The main opening screen has the BF2 logo, as well as the logos of the Alliance and Empire. Each logo shows movie clips of that particular group. The picture shows Luke on Dagobah and Jabba. Other clips include Battle of Yavin, Battle of Hoth, Battle of Endor, and the Star Destroyer capturing the Tantive IV.


Since this is an Online Beta, the only thing we can do is log on to the servers. Luckily the connection was working today, and away we went to the above screen, the game room selection. Unfortunately, I think there were about 5 other people total online, so I was basically playing against the CPU all night. The beta consists of three levels - Utapau (CIS vs. Republic), Tantive IV (Empire vs. Rebellion), and a Space Dogfight over Kashyyk (CIS vs. Republic). Unfortunately, there were no Space battles available tonight, but I was able to play one a few weeks ago. For now, let's go to the Tantive.


The loading screen while waiting to get into a game.


When you first start out, you need to choose your side, either the Empire or the Rebellion. I first chose the Empire. Their troops consist of a Stormtrooper, Sandtrooper, Biker Scout, Imperial Officer, Death Star Trooper (the ones that fire the laser beam), and a Darktrooper. Each hold the same weapons they did in BF1, with Pilots being replaced by DS Troopers and Bothan Spies. The Pilots are playable in space battles though.






The controls are pretty much the same as BF1, and I'm glad. The controls were easy to follow and use, so I'm glad to see no major changes like other companies do with their sequels. The levels are HUGE! You can go anywhere in the Tantive, from the engine room, to the escape pod hallway, to the meeting room in ROTS where Obi-Wan, Bail Organa, and Yoda discuss the future of the twins. It's amazing to look at and very movie accurate, at least the parts we've seen on screen. After a while, I got bored with the Empire and did some rebelling.






The Rebel troops consist of two Rebel Fleet Troopers (one as a basic grunt, one as a heavy weapons troop), a Wookiee Warrior, a Smuggler, and a Bothan Spy. Their weapons are the same as in BF1 also. After some short fighting, I decided to go to Utapau.


A Smuggler views a table that I swear I've seen somewhere before.


The Smugger searches for R2-D2 and the stolen plans - TRAITOR!


On arrival into a Utapau game, you are again asked to choose whether you want to play for the CIS or the Republic. I chose the CIS at first.




CIS soldiers include a Super Battle Droid, Battle Droid, Red Battle Droid (not the kind from Geonosis), Destroyer Droid, and a Magnaguard. Again, the weapons are the same as in BF1.


On Utapau, there are two available vehicles to drive, an AT-RT and a Tank Droid. Both are no different from driving a vehicle in BF1, and it's fun to mow down troops with one of them. Onto the Clones...








As you can see, fans of Clones will not be disappointed. We have 6 different types of Clones here. 501st Clone, 501st Jetpack Clone (with a green visor similar to Commander Gree), an all white Commander Bacarra, a Commander Bacarra grunt (early Snowtrooper), a trooper with a Commander Faie helmet, and one last Clone I don't recognize (he's in the second pic). If you've read this far, you'll know that each Clone's weapons are the same as in BF1, so I don't have to tell you that they are. Wait a second...


Faie observes a quarter of the gigantic Utapau level.


A close up of the Tank Droid.

If you do really well, you get asked to play as a Hero character. Accept, and you can play as either Obi-Wan or General Grievous, depending on which side you chose. Hero characters are awesome, and they mow down troops with their lightsabers. There is no defense, however, and once you're dead, you're dead, and you'll have to work your way back up to play as a Hero again.



Space battles are very fun as well. My God, where to begin? Everyone starts off in the hangar of their side's ship. This was Republic vs. CIS, so it was the Invisible Hand vs. a Star Destroyer. There's also a IGBC ship flying around, but it doesn't do anything.

Now in the CIS docking bay are 2 Tri-Fighters and 2 Droid Starships. Republic has Obi-Wan's and Anakin's Jedi Starfighters (from the Battle of Coruscant), an ARC fighter, and a V-Wing. If you can't get to a ship, you can go and control a turret and try and blast the ships. This is rather boring though. Now, in the starfighters, you have to go inside the enemy's ship and land. After landing, you have to go in and destroy the defense shield. This is something like destroying the Endor shield generator in BF1. Luckily grenades are more powerful here. This shuts down all of the turrets. THEN, you have to go in and destroy the power core. Again, this is like the Endor generator in BF1. After you blow it up, you win.

Overall, the Beta is great, and I hope that the full version is even better. If you were a fan of BF1, start saving your pennies. This game will be great!