3 GB HDD.

Recommended: 2.8 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB GPU (GeForce 6600/Radeon 9800).