Star Wars Battlefront

Love, loathe or feel totally indifferent about Jedis and Stormtroopers, there will be no avoiding the Force when the cinematic phenomenon that is Star Wars rolls out a fresh instalment in a few short weeks. The latest in a long, long line of Star Wars videogames doesn’t capitalise on the new source material and instead focuses on the universe of the original three films.

You’ll reenact the icy Hoth battles from The Empire Strikes Back, creep through the dense foliage of the Ewok-infested Endor forest, and kick sand in the face of naughty imperial scum on Tatooine.

We’re in the world of first (or third) person shooters. There’s no story to speak of, just a host of game scenarios to play through as up to 40 players shoot it out in 20-a-side multiplayer battles that are as visually breathtaking as they are edge-of-seat immersive.  

Aerial dogfights between X-Wings and Tie Fighters? Check. Light sabre battles with "hero" characters that can be unlocked from battlefield pick-ups? Check. Bringing down a gigantic Trojan horse-style AT-AT by tripping it up with a Snowspeeder grapple cable? Priceless. And that’s before we even mention the sound; from the unmistakable bark of laser fire to the rousing John Willams orchestral score, this game drips Star Wars atmosphere like it was forged by Yoda himself.

Playing offline? You’ll be bored in no time. With no story and thus no context, you’re limited to training scenarios and standalone battles that can be played split-screen with a friend. This is a game to be only really enjoyed online. And while it could be argued that there’s a shallowness that will be detrimental to longevity, this slice of classic Star Wars action is benchmark spectacle gaming.

• Star Wars Battlefront (EA) is out now on Xbox One, PS4 and PC
• Read more gaming reviews on theartsdesk
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reviewed on theartsdesk