STAR WARS™ Battlefront II (Classic, 2005)

It is a cute old game. It was obviously made for large multiplayer battles.

But for single player it is not really worth it - just grinding through stupid bots. For single player I rather recommend Jedi Academy or Republic Commando. It you want tactics rather play Empire at War.

played this game with my dad a lot, nostalgic

This is a game that I've been playing for decades, it's the nostalgia as well as the "remastered" graphics compared to what I played back when I was a kid.

With the server fixes, Steam's continuing support, and the mod community combined, OG Battlefront 2 is still very much alive. This old classic still plays great and, with a few mods, it adapts well to modern systems.

The only downside of these original Battlefront PC releases is the lack of true controller support. There is no proper interface, no proper aim assist. The stuff that made Battlefront feel so good on a controller isn't there. So you will not have a good time trying to play with a controller in this release. Thankfully the PC controls are very serviceable and decently experienced M+KB players will adapt pretty quickly. I have enjoyed this series on both Xbox and PC for two decades and both versions control fine.

Before anything else I recommend the Battlefront 2 Shader Patch by PrismaticFlower on GitHub to fix a bunch of longstanding visual bugs with the game. There have been various hit or miss fixes over the years but this finally corrects it once and for all. Particularly a water rendering glitch when running resolutions over 1080p.

Next I recommend the latest version (Jan 2025) of HarrisonFog's "Battlefront 2 Remaster Project" on NexusMods. It gives the game a very nice multiplayer compatible visual and audio overhaul. It also includes the Unofficial 1.3 patch and a few other fixes.

Alongside that I recommend the latest version (Feb 22, 2024) of the "Xbox DLC for PC" mod uploaded by iamastupid on ModDB. This adds back a bunch of content and features that for years were only in the DLC for the original Xbox. It includes 100% official conversions of several original Battlefront 1 maps as well as new heroes and new game modes.

I also downloaded the handful of remaining maps that aren't in the DLC mod from Battlefront 1 individually:

Bespin Platforms
Geonosis Spire
Kashyyyk Docks
Kashyyyk Islands
Kamino Tipoca City
Naboo Plains
Tatooine Dune Sea

The converted Battlefront 1 maps made by Marvel4, now uploaded on ModDB, are very faithful classic mods that have been around forever and help fill in the gaps. Marvel4 also made a full pack but it adds a bunch of nonsense into the game and has questionable compatibility. Downloading the individual maps is less problematic and it only takes a few minutes to google "Battlefront 2 'MapName' Marvel4". I can't vouch for other uploads of these maps but Marvel4's conversions are as faithful to the originals as it gets.

This setup allows you to have access to every single official map, with full singleplayer bot support, with full multiplayer support, with Battlefront 2's engine and features, with major visual updates. As well lots of the Remaster Project content overlaps onto the Xbox DLC and converted Battlefront 1 maps. This makes OG Battlefront 2 2005 absolutely superior in every way to the recently released "Battlefront Classic Collection". It works better with less bugs, has more content, has a smaller data footprint, and looks vastly superior.

Classic Collection simply can't even compare.

Do I even need to say anything for this one? Like, seriously.

It's a classic, it still holds up in quite a few ways, its rather moddable, and is still a good way to spend a couple of hours every now and then.

technical issues, game screen goes black when respawning, or when i select the heavy trooper

Simple, yet holds up all these years later. Star Wars Battlefront II is a perfect game.

After being absent from the first game, SWBF2 has a really great campaign. The levels are just the multiplayer maps and the objectives aren't super inventive, but the story is absolutely amazing. It is narrated by a Clone Trooper of the 501st as he gives a sort of diary entry/testimonial description of the transition of the Republic to the Empire from the perspective of the soldier. Even though it's not considered canon, it serves as a great companion piece to the Revenge of the Sith film that released the same year.

Multiplayer in this game is an absolute treat, offline or online. The maps are all very fun and the different class types can make for drastically different ways of approaching each game. At this point, the servers are pretty close to being dead, but the offline play will be just as fun. The AI for the NPCs is also hilariously bad sometimes.

