Wait, Battlefront 3 actually came out?

Star Wars Battlefront Elite Squadron is Battlefront 3 in all but name. It's got instant action, all the eras that actually matter, and the abridged storyline of the planned Battlefront 3 campaign, which sure is a story that someone wrote. Elite Squadron is an interesting curiosity to add to your PSP collection (you DO have a PSP collection, right?)
This video was recorded live at / oboeshoesgames
Shoutout to the Patrons / oboeshoesgames

[@MistahFox]

I remember checking on Battlefront 3's development every single day until it was cancelled - truly a heartbreaking day for a ten year old

[@totalnerd5674]

Instead we get Haze!

[@henryfleischer404]

I remember a developer who worked on Battlefront 3 came to my school soon after the game was cancelled, to talk about what it's like in the industry, and why we should be game developers. He made a long speech about how we should not become game developers, as the industry will destroy our dream projects. So yeah, now I'm learning game development.

[@psxfoxhound]

Why does that sounds so believable haha. If you read the article “Free Radical Vs the Monsters” it has the same sorta pessimistic attitude about the game industry. It’s actually quite an insightful read and I fully recommend checking it out. I also have to mention the Free Radical Archive; they have so much info on Free Radical and Bf3!

[@62cky4powerthirst]

@@henryfleischer404 If you want to keep your dream, there is always indie. Realistic AAA graphics are over rated anyways. The new CoD will look obsolete in 10 years. Windwaker will look great forever.

[@henryfleischer404]

@@62cky4powerthirst Yeah. I'm working on a twin-stick SHMUP, mostly on my own, using a mix of pre-rendered sprites and low poly models right now. After that, I've got two first person shooters, a management game, and an aysmerical multiplayer management/FPS game to make.

[@ethanisfancy]

The Jedi who beat the bad guy and immediately gave him his lightsaber back might be among the dumbest characters ever created

[@hazukichanx408]

There's a difference between good and being... just incredibly, incredibly _dumb._ Sadly a lot of people don't seem to understand this fact. Removing an enemy's will (or reason) to fight is a valid strategy, _but it doesn't happen just because you assume it did._

[@SaucyDawsie]

dude showed up to see his sons fighting I'd be caught off guard too

[@charlesman8722]

It was on part with that “saving things we love” line

[@DIEGhostfish]

"...now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is Dumb."

[@shadwsmoke]

@@DIEGhostfish 🎶 SPACE BALLS!!! 🎵

[@alexmauney9705]

Even though the DS version plays nothing like a Battlefront game and is pretty repetitive the campaign and story is done way better on it since it actually explains what’s going on instead of having awkward bits of the movies thrown in.

[@SaucyDawsie]

the amount of times i played that game on my DS is absolutely insane

[@EpicTastyPapple]

I had the ds version too. Loved the bot multiplayer mode

[@russianinvader3207]

Yep.

[@zetastreaker47]

@@SaucyDawsieI played the DS campaign way more than I should've.

[@SaucyDawsie]

@@zetastreaker47 i probably beat the game hundreds of times over a year or two

[@onearmedbandit84]

"Somehow X1 managed to capture Luke Skywalker"

[@jakephreel]

Also Palpatine already came back 10 mins after he got thrown into a reactor

[@FreelanceDev4life]

"Somehow, palpatine returned".

[@totalNERD-eo7wx]

In Battlefront III there would have been a cutscene showing how he got captured by Dark Troopers but I guess they didn't have the budget here...

[@NoExplosionsMcgee]

Losing Free Radical's Battlefront 3 is right up there with Project Offset, Human Head's Prey 2, and KojiPro's Silent Hills in "the most painful game cancellations".

[@theogbeaver]

Star Wars 1313 comes close too

[@NoExplosionsMcgee]

@@theogbeaver Yeah that too! I remember seeing early alpha footage of the game that was leaked about a year ago and the build looked great! 😭

[@trashcanman6649]

The cancellation of Prey 2 was just brutal. I really liked the bounty hunter trailer and I think that the game would have had GOTY potential if it was anywhere close to the basedness of the trailer.

[@shadwsmoke]

Actually Battlefront III was never in development by Pandemic, as they refused to make a third game with the little budget and time, LucasArts was willing to give them. The PC and console version of Battlefront III was in development by Free Radical Design. Ground to space combat was their idea, but it seems they overestimated themselves, as they missed every deadline and their playable builds didn't live up to LA's expectations, so it was cancelled after the original release date was already missed by more than a year (early 2008 release, cancelled April 2009). Rebellion was tasked with the PS2 and PSP version, while n-space got to develop the DS version. As these versions were already finished, they got renamed Elite Squadron and released, except the PS2 version, as LucasArts didn't saw reason in releasing a spin-off title on the PS2 and didn't want to use the name Battlefront III for a game only available on a last-gen console and handhelds.

[@NoExplosionsMcgee]

@@shadwsmoke Ahh I see. Appreciate the correction!

[@ElucidationX4k]

On the DS version he has a blue saber and a bunch of force unleashed characters show up for some strange reason.

[@shadwsmoke]

If you watch the leaked (and unfinished) cutscenes of Battlefront III, you will find one where Kota talks with X2 and recruits him for the rebel alliance. He was actually supposed to be in the game. Funnily he didn't appear in Battlefront III's later missions without explanation why. They probably weren't allowed to confirm Kota alive or dead, as it could contradict (now not so) possible sequels to The Force Unleashed.

