Helldivers 2 has managed to create cinematic and tense moments that recall modern classics like Battlefront 2 and the Battlefield series. According to a designer from Arrowhead, one of the main concepts guiding the development of the game is what he calls “the tingle in the butt.” This refers to the accumulated tension that players experience while anticipating an adverse outcome during combat. This approach translates into gameplay situations where the need to concentrate is crucial. The trick is to allow players to have agency over what they do. A distinctive aspect of Helldivers 2 […]
Helldivers 2 has managed to create cinematic and tense moments reminiscent of modern classics like Battlefront 2 and the Battlefield series. Saccording to a designer from Arrowhead, one of the main concepts guiding the game’s development is what he calls “the tingle in the butt”. This refers to the accumulated tension that players experience while anticipating an adverse outcome during combat. This approach translates into gameplay situations where the need to concentrate is crucial.
The trick is to allow players to have agency over what they do
A distinctive aspect of Helldivers 2 is the way tension elements are introduced during battles. For example, the manual entry of stratagem codes in the heat of action intensifies the experience, setting it apart from other games that allow the use of radial menus. This design can lead players to make mistakes that could result in fatal decisions, thus increasing the pressure and excitement of each fight.
The designer Patrik Lasota also mentions another philosophy called “a slow-motion disaster,” which focuses on enemy design and combat progression. The goal is to prevent players from feeling overwhelmed immediately, but to experience a gradual sense of loss of control. This strategy allows that, even in critical moments, players can find opportunities to regain control, balancing difficulty without making the game unfair.
According to Lasota, memorable moments arise when players manage to survive on the brink of defeat, creating an exciting and satisfying gaming experience. This balanced approach allows for dynamic interaction with the environment and enemies, ensuring that there is always an opportunity for escape or a change of strategy, which enriches the gameplay of Helldivers 2.
Not long ago, in a console very, very close… Star Wars Battlefront 2, released in 2017, faced a disastrous launch marked by aggressive monetization systems and loot boxes that provoked strong backlash from players. In its early days, the game was perceived more as a “pay to win” fiasco than as a “power fantasy” experience, which generated great controversy and even led to debates about the regulation of gambling in the industry. Battlefront 2: Now, it’s good! However, over the years, EA and DICE […]
Not long ago, in a console very, very close… Star Wars Battlefront 2, released in 2017, faced a disastrous start marked by aggressive monetization systems and loot boxes that provoked a strong backlash from players. In its early days, the game was perceived more as a “pay to win” fiasco than as a “power fantasy” experience, which generated great controversy and even led to debates about the regulation of gambling in the industry.
Battlefront 2: Now, it’s good!
However, over the years, EA and DICE dedicated themselves to making updates and changing their monetization philosophy, transforming Battlefront 2 into a rich and satisfying experience. Nowadays, players can enjoy immersive gameplay that evokes the Star Wars universe, battling with iconic characters and exploring detailed maps. This evolution has allowed the game to become a cult favorite, attracting new players and revitalizing interest among its followers.
Despite its initial problems, Battlefront 2 offers a complete gaming experience without new monetization strategies, focusing on gameplay. The absence of aggressive monetization systems has led many to consider the game one of the best in its category. The visual fidelity and gameplay mechanics of DICE, along with the cultural context provided by recent productions like The Mandalorian and Andor, have contributed to its resurgence.
The sudden success of the game can also be attributed to a committed community that has been active since its launch. Passionate players, who have been honing their skills for years, have created a dynamic and competitive environment, demonstrating that, even after a problematic start, the legacy of Star Wars Battlefront 2 continues to evolve and thrive. In an environment where EA has canceled other projects, rumors persist about the future of the franchise and possible new titles in the Star Wars saga.
With the last of the heroes joining Star Wars Battlefront 2 late last month, and the freakish success of Apex Legends, you’d think EA would have their hands full. Well, they probably still do, to be honest, but impressively enough it hasn’t stopped them from following through with their promises (though there were a few delays). There were rumors abound the past several months about an incoming “capital ships” mode to Battlefront 2, and we’re excited to say that the update has finally arrived!