The coolest part of this game comes in the form of Galactic Conquest, and it's a shame it's never been replicated like this in future games. Galactic Conquest is essentially a real-time strategy game between the player and a CPU or other player. Each side controls a faction with the goal of controlling every planet in the game. When you fight for each planet, you actually fight the battel and can earn points to upgrade your forces. It can make for a very competitive campaign and absolutely needs to be seen in newer games.

Have fun with an old classic.

I love and have a lot of good memories of Battefront 2 Classic but this game is moldy garbage on modern computers. Not because of performance issues: no, the framerate and stability are great from my experience. It's because everything else is crap that requires trouble shooting. 2 separate computers over the years and this game is a chore to play properly and it will probably always be this way and probably get worse as time passes. Whether it's setting run parameters so the screen resolution isn't f*cked, disabling unrelated app functionality so the game doesn't produce a pictureless black screen, or certain controls such as launching and exiting a ship causing me to get stuck and have to close the game, this game requires hurdle after hurdle for me to play. And I have cleared said hurdles in the past and it's great, but it's such a pain. The part that pisses me off the most is that the remaster, as far as I know, is garbage. I hate to leave this game a negative review, but I can't in good conscious recommend a game that I always find a chore to get working properly a thumbs up.

Before you play and start panicking about the resolution and sudden black screening in game, here is my experience.
The Main Menu runs at a fix 800x600 window, you cannot change this resolution. When you change the resolution settings in Video, you will be altering the resolution the actual game runs at. So when you start an Instant Action match for example, the game will switch to a 1920x1080 resolution. I personally play this game in windowed mode. To do this, right click the game in your Steam Library, then type in the Launch Options: "/win" That command will keep everything in windowed mode for you if you don't mind it.

Additionally, if you experience random black screens when you start your game, DISABLE THE DISCORD OVERLAY. This is one of the first games I've seen this in, and discord likes to automatically hamfist its overlay into a lot of games. So, just disable the overlay in discord for this specific game and you should be fine.

Reasons why I recommend Classic Battlefront 2:
1: it's very fun
2: this game has an insane modding scene with hundreds of custom maps and modpacks. All of which are pretty damn easy to setup and install right away.
3: not only is there a variety of mods, but THERE ARE PLAYABLE SERVERS, and people will join these servers I promise you that.
4: HOLY HELL YOU CAN HOST YOUR OWN SERVERS?? Yeah apparently. First you gotta setup a GameSpy account. Don't worry, it actually doesn't take much at all. Choose a username, email, password, you'll be able to do all this in the main menu as well. You won't have to confirm anything to do this, just make sure you remember your login info lmao. Once you do that you can join servers online. Then to host your own server, go to the online settings and increase Hosting Bandwidth to its maximum setting. As long as you and your friends have a stable internet connection, you guys will be playing Battlefront 2 (2005) in your own private setup.
5: YOUR OWN SERVERS ALSO WORK FOR MODS BY THE WAY Long as you and your pals got the same maps and such, you'll be able to play any map you want. Even The Homer Zone (yes this is a real map I promise you, look it up on ModDB)

Seriously, if this game even goes for super cheap you should snag it. Honestly even $10 is a solid asking price right now- WATCH THOSE WRIST ROCKETS

Top 5 games of all time for me. It's a little bare bones, but that makes it perfect for casual fun with friends. I always pick it up every couple of years to have a fun evening with my friends :)

buggy last time i played it, kept getting a black screen

One of the best classic games on steam, pretty old game and part of my childhood, but you'll still have fun playing for the first time

A timeless masterpiece with the best modding community of all time 10/10

Amazing Game and also I will give it a 10/10 rate 👍since I finished the Rise of the Empire campaign

Classic star wars fun. Been playing since 05. Always a good time.

Peak nostalgic gameplay. The AI of a 20 year old game is still more fun to shoot at than bots in fortnight.

