Fans of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 often compare the original 2005 release to that of the 2017 Electronic Arts and DICE version, but the release of the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Remastered mod might change how players feel about the two games. When Star Wars: Battlefront 2 was initially released, it was very well received and is considered a classic game to many. It combined a solid single-player campaign that had many great Star Wars gaming moments with exciting multiplayer game modes. The EA version of Battlefront 2 wasn't well received at launch, as despite its stunning visuals, there were issues with the way gameplay worked, the progression system, and other missteps that were eventually changed post-launch. Perhaps because of this the 2005 release of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 has maintained a state of popularity and with the Remastered mod offering to bring it up to date it may have made the EA version of Battlefront 2 meaningless.
The EA version of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 has gained respect for its post-launch support, which addressed some of the critiques that fans and critics had of the initial release (even though support ending resulted in Battlefront 2's cut content), as well as addressing issues with the first reboot game. The progression system of the EA version drew complaints at first for being overly reliant on the randomness of its loot box reward system; after copious amounts of backlash, this was tweaked post-launch to be less reliant on random luck, and feel more structured and achievable while also removing some feelings that it was pay-to-win. The 2005 version of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 didn't have as many progression-based unlocks, which seems to be something fans of the series prefer.
The original also included an almost board game-esque Battlefront 2 game mode called Galactic Conquest, where players would maneuver their fleets to capture planets through space and planet side battles, allocating unique resources for fights to help in the ultimate goal of claiming the whole board. Galactic Conquest wasn't present in EA's rendition of the game, which was a disappointment to fans of the original. Players of the 2005 Battlefront 2 had a fun, incredibly in-depth campaign that followed the 501st Legion through the end of the Clone Wars and into the rise of the Galactic Empire. Initially, the first EA-published Star Wars: Battlefront didn't have a solo campaign, instead focusing on a variety of multiplayer modes. EA's Battlefront 2 is important to Star Wars' timeline, and didn't disappoint with its solo campaign, which followed a member of the Empire's Inferno Squad and featured a compelling narrative bolstered by beautiful pre-rendered cutscenes. The most obvious difference between the two, however, are their visuals - a gap that the Battlefront 2 Remaster mod created by Harrisonfog on Mod DB is hoping to close.
Graphical Differences Between Battlefront 2's Two Versions
Possibly the biggest (and most noticeable) difference between the 2005 release of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and the EA version is the graphics. When Star Wars: Battlefront 2 was released in 2005, it had graphics that were good for its time, and on top of that, the graphics were a big step up from the graphics of the original Star Wars: Battlefront, which had been released only a year earlier.
Almost a decade later, the EA rendition of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 boasts impressive graphics, motion-captured scenes, and smooth gameplay even slightly dated hardware, thanks to the Frostbite game engine that the developers utilized in the creation of the game. For many players, the graphical difference was a significant part of why they would play the EA version instead of the 2005 release. With such a graphical superiority it was difficult to keep playing what was by comparison an ugly looking game.
The Battlefront 2 Remaster Mod Greatly Improves The Graphics
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Remaster is an ambitious mod project (separate from the 8K ray tracing mod for EA's first Battlefront) from mod developer Harrisonfog that aims to further the lifespan of 2005's Battlefront 2 by remastering and updating gameplay, as well as introducing new features. The mod started as just a graphical update that aimed to create an HD version of the original game so that it would be more palatable on newer hardware that could handle better graphics than the systems in 2005. From there, the mod expanded its scope to include remakes of all the original maps as well as a planned ten additional new maps that would cover more known locations in Star Wars lore.
Additionally, the mod contains new models for the deployable units, vehicles, and weapons that maintain an updated look in all aspects of the battles. The mod also includes some remastered audio for in-game Star Wars vehicles, battle noises, and weapon sound effects that again help create the feeling that the game was developed more recently than it actually was. Perhaps most importantly, however, is that the mod has been designed to preserve the ability to play online, meaning that users of the mod can still partake in online play, which is an essential aspect of the game in the first place. The mod developer even hosts a dedicated Steam-GOG server that routinely has events for players to partake in.
With the mod providing a remastered version of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 that presents the game with more advanced hardware in mind while still preserving the online playability, the thought might occur as to what the point of EA's Star Wars shooter is compared to the modded original. The reason for the EA version in 2017 was to recreate the classic game for current hardware specifications and provide the same level of gameplay that players expected of a triple-A title over a decade from the release of the original. While it is true that the EA version still maintains a graphical superiority over the modded Battlefront 2 2005 edition, it no longer has such a vast superiority that the original is rendered unplayable by comparison. With other tweaks and additions still to come from the creators of the Star Wars: Battlefront 2 Remaster mod, it draws into question what the EA version offers that a player cannot get from the mod, and whether EA's Battlefront 2 is worth playing over the 2005 version.
Is the EA Battlefront 2 Reboot Meaningless?
When deciding between the two games, it mainly comes down to preference, as the mod removes the EA version from its position of a definite graphical upgrade for current hardware and makes it more of a lateral move for players instead of a direct upgrade. There are still reasons to purchase the EA version, one of which is the ability to play it on current-gen consoles since the modded version of Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is restricted to PC play only. The single-player campaign is another reason to pick up the EA version, as it is a fun, compelling story with some great characters that make it worth playing through, mainly as it differs from the campaign in the 2005 version. If it's just the classic Star Wars: Battlefront 2 multiplayer with updated graphics and assets that the consumer is looking for, then the mod is all they need, and there's no need for the EA version anymore.
Source: Harrisonfog/Mod DB