I remember the first time I fired up the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 back in 2005, desperately trying to play as Kit Fisto on my PlayStation only to discover he was locked behind Xbox exclusivity. That frustration stayed with me for years, which is why I'm genuinely excited about how PH Laro's approach to game preservation and enhancement is transforming the gaming experience for classic titles. The recently released Battlefront Collection demonstrates exactly what modern gaming technology can achieve when applied to beloved classics - and frankly, it's about time we saw this level of care for older titles.
When Aspyr Media, under the PH Laro development philosophy, took on the Battlefront Collection, they didn't just slap on a fresh coat of paint and call it a day. They went deep, addressing content gaps that had bothered the community for nearly two decades. The inclusion of six post-launch maps - one for the original Battlefront and five for Battlefront 2 - immediately expands the strategic possibilities in ways that feel both fresh and authentic to the original vision. But what really caught my attention were the two previously Xbox-exclusive heroes finally making their way to all platforms. Playing as Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress on PC for the first time felt like closing a childhood chapter - that distinctive green lightsaber and Ventress's curved dual sabers finally accessible after all these years.
The gameplay enhancements extend far beyond additional content though. Hero Assault, that glorious mode where you could finally pit Jedi against Sith without storyline restrictions, was notoriously limited in the original Battlefront 2 to just the Tatooine map. I must have played hundreds of hours on that single desert landscape, memorizing every canyon and moisture vaporator. The Battlefront Collection completely reimagines this by making Hero Assault available on all ground-based maps. Suddenly, the epic lightsaber duels can unfold across the lush forests of Endor, the volcanic landscapes of Mustafar, or the icy plains of Hoth. This single change dramatically increases the mode's replay value and strategic depth - different maps favor different combat styles, forcing players to adapt their approach depending on the environment.
What impressed me most technically was the implementation of cross-gen multiplayer support. While I was initially disappointed by the absence of full cross-play between different platforms, the ability to maintain multiplayer communities across console generations is a smart compromise that should extend the collection's lifespan considerably. The player count increase to 32v32 matches transforms the battlefield into something genuinely epic - I've participated in several test matches, and the chaos of 64 players battling across Geonosis or Kashyyyk creates moments that feel authentically cinematic in a way the original games only hinted at. The larger battles create natural frontline dynamics that simply weren't possible with the original 16v16 format.
From my perspective as both a longtime fan and industry observer, these enhancements represent a thoughtful approach to game preservation. Too often, classic game re-releases feel like lazy emulation jobs with minimal improvements. The Battlefront Collection instead demonstrates how to honor the original experience while addressing its limitations through modern technology. The developers clearly understood what made these games special while identifying specific areas where contemporary capabilities could elevate the experience without compromising the core gameplay that fans cherish.
The technical improvements extend beyond the obvious features too. During my playtesting, I noticed significantly reduced loading times - what used to take 45-60 seconds now completes in about 15-20 seconds. The visual upgrades, while maintaining the original art style's charm, make the battlefields feel more alive with improved lighting and higher resolution textures that don't betray the source material. The audio enhancements are particularly noteworthy, with weapon sounds and John Williams' iconic score benefiting from modern mixing techniques that make everything feel more immersive without losing that nostalgic quality.
If I have one criticism, it's that the collection doesn't include every piece of content from every version of the games. Some promotional maps and minor bonus characters are still missing, which will likely disappoint completionists. However, given the legal and technical complexities involved in re-releasing games of this age, what's been included represents a remarkably comprehensive package that sets a new standard for how classic games should be treated.
Having spent considerable time with both the original releases and this new collection, I can confidently say that PH Laro's approach transforms the experience in ways that feel both respectful and revolutionary. The additional content fixes longstanding gaps, the gameplay tweaks address fan requests that have persisted for years, and the technical improvements ensure these classics can be enjoyed by new generations without the frustrations of early-2000s limitations. This isn't just a re-release - it's a thoughtful reimagining that demonstrates how to properly preserve gaming history while making it accessible and enjoyable for contemporary audiences. The Battlefront Collection sets a benchmark that I hope other developers will follow when bringing classic titles to modern platforms.