Star Wars Battlefront II will convert you to the dark side
The video game sequel lets players explore the immediate aftermath of "Return of the Jedi." It also features multiplayer matches from all Star Wars eras.
The makers of Star Wars Battlefront II want you to come to the dark side.
On Saturday at Star Wars Celebration Orlando, game developers DICE, Criterion and Motive Studios revealed the game's official trailer, which features a new female protagonist who's fighting on the same side as Darth Vader -- and is clearly into it. (The trailer is different than the one that apparently leaked earlier this week.)
Mark Thompson, a game director for Motive, said the studio wanted to flesh out a story that hasn't received much limelight: what it's like to be on the losing side of the climactic battle from "Return of the Jedi."
Star Wars Battlefront II will have battles from all Star Wars eras, and promises to give an intimate look at being a hero for the Empire.
"We settled on the idea of telling the story from the Imperial perspective because it's a narrative we haven't explored a lot in Star Wars," Thompson said at a press briefing held earlier Friday. And this story will be canon, he said at the public reveal panel that afternoon.
This single-player campaign will star new character Iden Versio (voiced by Janina Gavankar), who's described as someone who could be looked at as a hero in the world of the Empire. Versio is seen witnessing the aftermath of the second Death Star's destruction, and the game will explore what it's like for those unhappy with the outcome.
Iden Versio will be the protagonist for the single player campaign of Star Wars Battlefront II, and she isn't happy about the Death Star's destruction.
"We wanted to show a different perspective, how can we turn that victory into a loss?" he said.
Versio will call the planet of Vardos home. The planet, newly created for Battlefront II, heavily favors the Empire and is said to show what it's like to grow up in a world where the rebels are seen as terrorists.
"This is the place where citizens of the Empire could grow up thinking the Empire is good," Thompson said.
Though Versio is said to be the main character, the game will also shift players into the role of Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren.
On the multiplayer side, Battlefront II will be expanding to include matchups from the entire Star Wars saga, instead of just the original trilogy (as in the 2015 game). This will include "The Clone Wars" all the way through to "The Force Awakens."
Darth Maul will be playable in multiplayer.
Bernd Diener, a creative director at DICE, said the game will also expand players' ability to become a hero for their side, whether they're playing as a well-known character from the movies or a generic trooper.
Trooper characters will be able to accomplish goals and otherwise level-up themselves. They can eventually earn the chance to take on characters such as Darth Maul in multiplayer matches. For players who get to take on roles such as the aforementioned Maul or Skywalker, Diener said, the character's physicality is getting an improvement over the previous game.
Star Wars Battlefront II is expected to be released Nov. 17 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.