Star Wars Battlefront II will be released this fall, taking players back to
the battlegrounds of the Star Wars universe. A lot of new features are
in store for Battlefront fans - including space-based combat - and we were
able to ask some questions of Eric “Giz” Gewirtz, Director at Pandemic Studios
to find out just what they will be...
How will players get to play as one of the Jedi characters?
The Jedi in Star Wars Battlefront II are unlocked for accomplishing a particular
goal. In multiplayer, the host determines the rules for unlocking the Jedi for
each side (e.g., the first player to reach 25 kills gets to be the Jedi). In
single player, the use of the Jedi is tied to the story and actions of the
player. For example, in the first mission, the player must take out the anti-air
turrets preventing Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi from landing on the planet. Once
that’s accomplished, the player can play as Ki-Adi-Mundi. In both single- and
multiplayer, the amount of time you get to play as the Jedi depends on your
skill. Each Jedi has a ‘hero bar’ that is constantly dwindling. Once the bar is
depleted, you go back to being a regular soldier. By killing enemies, deflecting
blaster fire, and avoiding damage, you can increase your hero bar and be the
Jedi for longer. This is designed to reward players who get really good at being
a Jedi.
Is each Jedi unique to a game? That is, will the Rebels ever have to face a
legion of Darth Vaders?
Heroes are both unique to each match, as well as each map. What I mean is, for
example, in Mos Eisley, if you are playing the Rebels versus the Empire, only
one player can be Darth Vader for the Empire, and only one player can be Han
Solo for the Rebels. But on Dagobah, the Republic team can unlock Yoda, while
the Separatists can unlock Darth Maul. The exception to the rule is our bonus
map we internally call “celebrity free-for-all,” where everyone is a hero. In
that match you can have an army of Darth Vaders fighting an army of Yodas (Yodi?).
How many different Jedi are in the game? Do they each have unique attacks or
powers?
There are 17 different heroes in the game. We tried to make each one feel and
look unique, so we gave them all different attacks, combinations, and varied
Force powers. For example, Obi-Wan is more fluid and fast, with quick one-handed
lightsaber combos and Force push, as well as a lightsaber throw. General
Grievous has more powerful, longer range, FOUR LIGHTSABER attacks, but is slower
and does not have Force powers.
Will there be non-Jedi famous faces in the game? Say, … Han Solo?
Yup…and Boba Fett…and Jango Fett…and Princess Leia…and Chewbacca…and…
How is play balanced so that the non-Jedi players stand a chance?
As mentioned above, Jedi are only on the field for a limited time, and they do
take damage. Especially if you hit them in the back or from a vehicle, where
they can’t deflect with their lightsabers, they can be killed (Episode III
showed us that). It won’t be easy, but there is nothing more satisfying in the
game than reading the message “You have driven Darth Vader from the battlefield”
(except for maybe doing it as Luke Skywalker).
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