Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection - A Long Time Ago, in a Remaster Far, Far Away

The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection bundles two of the most beloved Star Wars games ever made into one package, and playing them on the Nintendo Switch 2 is a nostalgic trip worth taking — mostly. Originally released in 2004 and 2005, Battlefront I and II defined an era of Star Wars gaming with their large-scale battles, iconic maps, and accessible shooter gameplay. Aspyr's remastered collection brings both titles to modern hardware with online multiplayer support and some visual touch-ups. But does a coat of paint on two-decade-old games hold up in 2026? The answer is a qualified yes.

Wokeness: 0.0

These are faithful remasters of early 2000s Star Wars games built on George Lucas's original trilogy and prequel era. There's no revisionism here, no inserted messaging, no agenda beyond letting you relive the glory days of blasting droids on Geonosis or defending Echo Base on Hoth. What you see is what you get: pure, unadulterated Star Wars combat from an era when the franchise wasn't trying to be anything other than fun.

Gameplay: 8.0

The core gameplay loop remains satisfying. Capturing command posts, choosing between multiple unit classes, and hopping into vehicles across massive battlefields still feels great. Battlefront II's hero combat and space battles add welcome variety. However, the AI hasn't aged gracefully — bots can be laughably incompetent or frustratingly cheap depending on the scenario. The controls have been adapted well for the Switch 2, and online multiplayer works when you can find populated lobbies, though the player base has thinned considerably since launch. The lack of meaningful mechanical updates means you're playing games that feel distinctly like products of 2004 and 2005, for better and worse.

Story: 5.5

Battlefront I has no real campaign narrative — it's simply battles strung together with brief context. Battlefront II fares better with its 501st Journal campaign, which follows clone troopers from the Clone Wars through the rise of the Empire. The storytelling is told through narrated cutscenes between missions and carries genuine emotional weight, especially the Order 66 sequence. But by modern standards, the narrative is thin and serves primarily as a framing device for gameplay scenarios rather than a fully realized story.

Graphics: 6.0

Aspyr improved the resolution and cleaned up textures, and on the Switch 2 everything runs smoothly with stable performance. But let's be honest — these still look like early 2000s games with a fresh coat of polish. Character models are blocky, animations are stiff, and environments, while iconic, lack the detail we've come to expect. The visual upgrades are appreciated but conservative. You won't mistake this for a modern title, and that's fine for a nostalgia package, but it tempers the score.

Audio: 8.5

This is where the collection shines brightest. John Williams's legendary score thunders through every battle, blaster effects sound authentically Star Wars, and the ambient sounds of each environment — from the hum of Kamino's rain to the mechanical groaning of a Star Destroyer's hangar — immerse you completely. The 501st narrator in Battlefront II delivers his lines with a weary gravitas that elevates the entire campaign. Audio has always been a Star Wars strength, and these games benefit enormously from that legacy.

Replayability: 8.5

With two full games, dozens of maps, Galactic Conquest mode, split-screen local multiplayer, and online play, there's a substantial amount of content here. Galactic Conquest alone can eat hours as you strategize fleet movements across the galaxy. The variety of eras, maps, and modes keeps things fresh for a good while. That said, the AI limitations and aging mechanics mean the single-player experience has a ceiling, and online population concerns are real. If you have someone to play couch co-op with, the replayability extends significantly.

The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection is a competent and respectful remaster of two genuinely classic games. It doesn't reinvent anything, and it doesn't need to. What it offers is a reliable portal back to an era when Star Wars games prioritized fun above all else. The Switch 2's portability makes it an ideal platform for quick Galactic Conquest sessions or nostalgic multiplayer bouts. Just temper your expectations — these are lovingly preserved relics, not modern reimaginings. For fans who remember the originals fondly, this collection delivers exactly what it promises.