As I stated in my review of the download mini-game, EA's Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a great looking game that really makes you feel like you're running around in the Star Wars universe. They get the little details right, like the smoke that plumes up from stray blaster fire hitting a wall looking like 1970's Hollywood special effects rather than ultra-realistic (yet unsatisfying) CGI. But you can't give an honest account of this game without addressing the controversy.
To experience multiplayer to it's full extent, you need to pay considerably more than the initial $60 asking price. Enough has been written about this already to consider the topic thoroughly covered, but in case you haven't heard- or if you're future people reading articles from a Detroit journalist from the early 21st century- EA tried to be a sneaky Susan and make loot crates a major part of their multiplayer experience. It was called out as the shady practice it is by the players, and the game has suffered as a result.
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Here's my secret though: I have never liked multiplayer. Unlike Dane Kelly, who has spent more time cracking heads in multiplayer than I have telling him how to bet on ponies, I totally ignore the multiplayer aspect of a game unless I'm reviewing it for ClickOnDetroit. So when the multiplayer experience was less-than-stellar I didn't care, and I was pumped that the single player campaign actually existed, unlike it's predecessor. I also feel that, while criticism is fair for the game's flaws, there's not enough praise being given for the decision by EA to include a single player campaign that has so much love put into it.
The single player campaign is amazing. Iden Versio is a great addition to the canon of Star Wars, her story is fascinating to watch unfold, and each level felt alive from the top quality design. The Downside is the same as with any game that puts a priority on catering to the multiplayer crowd; the single player campaign is extremely short. So if this is a game that should be judged on it's multiplayer experience, don't buy it. If, like me, you like or dislike a game based on it's single-player playability, then I say it's a matter of how much you value your money.
At roughly 6 hours of story in the campaign, that's $10 per hour of entertainment. Actually not a bad deal. It's right on the edge of the dollars-spent-to-entertainment-received ratio I normally would recommend, but it gets there.
We have a multiplayer focused game that's best aspect is it's single player campaign. That campaign is very fun but far too short. The last twist is that EA is combating all of this, lower the necessity of loot crates and adding free DLC that adds a whole new campaign.
It's hard to say who will appreciate this game and who will find it frustrating. A good way to be safe is to wait for it to go on sale. But I don't play it safe, my friends. I live dangerously. I boought this game full price, and ya know what? I loved it! I regret nothing! Multiplayer is garbage and Iden Versio rules! Gattica! Gattica!