Battlefront 2 Features Playable Darth Vader

Screen Rant

Darth Vader is Playable (& Customizable) in Battlefront 2

By Amanda Hayman

Published Oct 10, 2017

Players will be able to get a taste of the dark side of the Force as Darth Vader becomes a playable character in Star Wars: Battlefront II.

Players will be able to get a taste of the dark side of the Force as Darth Vader becomes a playable character in Battlefront II. The upcoming EA video game is a sequel to the 2015 reboot of the series, which received mixed reviews from gamers criticizing the game’s lack of a single-player story mode and immersion.

Battlefront II hopes to remedy that with the addition of protagonist, Iden Versio, leader of an Imperial Special Forces group known as Inferno Squad and the focus of the single-player story mode, which takes place after the explosion of the Death Star over Endor. Unlike its predecessor, the game also features playable heroes and villains from all the Star Wars eras including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey, Boba Fett, Darth Maul, Palpatine and more, pleasing fans who enjoy all eras of the galaxy far, far away.

In a new post on the PlayStation Blog, more details have been revealed about one playable character that is sure to make fans pleased – Darth Vader. The Sith Lord, who serves as the main villain in the original trilogy and the tragic figure in the prequels, is one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars universe and is ready to come to your Xbox One, PS4 and PC when the game hits stores November 17. Here are some of the descriptions of Vader’s vast array of powers in the game:

"Anger fuels the dark side of the Force, and Vader’s rage is nearly boundless. By drawing from his potent fury, Vader can periodically increase both his durability and his damage output, becoming stronger as a battle unfolds. Vader is always dangerous, but when he calls upon his anger, he is nearly unstoppable.

Vader can also attack at range with his lightsaber with a powerful throw, sending the red blade of energy scything through enemy ranks and then returning it to his hand. This allows him to make potent strikes at a distance.

And of course, Darth Vader wields his iconic Force choke, punishing his enemies with a telekinetic attack that lifts them off the ground as it weakens them. The crushing grip of the Sith Lord holds victims in the air, then drops his enemies at a place of his choosing (like a nearby cliff)."

Another interesting aspect of Vader players will be able to explore is his customization through the use of Star Cards to suit their play style, giving them various options when it comes to how Vader can cut down his enemies. It's a huge step forward for the Battlefront franchise considering in their last installment you were only able to Force choke, saber throw and use his heavy attack. The idea of Vader's anger being a part of his combat style shows that EA is giving the characters more story, personality, emotion (or, lack of), which was one aspect of 2015's Battlefront that many players were missing from the game.

It's also going to be interesting to see how Vader will be utilized in the game. We know that the single-player story mode takes places after the Battle of Endor and the explosion of the Death Star, where Vader met his demise and was able to let go of his hate in order to save his son Luke Skywalker, and ends at the destruction of Starkiller Base, roughly a 30-year time span between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. So there's a high chance Vader will not be featured in the single-player story mode unless featured in a flashback, but fans will certainly be able to play as the Sith Lord in multiplayer.