What’s in the Battlefront 2 update?
The big news is the long-anticipated Capital Supremacy mode that’s been added to the game’s multiplayer. In a community transmission that came out four days ago, devs explained what to expect in the new mode, as well two other pleasant surprises: Two new playable reinforcements (which are as of now restricted to Capital Supremacy mode), and the much-awaited changes to lightsaber combat. To get the update, just launch the game; it’ll install before the game boots up.
Capital Supremacy
Compete to knock a capital ship out of the sky in Battlefront 2’s new game mode
The biggest news has to be the Capital Supremacy mode that’s now available in-game. Right now you can only access it from the top menu; it’s not in the multiplayer menu yet. Just click on the banner for it right on the opening screen and you’ll get sorted into a lobby. The game mode itself goes between two separate maps, with some slight variation in objective. The mode is Clone Wars era and takes place on a new area of Geonosis (a hilly, semi-vertical map called Pipeline Junction West) with the second phase taking place in the interior of a capital ship.
Want to see Grievous go on kill streaks inside a clone capital ship? Play this mode.
Phase one is a non-linear objective of five capture-and-hold territories that will look pleasantly reminiscent of the original 2005 Star Wars Battlefront 2, a nostalgic nod that we were happy to see. During this opening phase, you and your team must capture command posts to be granted with more reinforcements. Whichever side wins the tug-of-war first gets to embark to the enemy capital ship, where phase two begins.
Command Post look familiar?
The location and objective of phase two will depend on which side won the first phase. It’ll either take place in a clone ship (which looks very similar to the one on Kashyyyk final phase), or a new droid ship which looks familiar to the ones from the opening scenes of “Phantom Menace” or “Revenge of the Sith.” You’ll either be attacking or defending two locations in a king-of-the-hill type scenario.
A brief cutscene plays between the ground phase and the ship phase.
If the offensive team succeeds, the match is over and they win. If the defensive team succeeds, the match returns to the ground, and both sides get another shot for redemption. As a word of warning, these matches can go on for a long time if both teams are equally skilled and obstinate, so it’s not a game mode to do when you’ve only got a few minutes of lunch break.
If Defense wins phase 2, both sides are sent back to the ground.
Capital Supremacy features two teams of twenty going head to head, but one of the best things about it is the addition of AI-controlled units running around next to the players. There are 12 AI-controlled units per team to make the mode feel busier and more hectic. In EA’s own words, “We made the decision to include AI because we wanted to capture the scale of the Clone Wars while not diminishing your odds of playing the iconic heroes. This is similar to how we use AI within Starfighter Assault to add to scale and the feeling of heroism as you cut through them.” We’re happy to finally see their inclusion, and are hopeful to see it implemented in the game’s other modes.
Capital Supremacy also introduces two new reinforcements, available so far only in this mode: The BX Droid, and the Arc Trooper, each available at 2,000 battle points.
The new BX Droid and ARC Trooper are only available in Capital Supremacy
Arc Trooper
Best explained through DICE’s own words, the Arc Trooper is “a gung-ho attacker that rushes into battle wielding his trusty DC-17 pistols. This unit can dual wield pistols and fire them independently, effectively doubling his rate of fire.” They’re fast-firing powerhouse units with extra health, more devastating firepower and abilities that are a mix of various hero abilities: Power Blast, Shock Trap, and Helmet Scanner. The Helmet Scanner and Shock Trap are best employed defensively and in tandem to set off deadly ambushes for enemy heroes and infantry, while the Power Blast is used to close the distance between you and units that are too far away, similar to the secondary fire on Leia’s pistol.
BX Droid
The BX Droid has a more accurate, slower-firing version of the default assault weapon favored by the B1, and this alteration makes him better-suited for mid to long-range engagements. Like the Arc Troopers, the BX Droid has abilities reminiscent of ones from hero units: A Smoke Screen (like Lando), Sinister Strikes (like Phasma), and Thermal Vision (like Rey). The Smoke Screen and Thermal Vision are best used together to eliminate enemies who cannot see you, while the Sinister Strikes are best used as a last-ditch means of surviving CQC encounters.