"like shootin womp rats eh kid?" (^-^)

I mean it's alright. It's old though. Don't pay it full price.
It's a bit buggy as well. If your screen randomly goes black make sure you don't have any overlay (Discord, NVidia..)


---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☑ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☑ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☑ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☑ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☑ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☑ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☑ Average
☐ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☑ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☑ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10

absolute peak, there are mods that make it infinitely better tho

Peak star wars it will never get better than this right here. 15 years later and a mid remaster there still an active online scene and tons of things to replay. The campaign is a highlight here very serious and just the right amount of levels.

What I remember about the rise of the Empire is ... is how quiet it was. During the waning hours of the Clone Wars, the 501st Legion was discreetly transferred back to Coruscant. It was a silent trip. We all knew what was about to happen, and what we were about to do. Did we have any doubts? Any private, traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but no one said a word. Not on the flight to Coruscant, not when Order 66 came down, and not when we marched into the Jedi Temple. Not a word.

good game but my mouse keeps glitching some times

Still holds up very well. Although the campaign just becomes unfair at some point. Your AI teammates are not fit to deal with the enemies.

Not sure whats going on but I have a bug where the screen will just go completely black but when i pause its good. Dafuq homie?

The second in the Battlefront series that improved upon the first, with the addition of several play modes, playable heroes, and of course, award weapons.

good soldiers follow orders, but the best soldiers draw jar jar smut

better than the classic collection.

there are occasional crashes but i'm running a modded version so might not be a problem for everyone

I originally played Star Wars: Battlefront 2 on the PlayStation 2, spending many nights as a child secretly staying up all night to fight endless battles. While I no longer play on my old PS2 (I do still have it) I now play a lot on here, with some new records being set by my adult self (213 kills with no deaths on Mygeeto? Insane!).

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is an unkillable testament to the quality of Star Wars games during their peak, and not even the now amazing DICE Battlefront II can topple it.

Word of advice though, do NOT bother with the Aspyr Battlefront Classic Collection. They're buggy, have needless changes, and don't work well.

"Watch those wrist rockets!" - Clone Trooper, Star Wars: Battlefront 2

This was one of the first games I ever played in my life. It will always hold a special place in my heart. The maps are great, the story is fantastic, galactic conquest is unique, and there are multiple game modes to make it more interesting. If it ever gets boring, download some mods, HarrisonFog is kind of an OG.

Watch those wrist-rockets brothers

With modding, the game looks decent even with 2005 graphics, and runs well on any modern machine. Only played the campaign so far, but it's very fun and missions seem well thought out and you truly feel like a stormtrooper in the Star Wars universe.

It's still loads of fun 20 years after it came out! The gameplay is just great old-school fun. For fans of the old EU this is the game you should play.

Balance is crap, friendly AI can't even wipe its own ass and averages a deeply negative KD, so you as the player has to almost solo every mission. When playing singleplayer, the best class is hands down simply the standard trooper that if properly used will carry you through every mission, and battle with jedi. Headshots are a thing, so try to go for them, and the cross-hairs are off. You need to aim your blaster perfectly center mass of an enemy in order for the blaster to hit their heads, as the weapon projectiles shoot above the cross-hair center.

With how many enemies you have to usually fight through, only the trooper or commander with their high ROF, ammo, and consistent DPS can get you through every mission. Typically when you go on a kill streak of at least 10 kills with the standard trooper your blaster will change to the special "AWARD" variant of the primary blaster, which you get when you switch to your secondary and back. This variant makes the primary blaster turn into 3-round burst, with much higher damage, accuracy, but a bit less ammo, it's objectively better if you can aim alright, so get used to using it. The other classes when played in singleplayer have incredibly niche use cases and are usually pointless to switch to and from, because the enemies don't stop spawning until you complete every objective, and your respawn tickets keep ticking down. Best to use the trooper and force your way through with grenades and accurate head-shots, while side-stepping projectiles from enemy fire and enemy armor.

