Taking Base Command With Star Wars Battlefront’s Mobile Companion

Companion apps haven’t quite died out just yet. That said, what began as an exciting trend among publishers and their flagship franchises has given way to stagnation. Where some companion apps have been overly ambitious and complex, others were completely bare-bones and not worth the space on your smartphone or tablet.

With Star Wars Battlefront, EA and DICE have found a decent middle ground that some players may find worthwhile. It’s worth mentioning from the get go that this virtual aid does not provide a second-screen when in play. Unlike Battlefield 4, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and the recent Fallout 4, there is no immediate level of synergy between the app and the game itself.

Instead the Battlefront companion provides an up-to-date stream of information, compiling your own personal data along with that of friends. This is all done via a series of streamlined menus, allowing you to check win ratios, weapon unlocks, and challenge progression as well as other key snippets of info.

Having powered my way through the first ten ranks, I’ve found that the app refreshes in good time – ranging from a few second to around a minute. Having your tablet or smartphone handy means that you can scroll through your stats during loading screens, without the need to abandon the lobby.

As touched on before, the companion’s design is clutter-free and easy to navigate. Where similar apps have often been plagued by connectivity issues and awkward layouts, it makes a change to be able to absorb all the information you need in a few simple taps.

More advanced players will no doubt lament the lack of second-screen functionality. With DICE’s last major release, Battlefield 4, the studio was quick to big up the scope and versatility of its companion app. Synced to your EA account, it presented players with a larger map as well as options to mark checkpoints via touchscreen.

Although impressive on a technical scale, I’ve always had the impression that these features go largely unused, especially among intermediate and newer players.

Perhaps in response to this, DICE has completely scrapped its tactical maps for something way different. In its place is Base Command – a new spin on the already saturated tower defence genre.

It’s slightly nuanced though still fairly straightforward. In each of the app’s fifty “Sieges” you’ll be tasked with shooting down Imperial forces as they close in from all four sides. Between them and your base are four ring-like planes that enemies cross in order to reach the centre. This rebel structure is bolstered by four directional shield walls and a total of ten hit points.

To cut a long story short, you’re screwed if the enemy comes knocking and your shields are down. Luckily, players will draw six cards from a customisable deck each turn – three units and three powers. In conjunction these can be used to gun down enemies and manipulate the battlefield advantageously.

For example, some star cards can force Imperial units to attack each other or move back a space. Unit cards on the other hand are tagged with several stat types, denoting their prowess when pitted against the enemy.

Base Command holds up surprisingly well as a quick-fire strategy game. Each siege should take between five and ten minutes, making it easy to pick up and put down whenever you catch a break.

The real draw here for Battlefront fans are the credits earned when playing Base Command. Based on performance, these will transfer straight to your EA account, allowing PS4, Xbox One, and PC players to redeem them for new blasters or gear in-game.

Again, it’s a decent distraction and, when combined with the companion app’s stat-tracking, makes it a handy tool no matter your skill level. That said, the overall level of involvement is still likely to divide Battlefront’s fanbase. Although many will be satisfied by what’s on offer, others will be left wanting a more substantive set of options, especially with a year’s worth of content yet to come.