Both Infiltrator Reinforcements come with an array of new Star Cards to increase their survival, allow more frequent use of abilities, or enhance their recon and scouting abilities. They’re worth giving a try at 2,000 battle points; those points come very easily in this mode, and there are fewer heroes to save up for; the mode only allows for in-era heroes, so there are fewer options available. However, all the heroes are priced at 4,000 battle points making them slightly easier to unlock than in Galactic Assault.
Lightsaber Changes
The final change coming with the update is the much-discussed improvements to how the game handles lightsaber combat. Lightsaber combat has been a complaint about this game since launch, and EA and DICE have given the issue thought and changed saber combat significantly. DICE plans to gauge community reactions to the update, and says there are more changes en route.
The update brings big changes to lightsaber heroes
Stamina and Stagger
The biggest difference is the way stamina is implemented in lightsaber combat – attacking with a lightsaber will now drain stamina, and when depleted, heroes will no longer be able to attack until it regenerates. Blocking will also reduce a hero’s stamina, meaning that if they get swarmed by units opening fire on them, their survival chance is pretty low.
You might die in a saber fight, but at least Dooku’s new PJs are super comfy.
On the flip side of the coin, heroes who attack with a lightsaber will no longer be staggered by an opponent’s block. This means that you can chain longer attacks together, breaking down an enemy’s stamina until they can no longer defend themselves. Opponents at zero stamina who are hit will be staggered, and take full damage from the hit. Accordingly, Darth Vader’s Focused Rage and Rey’s Insight will no longer grant unlimited stamina, but rather a 50% reduction to stamina cost. Darth Maul’s attacks will now have a stamina cost, too.
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There’s also some new terminology that the game will be using to better explain how specific heroes stack up against each other; not everyone uses stamina the same way, which makes heroes uniquely equipped to better handle specific scenarios (which we think is a good thing). It goes as follows:
Melee cost: How much stamina it takes to hit with a saber
Blaster deflect cost: How much stamina is reduced when deflecting incoming fire
Melee deflect cost: How much stamina is reduced when blocking hits from other saber-wielders
Regen delay: How long before your depleted stamina begins to regenerate
Regen speed: How quickly your stamina regenerates
Deflect spread: How accurately you’re able to reflect shots back at the enemy
DICE shared a couple of charts to better convey these specific differences that vary from hero to hero:
See how the new stamina tweaks affect your favorite hero
These changes will have a big effect on when and where certain heroes will be preferred (unless you prefer the blaster heroes like Han, Leia, or Boba Fett; they’re unaffected). Vader and Obi-Wan will be better at reflecting blaster shots than Grievous or Maul, but will inflict less damage than heavy-hitters like Kylo Ren or Count Dooku.
Do you agree with these changes? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll see you in Pipeline Junction!
It’s time to unleash your Dark Side with Anakin Skywalker himself!
Who’s got two thumbs and is on the council but not granted the rank of master? This guy! (Also, one of the thumbs is robotic.) Fans of EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 have been waiting for this day for almost a year, and the wait is finally over: Anakin Skywalker has been added to the roster of playable heroes (yes, he’s on the good guys’ side) in-game, along with a variety of new clone skins.
Like Obi-Wan, Grievous, and Dooku, The Chosen One can be unlocked with 35,000 credits
Following Dooku’s release about a month ago, Anakin is the final hero we’ll be getting in the game – at least for a while – topping off the 20-character lineup with perhaps the strongest addition yet. Here are the details:
Here’s the complete roster unlocked
Anakin’s Battlefront 2 abilities
Anakin is the only hero so far to be given four abilities instead of the usual three: Passionate Strike, Pull Dominance, Heroic Might, and Retribution. The Retribution ability is activated by pressing ‘2’ (‘Y’ or ‘Triangle’ on the controller) and can only be used in certain circumstances, so it’s not like Anakin’s running around with more powers than everybody else. Still, he’s one of the higher-tier heroes for sure. Here’s an in-depth look at his abilities:
Anakin’s abilities, as described by EA and DICE
Passionate Strike
The most straightforward of his moves, Passionate Strike is the mighty hit we’ve seen Anakin perform during his fights with Dooku, and later with Obi-Wan. The move is a highly damaging block breaker that can deal ridiculous damage to Enforcer units or enemy heroes.
