Revolutionizing Hero Selection: The Must-Have Change for the Next Star Wars Battlefront

The Star Wars Battlefront franchise flawlessly embodies the epic battle fantasies of the science-fiction saga, pitting opposing political allegiances against each other in iconic settings. It offers the exhilarating opportunity for fans to truly immerse themselves as ground troops, whether they choose to fight for the Rebellion or the Empire, as they courageously charge into a barrage of laser fire. However, one of the most enticing aspects of the game is undoubtedly the ability for fans to embody legendary characters such as Darth Maul or Yoda.

While wielding lightsabers, these iconic characters primarily engage in hack-and-slash combat accompanied by devastating area-of-effect Force abilities. Despite this simplistic gameplay mechanic, the allure of assuming the role of a hero or villain and contributing to the team's swift domination through impressive killstreaks cannot be denied. While certain modes allow players to freely select their favorite characters, it would be refreshing to see a potential third installment of Star Wars Battlefront introduce a new approach to how heroes and villains are chosen, especially in traditional multiplayer modes like Galactic Assault.

Star Wars Battlefront (2015) Had RNG Hero Pickups

The 2015 reboot of Star Wars Battlefront brought a significant improvement in graphics and set the artistic direction for its sequel just two years later. The roster of heroes and villains featured beloved characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, while DLC introduced Jyn Erso from Rogue One and Director Orson Krennic.

To play as one of these iconic characters in a regular match, fans simply had to locate a hero pickup on the map, which appeared similar to any other blue pickup. Interacting with the pickup would then lead players to a hero or villain selection screen based on their chosen allegiance for that match. This meant that the opportunity to play as a hero or villain relied mostly on luck, as it was necessary to find a pickup before someone else.

This is beneficial for casual Star Wars Battlefront players; however, it is also disappointing because it lacks a sense of achievement and there are no reliable means to guarantee that fans will have the opportunity to play as a hero or villain unless they are diligently searching for known spawn points. Similarly, if players are unfamiliar with a specific hero or villain and lack experience with them, their gameplay as Lando Calrissian or Boba Fett may be incredibly short-lived, making the random hero pickups even more monotonous.

Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) Locked Heroes Behind Battle Points Mid-Match

The approach to hero and villain selection in Star Wars Battlefront 2 was different. Instead of directly choosing them, players earned battle points during the match. They could then utilize these points to access various options such as reinforcement characters, vehicle pilots, heroes, or villains. Each of these options had their own assigned battle point costs.

Fans who wish to play as characters like Count Dooku or Rey must demonstrate their skill and strategic thinking to earn the necessary amount of battle points. The idea behind purchasing the privilege to play as a hero or villain is that it should be earned, indicating that those who seize this opportunity have proven their proficiency on the battlefield and therefore deserve the chance to embody a legendary character.

However, the flaw in this approach becomes most evident when considering the existence of easier methods to rapidly accumulate battle points. Players could simply choose the Officer class and instantly gain points by providing buffs to their teammates, or opt for a cheaper vehicle to effortlessly eliminate opponents who have no means to counter.

In addition, even if enough battle points are accumulated, fans often faced the inconvenience of waiting on the selection screen only to find that their desired heroes or villains were already chosen. This highlighted the possibility that there may not always be an available option despite the player's efforts. Star Wars Battlefront should explore a fresh approach to this mid-match selection dilemma, possibly combining the elements of random chance (RNG) and earned battle points. However, it is worth noting that these existing methods are not foolproof, and it would be unexpected if a third installment in the series were to adopt either of them.