Opportunities really don't come much bigger than this. In the run-up to Disney's revival of the Star Wars movies this December - although, after the flat-lining prequels, the term resuscitation might be more apt - everything that's graced by the fizzing glow of a lightsaber is destined to turn to gold. Star Wars Battlefront, the first fruit of a partnership between Disney and EA that's set to span 10 years, is shooting to be one of the big beneficiaries of this, riding on the cyclonic uplift of hype swirling around the release of The Force Awakens.
Just as JJ Abrams' new film looks set to, Battlefront leans on a lavish budget and equally generous servings of nostalgia to create an irresistible mix. There's not a Gungan in sight, and not a word of midichlorians; Battlefront keeps its focus firmly on the original trilogy, handling all the series' big icons like revered toys. It's a delicious set-up, realised with enough authenticity to transport you back to your childhood and to a cramped bedroom floor as you disperse a flock of TIE Fighters with the Millennium Falcon, or send a mob of stormtroopers scattering like bowling pins with Luke Skywalker's lightsabre.
Swedish developer DICE's achievements with its own Frostbite engine can't be overstated; Star Wars Battlefront is a high watermark in terms of visuals, and the studio's established audio excellence has found an exquisite match in Star Wars' original sound designer Ben Burtt's fizzing lasers, honking droids and roaring star fighters. When it all comes together, it's nothing short of astounding. The planet of Hoth is dusted with a pure white snow that crunches under a stormtrooper's foot, while the rocks of Tattooine bask in impossible desert heat. Endor is the real prize, though, its swaying ferns and towering pinewoods as incredible a sight as the current generation of consoles have mustered to date. The detail's so rich you can feel your lungs filling with air that carries the taste of laser-burned bark.
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