Deal high damage and break enemy blocks with Passionate Stike
It’s especially useful in Heroes vs. Villains when you’re going toe-to-toe with another lightsaber-wielder.
For fans of Kylo Ren, this move will look very familiar. Similar to Kylo’s Pull ability, Pull Dominance is a wide conical AoE that yanks targets towards Anakin.
Pull Dominance is similar to Kylo Ren’s Pull
Useful for closing the distance, stunning enemy heroes, and throwing people into nasty traps and pitfalls, this is a situational move at the best of times, and a multi-opponent stun at the very least. Careful, though; lightsaber-wielders can block this.
Heroic Might
Heroic Might is most similar to Luke’s Repulse. It’s a wide AoE that puts Anakin at the center of a big crowd-clearing knock-back effect that deals high damage. The difference is that while Luke’s Repulse is a quick ground-pound, Anakin’s starts with a slow, dramatic animation that looks cool but leaves you very exposed.
It’s a force repulse … but cooler.
The good news, though, is that while that animation plays out, Anakin receives a huge defensive buff that lasts as long as the ability charges. The strength and range of the final AoE effect are amplified by how much damage Anakin takes while charging.
Retribution
Retribution charges as you and your close teammates take damage
Our favorite ability, we think Retribution is the move most appropriate for Anakin’s character. As Anakin and his nearby teammates take damage, this fourth ability begins to charge up. You can see the icon on his HUD slowly filling up, eventually flashing red when it’s ready. The accompanying number indicates how many enemies will be affected by the power when you use it. Our advice? Go for broke – try and squeeze in as many foes as you can.
You don’t want to be caught in this blast – trust us.
When you unleash the ability, Anakin freezes everybody nearby, lifting them into the air and choking them, eventually dishing out a powerful repulse similar to Heroic Might, but more deadly and with a longer fuse.
Additionally, Anakin comes with two appearances: His default appearance from his Mustafar fight with Obi-Wan, and another where he’s sporting a Jedi robe (we wish the hood was up!). The robed appearance is an Epic costume and costs 40,000 credits (or 1,000 crystals).
Anakin emotes and victory poses
Emotes
Fans of the Clone Wars animated series will be excited to learn that Matt Lanter has returned to reprise his role of Anakin Skywalker for Battlefront 2. This 10-year veteran expertly captures the ambitious spirit and brash eagerness of the Chosen One, and adds his characteristic prideful confidence with a number of familiar lines.
Bless this man
Fun: “This is where the fun begins” Diplomatic: “You call this a diplomatic solution?” Grumpy Master: “Obi-Wan’s gonna kill me …” Wise Jedi: “A very wise Jedi once said ‘nothing happens by accident.'”
Victory poses
Anakin’s Star Cards
Anakin comes with the usual 9 star cards, unlocked at levels 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20. They are as follows:
Anakin’s Star Cards bolster his abilities and play to his aggressive style
Tenacious (2): Anakin Skywalker has increased health Massive Strikes (2): Anakin Skywalker deals more damage with his lightsaber attacks Pressure (5): Passionate Strike deals more damage Control the force (5): The base radius of Heroic Might is larger Reprisal (10): Anakin Skywalker receives 20 health per kill, more for villains Fierce Fighter (15): The cooldown of Passionate Strike is reduced Attraction (15): Pull Dominance has a greater range Raw Strength (20): Heroic Might deals more base damage All of them (20): Pull dominance deals 50 more damage if a minimum number of targets are affected
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The Chosen One update also added new clone skins, most notably the iconic blue-streaked 501st legion that accompanied Anakin when he stormed the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in the infamous “Revenge of the Sith” scene.
Fans of the 2005 Battlefront 2 will remember this skin well
Another niche (but awesome) addition is that Yoda can now block Dooku’s lighting with his block ability. Unleash can then be triggered to fling the lightning back at him, just like in “Attack of the Clones.” Note that this ability still only works against Dooku – as of right now Yoda cannot absorb or re-channel Palpatine’s lighting.
