Millions of fans are getting ready to finally watch J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At the time of writing this, the movie is just two weeks away from opening in theaters, and there are plenty of ways for anxious Star Wars fans to celebrate the new film’s arrival as they count down the days.

Whether it’s purchasing collectibles, following every bit of news surrounding The Force Awakens, or even trying to avoid footage, passionate fans are eager to see whether or not Abrams’ follow-up to Return of the Jedi will live up to the hype. While it may not incorporate the characters or designs from The Force Awakens, one way some Star Wars fans are passing the time is by playing DICE and EA’s recent video game, Star Wars: Battlefront III.

Star Wars: Battlefront III does a phenomenal job making players feel like they’re immersed in the exciting galaxy. The graphics are impressive, the sounds have the potential to fill fans with nostalgia, and the gameplay can be thrilling. The game has noticeable strengths, but it has weaknesses that are every bit as noticeable, too. Despite the game having a $60 price tag, there’s an obvious lack of content. Many people think it’s a fun game, but for how long?

No story mode was to be expected since that was announced earlier in 2015, but when it comes to multiplayer content, the game leaves a lot to be desired. Our review praised the game’s ability to pull a gamer into the popular franchise, but criticized its depth, saying Battlefront III is style over substance. Now, an executive from EA is attempting to justify why the game’s content isn’t as impressive as the graphics and audio.

According to Gamespot, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgensen talked about Battlefront III’s gameplay during the Nasdaq Investor Conference over in Europe. Jorgensen pointed out that the Star Wars game is rated teen and it is designed “to be a much more accessible product to a wide age group.” Because of this, Jorgensen added that some players may not be satisfied with Battlefront III’s gameplay:

There’s an obvious difference between simple combat mechanics and not having enough content, though. The most common criticisms Battlefront III receives isn’t that the gameplay itself is too simplistic;  it’s that there isn’t enough content to justify a $60 price tag. The lack of options (e.g. maps, heroes and villains, vehicles, unlockables) is especially disappointing to those who played previous installments of the franchise - Battlefront II had at least twice as many heroes and villains, and offered far more content.

“So, an 8-year-old could play with his father on the couch, as well as a teenager or 20-year-old could play the game and enjoy it. It is more accessible. And for the hardcore, it may not have the depth that they wanted in the game.”

Yes, there are several gameplay modes to choose from in Battlefront III and 40-player modes - as well as couch co-op - is appreciated by many, but at the end of the day, this is a game that is focused on multiplayer, yet it has doesn’t have a lot of maps and there’s a disappointing amount of unlockables and customization. Do the visuals, sound, and shooting mechanics make up for that? To some, yes, and those people continue to enjoy taking part in various Star Wars battles. To others, absolutely not, and they’re left feeling disappointed with a game that was highly anticipated.

EA providing free downloadable content, like the Battle of Jakku, to all gamers is the step in the right direction. New maps and Star Cards are also on the way, but we hope that occasionally EA will release a new hero/villain or weapon for everyone to enjoy as well. Season pass holders are guaranteed to get much more content,  but they had to pay an additional $50 for the upcoming DLC. Only time will tell if EA can find a way to satisfy non-season pass holders who feel like the game lacks options, while also making season pass holders feel like they’re getting their money’s worth. One can only hope that The Force Awakens won’t be this polarizing of an experience for fans, too.

Star Wars: Battlefront is now available for purchasing.

Source: Gamespot