Why do I say is a free to play game? because it has microtransation that are essential to progress in the game, just like free to play mobile games, otherwise if you fight against individuals that had pay 100 dollars to buy crates you gonna get you b^tt handed to you.
I played yesterday the whole day and got Luke and Vader, which it was nice because if they would have cost 60k like they did in the beginning, I would still be saving credits just for one of them. Today, as they day I wrote this review, I had another chance to dedicate a whole day to the game again, with Luke and Vader out of the way I was ready to open some boxes. Well let me put it this way, I've been playing for hours and I only manage to open 3 boxes... 3!!!! and you know what i got? grey F... yous!!! To be more specific: one victory pose, one ability for Chewbacca, which I don't own by the way, a duplicate and 40 parts. Really?!
The progression system, in EA words, is made this way so the game has a longer run, but because I don't progress as often and don't get cool stuff out of my playing time, I'm already bored with the game! And honestly after 10 hours of multiplayer, you've seen and done everything there is to do there, just rinse and repeat. I feel like i have nothing cool to look forward because after spending hours playing the game i have to buy a box of grey crap which always have a duplicate, stupid poses and takes forever to get the credits to buy them. By the way duplicate refunds 200 credits, if you get 5 duplicates is 1000 credits, loot boxes cost 4k, so the more you progress, the chances of you buying a worthless crate increases and I don't own a lot of cards and I always get at least one duplicate per box.
By the way, the daily crate only gives you 2 items instead of the 5 items regular boxes give you.
Keep in mind I payed for the elite version of this game as I am a huge star wars fan and believed that this game was gonna be fair for all. But even when I invested all that money I got a game that feels like a free to play mobile game. Hell even the arcade mode only gives you credits 5 times a day, then you have to wait for next day to have fun without all the pay to win players, and why? because they don't want players to abuse the system. "So yea don't play arcade and get credits playing the game, thats abusive, but you know, pay to REALLY, REAAAAALLY get ahead in the game without playing a single minute to destroy and really ABUSE our other hundred of costumers that payed 60 or 80 dollars for this game but didn't gave us extra money by getting a superb advantage." -EA battlefron 2.
If you spend an extra 100 dollars you might get what you need to get at least 2 or 3 classes you like to a decent progress level, but even then you wont have it all, at least for what I've seen on youtube openings the drop rate is pretty bad. So even then is not a good deal, THIS IS INSANE!
Even in the campaign mode, where nothing you get there transfers to the multiplayer(as far as i know) you get grey cards that you never get to upgrade like in other games where you get experience for killing foes or completing missions to upgrade your abilities and feel like your characters is growing.
And i understand they gonna give free DLC and all and they wanna make some cash back, but give skins for heroes, troops and vehicles, victory poses, experience boosts and emotes on the boxes that you can't get otherwise, not essential abilities that can give a considerable advantage to player in a 60 to 80 dollar game. We are you clients, this is a big "F you" to us. Especially that if you play one match you get 200 credits on average, and a box cost 4k, and matches might last 10 minutes or more and when you finally open one, is a duplicate and grey abilities you don"t wanna use!
And its so sad because behind this grind fest of psychological abuse to the customers hides a good game, that people cared about and work hard to make it the best possible game they could for their fans. It has great graphics, fun game play, different modes, classes and heroes and even best, a story mode with talented actors that make those characters feel alive. All that ruin because of how hard, boring and how long it takes to upgrade your abilities without having to expend another 100 bugs or more in the game which some people have bought crates and are killing the "free to play players" left and right. And yea it has to be 100 or more otherwise you won't get anything good with those low drop rates.
To make the game longer in the multiplayer they should had give in game challenges for cool stuff and daily missions for the really cool stuff in order to progress so all the people that want to get cool stuff like gear and weapons have to unlock them by playing the game and completing missions. That would have been fun, challenging in the right way. And if not like that in any other fun creative way like seasons ala Diablo 3, where you have to play and do well in the game, learn to play game well and do well daily in order to get something cool by the end of the season.
(Spoilers)-The only complaint I have with the game outside the pay to win model is in the story, it feels a little rushed and is not the empire story we where lead to believe. Iden changes side way to soon. It needed more missions where we see operation "Cinder" make an impact on Iden and the crew of her ship so the transition would be more believable. They all betrayed the empire way to easily, way too soon, plus I went in with the impression I was gonna fight for the empire so a couple of missions in the beginning, before the destruction of the 2nd Death Star would have help a little to make the game longer and feel like an imperial before becoming a rebel. And that comes from a rebel fan, this twist didn't felt right at least they way it was presented was disappointing. Specially if you read the novel for this game, Iden was like "yea blowing Alderan was OK, the empire did good and I will always be loyal, beside the rebels killed millions of imperials on the first Death Star" now she is like, wow they empire has lost their mind better stop them! It didn't make sense, they are they elite of the elite in the empire military, they probably have done crazy evil crap for the empire in all of those years of service, this should had been just another day in the Empire but it felt like the first day at work and they just realize they are working for EA and they are charging more money to the citizens of Vardos for a game they already payed 60 to 80 dollars for and they realize its unfair. -(End of spoilers)
Hopefully some things will change for the best and we the fans get a rewarding experience for investing their 60 or 80 dollars for the game and hopefully future DLC will help the story a little more, because I liked those characters and is a 30 year gap they are working on so I feel there is so much to tell with this amazing cast. Honestly this would have being a 8/10 game if not for the progression system and EA greed. Other than that, you probably would be better off, as a canon junky, renting this game or watch play-through on youtube. Don't buy this game unless they change it from what it is now. And please, control you gambling addiction and don't pay for crates, do yourself a favor and buy a better game or go out with friends, better yet go watch The Last Jedi a couple of times and eat good food!
And for Disney and LucasArts, take this license from EA hand and give it to a more talented studio with better business tactic that bring credibility back to star wars game universe, I mean, its your brand after all and you should want to save it from this kind of controversy and malpractices that could potentially screw the games you want release.