Yoda can now absorb and redirect Dooku’s lightning.
February has been a big month for Battlefront 2 fans, and DICE is not done yet. With more updates on the way as well as the hugely-anticipated Capital Ship mode, be sure to stay tuned for details as they come in. In the meantime, get Anakin today and we’ll see you on the battlefront!
Arm yourself with a curved lightsaber and put on your best Christopher Lee impression as you boot up EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 this week! The infamous Count Dooku is now a playable villain you can unlock and use to dominate the battle. The Count comes with entirely new combat animations, abilities, emotes, and victory poses (though some of the Star Cards are duplicates of other heroes) and is in the game as of January 23.
How much is Count Dooku?
Like all the new heroes and villains (such as the recent General Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi) Count Dooku can be purchased with 35,000 in-game credits.
Drop 35,000 credits and you can roam the battles as Darth Tyrannus!
Credits are earned by simply playing online matches, and can be boosted by opening daily crates (500 credits a pop), completing daily challenges, and attaining milestones.
What are his abilities?
Count Dooku comes with three unique abilities, each of which can be further upgraded with Star Cards, which are unlocked and improved as you reach higher levels with the character.
Dooku’s three abilities make him especially good at 1v1.
The abilities are Lightning Stun, Duelist, and Expose Weakness:
Lightning Stun
This ability is a quick burst of Sith lightning in a small conical arc in front of Dooku. The amount of damage the lightning does bears refreshingly no impact from equipping different star cards. Rather the ability does more damage the fewer targets are caught in the blast radius.
Lightning Stun will deal more damage to fewer targets.
This makes it equally useful against small clusters of troops or against a single enemy hero. Lightning Stun also knocks enemies off their feet, leaving them helpless as Dooku finishes them off with his blade.
Duelist
Darth Tyrannus was famed for being a master swordsman, and this is highlighted by his Duelist ability. When active, Dooku will strike faster and his hits will deal more damage (more still with certain star cards equipped). This is particularly useful against Enforcers since they have extra health and Aerial units since they can evade before you can land too many successive hits. However, the ability really shines when you’re sparring one on one against an enemy Jedi.
Dooku is a master duelist – more than capable of dispatching harder foes.
While it does not break their block, the speed with which Dooku attacks is difficult to maneuver against, and the added damage reduces the effectiveness of their block.
Expose Weakness
In line with Dooku’s role as a strategist comes his knack for analyzing flaws in an opponent’s attack pattern – the chink in the armor. This ability debuffs one target with slower movement as well as increasing the amount of damage they receive from all sources, including from himself.
Expose Weakness helps your teammates deal extra damage to a target.
Expose Weakness is particularly useful in Galactic Assault matches when leading a small team, or in Heroes vs. Villains matches when you can afflict the enemy target. If you are able to eliminate the opponent you debuff with Expose Weakness, the ability is recharged, immediately available to be used again.
Count Dooku’s victory poses and emotes
Like all the other heroes and villains, Dooku comes with four emotes and four victory poses. Each is available for 2,000 credits or 50 crystals.His victory poses are:
‘I am superior’
‘You should reconsider’
‘Unimpressed’
‘Not worth the effort’
And his emotes:
Foolish: “Brave, but foolish.”
Looking forward: “I’ve been looking forward to this!”
Powerful: “I’ve become more powerful than any jedi.”
Control: “The Sith control everything!”
What game mode is Dooku in?
Count Dooku can be played in Galactic Assault, Heroes vs Villains, and Hero Showdown. In Galactic Assault, he is available at 4,500 battle points during clone matches, and for 6,000 any other era.
Dooku joins the roster of other infamous Star Wars villains
If you’re planning to choose him, best of luck; he’s still brand new, so everyone wants to give him a try!
Dooku will be receiving a new Dark Ritual appearance on January 30, and fans of the Clone Wars series will be especially excited to see it – it comes from The Lost Missions season of the animated series. He’ll also be getting one more costume in February.
