Dice and EA have announced a fast-paced, team oriented game mode for their upcoming shooter, Star Wars: Battlefront.
The Blast game mode operates as a 10 v. 10 deathmatch between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. The mode plays – pretty much – how you would expect. The first team to reach 100 kills is the victor, and if no team reaches the score limit in time, the victory goes to the team with the most kills. The mode is set to offer “fast paced”action and “addictive” gameplay. It’s easy to jump in and out of for a quick fix, much like the original title on the PS2.
The maps of the Blast game mode are built specifically for this smaller, more dense combat. EA have assured fans that they are putting in the legwork, and the Blast maps aren’t just smaller versions of other Star Wars: Battlefront maps. Lead designer Dennis Brännvall suggested that the map variations are noticeable and significant:
“Say you’ve just played Walker Assault mode on Hoth and then switched to Blast, still on Hoth. Thanks to variations in lighting and time of day, you’ll definitely see a difference.”
This game mode is a stripped back, more simplistic version of the main Star Wars: Battlefront multiplayer modes. There is no space combat, and no heroes and/or villians. This means that the victory comes purely from strategic play with the default classes. Darth Vader can’t drop into the match and start slicing up Rebels like Fruit Ninja; you’ve got your team and your gun. That’s it.
On top of this, Brännvall talked about pickups for the soldiers; powerful items that can switch the score on its head. “Whether you pick up a Droid scanning for nearby enemies or a turret that’ll control a zone for you,” he mentioned. “The pickups can really turn the tide of a Blast match.”
So, the Blast mode puts you and your team into a fast-paced firefight, with only your wits and tactical thinking to help you achieve victory. This game mode is sure to to be popular with FPS players and Star Wars: Battlefront fans alike.
