Page 42 - Star Wars Insider #177

INTERVIEW

from The Last Jedi available after 01 This time the Star Wars hero is not just about Players also use Force powers
story is from
the movie comes out later this the iconic characters, it’s also as Rey, who has the ability to
an Imperial
year. Galactic Assault missions point-of-view the fact that you can be heroic mind trick enemies and detect
send players on multi-stage (right). as a trooper,” Webster said. “We characters from a distance with
battles in locations such as the have a great variety of heroes her Force Insight.
02 Yoda versus
grand palace in Theed on Naboo. Maul? Oh to match different peoples’ Between troopers and heroes
“Galactic Assault is there for yes... (right). motivations for play, with a great in the Battlefront II hierarchy
us to really represent epic Star 03 Meet Iden deal of accessibility for fans.” come special characters, which
Wars battles,” Webster said. Versio: hero Players can earn Battle Points have some unique abilities
of the Empire.
“It’s inspired by what we had as troopers, which will allow and are able to hold their own
(right).
with Walker Assault in the fi rst them to upgrade to vehicles against troopers without being
game, [which included] two 20 04 The second or hero characters. Webster quite as dramatically powerful as
Death Star
player armies. In this case, we’ve explained that this system is a heroes like Rey. Special characters
is destroyed,
got droid armies assaulting the leaving the carefully considered change allow players to change up how
palace at Theed with huge battle Empire reeling from the previous Battlefront they play and potentially break
(right).
tanks while the clone troopers videogame’s Hero Tokens. stalemates or turn the tide of
try to hold them at bay.” 05 Experience “That was really accessible an engagement in their favor.
stunning
Players can choose to play as and pretty well understood.
action across
four different classes of trooper every Star But to many people, it was a Starfi ghter Combat
characters: Assault, Heavy, Wars era brief experience for the lucky Space combat in the Starfi ghter
(right).
Officer, and Specialist. Assault few,” Webster said. “We wanted Assault mode is near and dear

characters are highly mobile 06 Fast-paced to increase the amount of to Criterion, since the company
and tough, perfect for up-close starfighter opportunities we give players to worked on both the speeder
combat is
combat, while Heavy troopers a core part play in a few different ways, but bikes for Star Wars Battlefront
sacrifice mobility for stronger of the game also link it to performance. So, and the Star Wars Battlefront

(right).
shields and massive fi repower. everything you do in the game Rogue One: X-wing VR Mission

The Officers provide support earns you Battle Points. If you’re for PlayStation VR. Criterion
and can generate turrets and playing the objective, if you’re also has a lot of experience in
buff other players on their team. beating enemies, all of that will working on racing games with a
The Specialist class includes give you Battle Points. And at more earthly setting.
the ability to use sniper rifl es a certain Battle Point threshold, “There’s not an obvious
as well as trickery such as trip you can spawn in with one through-line from our previous
mines and Scramble Infi ltration, of our starfi ghters, special history in cars to a starfi ghter,
which reveals the opposing team characters or heroes.” but actually one thing we hold
around them while scrambling This leads to the ability incredibly dear is what we call
enemy scanners. Troopers for players to strategize exactly game feel, and that is how
can also be customized using how and when they want to use player intention through the
Star Cards that add additional their Battle Points and when game expresses itself on screen,”
abilities and weapons. to switch between characters, Webster said. “It just so happens
Battlefront II includes iconic creating their own Star Wars that’s always been manifested in
heroes from all three Star Wars journey. The new system is also a vehicle, in a car. But actually,
eras, which can be unlocked intended to prevent players from in the fi rst Star Wars Battlefront,
to add abilities like lightsaber using heroes to the detriment of we did the speeder section and
strikes or Force throws. “What the overall experience. gave them a nice feel and speed.

distinguishes it from the last “We found in the last game That was the first time we did
game is that wanting to be a people would camp out in areas a non-wheeled vehicle, but the
they knew Hero Tokens were principles remain the same: we
coming out,” Webster said. “We care about how it feels to the
“we HAVE A GREAT VARIETY OF wanted it to be a more frequent player. When we think about

starfighters, we think about the
experience for players to come in
HEROES to MATCH DIFFERENT as a hero, and also more tactical.” same sort of message. What is
Webster said that his favorite
the player’s fantasy? How can
PEOPLE’S MOTIVATIONS FOR hero character so far is Darth they really show their intentions

through flying the starfi ghter?
Maul. In Battlefront II, Maul
PLAY, WITH A GREAT DEAL OF is a fast, agile character who So, there’s actually a lot of
similarities between the two
can quickly close the distance
ACCESSIBILITY FOR FANS.” between himself and his enemies types of vehicle.”
and use attacks like Spin Attack, Considering George Lucas’
matt webster Furious Throw, or Choke Hold. love of racing and cars, the

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