Here’s what you can expect in the coming month.
February will be an especially big month for Battlefront fans since we’ll be getting Anakin Skywalker, new Coruscant Guard and 501st Legion skins for clone troopers, and a new capital ship game mode. Stay tuned for more updates, and we’ll see you on the Battlefront!
Microtransactions can wreck a game. Here are the worst offenders in history.
For all of the internet outrage surrounding video games and its culture, perhaps the only thing that everyone agrees to hate is microtransactions. For those out of the loop, microtransactions are small purchases involving real money that give some sort of benefit or content in-game. These purchases often appear as “loot boxes” or some form of premium currency that is either impossible or incredibly inconvenient to earn in-game. Microtransactions have crept into every conceivable game genre and triple-A franchise. Their astronomical profitability makes publishers require that developers include them in their games.
Publishers after discovering the magic words “loot box”
While there are some big games that arguably do microtransactions right, such as Fortnite and Overwatch, publishers have continued to push the limit of gamers’ tolerance towards the prominence of in-game purchases. Here are some of the worst examples of microtransactions in gaming.
The worst microtransactions in video game history
A disturbance in the Force
EA’s Star Wars Battlefront 2 is by far the most high-profile recent case of microtransactions ruining a game. Pre-release anticipation for the game was incredibly high, as the game included content from multiple eras of “Star Wars” movies and seemed to have more depth to its gameplay. This hype quickly died down after release as players quickly realized that progression in the game’s online multiplayer was tied to randomized loot boxes. Unlocking the ability to play as iconic characters like Darth Vader required either dozens of hours of tedious, loot box-based grinding or shelling out real life money.
Additionally, many of the game’s most powerful weapons and abilities were locked behind loot boxes, giving players who purchased them en masse an advantage. Understandably, players were furious, and one of EA’s responses to the controversy became the most downvoted comment in Reddit history.
Thankfully, EA eventually revamped the progression system and removed the ability to pay for game-altering content with real money. Instead, only cosmetic items can be purchased with real money, similar to Overwatch. Unfortunately for them and fans of the game, the damage was done. The reputation of the game and the number of active players were both hit hard by the controversy. Hopefully, EA has learned its lesson moving forward, as there is a great Star Wars game hidden beneath all of the greed.
In case you haven’t heard of Evolve, it’s an asymmetrical multiplayer shooter in which 4 players are hunters fighting against a player who takes control of a monster that evolves throughout the match. It was made by Turtle Rock Studios, developer of the acclaimed multiplayer zombie shooter Left 4 Dead. Sounds like an awesome concept right?
Unfortunately, this awesome game concept was brought down by scores of microtransactions. Described by Forbes as a”$60 free-to-play game”, Evolve was filled with a confusing and money-sucking array of microtransactions, DLC, special editions, and season passes. Word of mouth quickly spread about the game’s egregious use of microtransactions, and the player base plummeted. To salvage the game, publisher 2K revamped the game as free-to-play in 2016. While this brought some players back for a while, the player base remained small, and the game’s dedicated servers were shut down in September 2018.
The failure of Evolve was incredibly disappointing to many gamers, as it was a brand new IP with creative game concepts. It just goes to show that a great game can be ruined by greed.
It should be noted that most games plagued by microtransactions are multiplayer based, as players are incentivized to either gain advantages over others or get exclusive cosmetics for real money. WB Interactive made the bold choice of including microtransactions in Middle-earth: Shadow of War, a primarily single player game. Now why in the world would you want to buy microtransactions in a single player game? WB purposefully made grinding for endgame content so tedious that many players would become frustrated enough to simply throw money at the screen. Including microtransactions and loot boxes in a single player game proves that game design is being created around squeezing money out of games rather than being creative or fun. Eventually, WB removed microtransactions and loot boxes from the game. However, they did this right around the time EA was being slammed for Battlefront 2, so it’s safe to say that they did this simply to gain some positive press.
How do you feel about microtransactions? What’re the worst examples you’ve seen? What’s the most you’ve spent on a game? Let us know!
The big news is the long-anticipated 
