Let me tell you something about diving back into classic games - there's this magical feeling when developers actually listen to what fans have been asking for, and the recent PH Laro Games collection absolutely nails it. I've spent countless hours with both original Battlefront titles, and what we're getting here isn't just some quick cash-grab remaster. We're talking about substantial content additions that fundamentally change how these games play, especially if you're someone like me who's been playing since the original releases back in the mid-2000s.
What really excites me about this collection is how they've handled the post-launch content situation. Remember when we had to wait for DLC to drop, and sometimes it never even came to all platforms? Well, they've included all six maps that were originally added after launch - one for the first Battlefront and five for Battlefront 2. But here's what really gets me excited - they've finally made Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress available to everyone. These two heroes were previously locked behind Xbox-exclusive DLC, which always felt unfair to PlayStation and PC players. I can't tell you how many times I wished I could play as Ventress on my PlayStation, and now that dream's finally come true nearly two decades later.
The gameplay tweaks are where this collection truly shines in my opinion. Take Hero Assault, that fantastic mode in Battlefront 2 where all the Star Wars heroes face off against villains. In the original, we were stuck playing it only on Tatooine - which was fun for a while, but got repetitive quickly. I must have played hundreds of matches on that same desert map. Now, the developers have made the brilliant decision to allow Hero Assault on all ground-based maps. This single change dramatically increases the mode's replay value and creates so many new strategic possibilities. Imagine fighting as Darth Vader in the lush forests of Endor or having epic lightsaber duels in the narrow corridors of Imperial installations - it completely transforms the experience.
Multiplayer has received some significant upgrades too, though with one notable disappointment. The collection adds cross-gen multiplayer support, meaning players on different generations of the same console family can play together. This is huge for keeping the community active, especially considering these games are nearly twenty years old. But I've got to be honest - the lack of cross-play between different platforms is a real missed opportunity. In 2024, when even brand new triple-A titles struggle with player retention, not including cross-play feels like leaving money on the table. Still, they've doubled down on the scale of battles by increasing the player count to 32 versus 32. That's 64 players in a single match, creating chaos that's both beautiful and overwhelming in the best possible way.
From my perspective as someone who's studied game design and player engagement patterns, these changes demonstrate a thoughtful approach to remastering classic titles. The developers didn't just upscale textures and call it a day - they identified specific pain points from the original games and addressed them in meaningful ways. The expanded Hero Assault alone probably adds dozens of hours of fresh gameplay for returning players like myself. And bringing the player count up to modern standards makes these games feel surprisingly contemporary despite their age.
What I find particularly impressive is how they've managed to preserve the core feel of the original games while implementing quality-of-life improvements. The movement still has that slightly clunky but charming feel from the mid-2000s, the weapons handle exactly as I remember, but now everything runs smoother and looks sharper. It's like visiting your childhood home after someone did a beautiful renovation - familiar yet refreshingly updated.
If I had to point out where they could have gone further, I'd say the single-player content feels somewhat untouched compared to the multiplayer enhancements. The campaign missions remain identical to the originals, which isn't necessarily bad, but some additional missions or remixed objectives would have been welcome. Still, given how much they've improved the multiplayer experience, I can understand why they focused their efforts there.
After spending about forty hours with the collection across different modes, I can confidently say this is the definitive way to experience these classics. The technical improvements combined with the substantial content additions create a package that honors the originals while making them accessible to new generations. Whether you're a veteran player looking to relive nostalgia or someone discovering these games for the first time, there's never been a better time to jump into the Battlefront universe. The developers have shown remarkable respect for the source material while understanding what modern audiences expect from a re-release, and that balance is exactly what makes this collection so special.