You will have some missions like knightfall that will test your luck and patience. As a standard trooper the best way to fight jedi is to backpedal away diagonally from them while rolling (Alt-key), and getting blaster shots in when possible. The jedi can only block for so long before they run out of stamina, so keep rolling and shooting. Also, shooting jedi in the back while they're attacking your friendlies or tossing a grenade out them works.

But the blaster gameplay and the fantasy of playing as clone troopers was great. Campaign was between 4-6hrs depending on how good your luck and skill is. There's a galactic conquest (GC) mode that mimics a grand strategy game, multiplayer that is pretty dead, instant action where you set up custom matches with AI. There's also mods to properly remaster this game better than the cash-grab they tried to pull with the battlefront classic collection. And mods that add additional maps.

Oh yeah, there's also space fighter combat, which I did the first few times and got bored.

Played tutorial mission and got a black screen while switching to the last class, after heavy class.
Hitting Escape leads to the menu being visible, respawn did not work.
Boo.

This is the better version of BF 2. EA tried to capture the magic of this game, and well . . .

Anyway, this game is still awesome. Plays good, looks good even today.

Buy it, you'll like it.

the game play is amazing and the wepons are cool

"WATCH THOSE WRIST ROCKETS!"
Good game, except Operation Knightfall. That mission sucks.
Great game, very moddable. Default flight controls are horrible, so I recommend changing them ASAP.

dunno if its nostalgia talking, but i still feel like the game is still good even by today's standards. sure the graphics are a bit dated, but the maps are cool, the campaign follows the movies (with cut-scenes), the voice acting is nice and the amount of other mechanics, such as the several types of game modes are pretty decent

like the mission at the library is still hard as fuck and i dont know how i won that when i was just playing with the touchpad on a laptop back when i was little

Loads of fun for hundreds of hours and it works on a fairly low-power computer.

I can not look her in the eyes. but also it crashes so much for me you need to mod to play.

Still so much fun after all these years. Great presentation, tight mechanics, fun maps. Silly AI optimized to be victims of mass slaughter, though will still mercilessly spam explosives at you when you're driving a vehicle. Space can be enjoyable once in awhile but gets boring, especially when played more than once at a time (happens often in Galactic Conquest). The single player campaign rocks, fleshing out the not-very-canon backstory of the transition of the clone army from Republic to Empire in a surprisingly compelling way. Classes are mostly very fun and balanced, though the "Officer" class is quite weak across all factions. Would be nice if you could play them and the "Special" units from the beginning of a match instead of having to unlock them, kinda like Battlefront 1 (which I think to this day is maybe the slightly tighter game mechanically, with better maps too). Despite insanely minor gripes this is still a banger, uber-deserving of its reputation as a classic.

Absolute classic, arguably the best in the series. Galactic conquest is a personal favourite mode and the seamless integration of ground battle to air support is something they couldn't even get right in the EA reboots (boarding enemy cruisers in space battles is also a brilliant inclusion). Whatever the price, it's worth diving into this now retro masterpiece.

Still great after all these years - better, in many ways, than the EA game.

10/10 classic Star Wars game. The nostalgia is strong

A very memorable nostalgic trip this game is, and it's even greater to play it many years later with mods. Be sure to look through mod guides because you can still play multiplayer if that is desirable - as well as mod that. Very active modding community is part of what makes old games the best games.

Fantastic game! Pretty dated, and not particularly cutting edge in my eyes, but that's what gives it it's charm. If you like Star Wars and classic shooters totally go for it. The remakes and modern titles have their moments, but if you wanna play battlefront and aren't sure which one to get, look no further.

Great game especially when I was growing up. Sadly keeps black screening when I play certain characters or do space fights.

Listen, the graphics now are pretty meh, but the gameplay is still top tier

Massively dated but still more fun than the modern sw battlefront games.

One of the greatest Star Wars games I've ever played and it still hold up!

The bugs make this game pretty much unplayable. I'm constantly having my screen go black and don't even bother trying ship battles in galactic conquest