[@josemanuelperez3197]

General kota was the master of Falon Grey the jedi you where cloned from, so he recruited you

[@TheMC1102]

The story of this game is so convoluted you'd think it was written by Hideo Kojima. Actually, come to think of it, a Star Wars game written by Hideo Kojima would be... interesting, to say the least.

[@kuchom]

A star wars anti war game

[@bradlauk1419]

Star

[@Spooglecraft]

@@kuchom well, considering the original star wars is an anti-war movie

[@steelbear2063]

​@@kuchom The original hack who actually convinced people that movies that involve large battles, wars and blood are actually anti-war was a genius.

[@ChuckieGee-nc8jp]

Strand Wars: The Phantom Mantis

[@Djlilwilly]

Everyday I crave the same love I felt as when I first played the og battlefront 2

[@mixnflix101]

My first all nighter as a kid was the day BF2 dropped lol

[@trashcanman6649]

@@mixnflix101 Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2 + GTA San Andreas. The holy trinity of my PS2 experience.

[@YogurtSnipe]

Same, I remember plaything that on my old PS2.

[@aamirrazak3467]

Same those were the good old days simpler times better times. Felt the same when playing KOTOR 2 and republic commando

[@darken2417]

You might have fun with some of the classic Battlefront 2 mods. There are some pretty good ones. There is an enormous Umbara map with an enormous amount of troops and the modders even added in space to ground combat. I'm sure by now there must be a few other decent ones too. Unfortunate that the multiplayer especially for mods is dead.

[@MrKiddoTv]

Those bionicle cancellations have to be the worst event to ever happen in the history of humanity.

[@thenoobreturnz8968]

Best thing tbh

[@boxxybrownn]

I pooped myself in an applebees once, gotta say that's probably #1 on the list

[@riseoftheknights]

Agreed

[@mattd5240]

Mata nui help us through these dark times

[@Majorwindy]

The bionical cancellations and their consequences have been disastrous for the human race.

[@Joshua_Sadler]

I put so many hours into this game, mostly those custom battles you can make. I tried to play this again last year on an emulator and I never realised how bad it was but I was hit with so much nostalga

[@gatsbysgarage8389]

I only ever played this on emulator, long before I had a pc or anything

[@cattysplat]

Star wars sounds and fx go a long way to make their boring games enjoyable.

[@randomperson2797]

Ahh, the Star Wars tie in game checklist Edgy OCs? Check Minor set pieces from the most recent movie being much bigger? Check Redoing the same battles from the OT over and over? Check Original story that feels like the entire studio just threw their ideas into a giant melding pot? Check Wow this one has them all

[@shadwsmoke]

Yes, some Star Wars games were really rough in their story back then, but I think the Battlefront III story would have been the worst offender of them all, cause what we can see of it really feels like FanFiction: The Game. PSP Elite Squadron is even worse with it, cause it doesn't even have the whole story, due to the mess behind the scenes.

[@SammEater]

It's almost like a Disney Star Wars project except before Disney.

[@SammEater]

@@shadwsmoke BF3 really had potential with the gameplay, I wasn't really interested in the story of it.

[@decarus834]

@@shadwsmoke Idk some of the concepts for the story with art would of been interesting as it uno reversed ep3's out come with all the jedi temple turning to the dark side for some reason and there was a light side anakin turned to light side vader from what im guessing would of had to stop the now evil jedi temple so....?

[@josemanuelperez3197]

@@shadwsmokethis game wanted to be the avengers endgame of star wars games, thats why they put General Kota in it, and the guy from the other psp game(rogue scuadron). I bet they also wanted to put Starkiller, Kyle Katarn, Mara Jade, the repubic comandos, everyone and everything from that era of Star Wars games

[@masonolivo5909]

I was obsessed with this game as a kid lol. I loved my terrible little psp

[@janschaffstall8261]

Amen..that thing was awesome

[@R-SXX]

@@janschaffstall8261 Love my Vita and have Adrenaline on it, but I treasure my original PSP like a piece of atlantis

[@loneronin6813]

I still maintain the PSP had some pretty good games on it and you will never convince me otherwise. I don't care that it didn't have a second analog stick, some of the truly great games on the system worked pretty well without it.

[@Hunter-zf7rt]

Same,if only they can remake this for console

[@dlrowolleh5855]

This game has been so forgotten over time, and today game studios aren't even taking inspiration from this one ... I just loved this SW game for its galactic campaign mode and of course the ground - air - space - capital ship battles.

[@exile650]

So the Emperor wanted to unify the galaxy in order to eliminate borders. It all makes sense now.

[@OGbrundle]

He was putting chemicals in the water to turn the frickin gundarks gay

[@СергейМалышев-ю8щ]

@@OGbrundle Akchually the right way to spell it is "gungans"!

[@OGbrundle]

@@СергейМалышев-ю8щ hahaha yeah that's probably more likely

[@jesusofbullets]

Space Cypher???

[@jesusofbullets]

I thought you were joking until I watched the full video…

[@ThorGelad]

Incoming tactical nuke it is😂 Seriously Activision should contact Jayvee and get him to voice the role of commander in Warone

[@notverysmartstudios6813]

I played elite squadron on my psp so much. loved it as a kid.

[@TheTygre]

Oh boy! It’s time for another episode of “Oboe Talks About Star Wars in the Funny Voices for 10 Minutes”!

[@calebwalls9132]

Loved this game on the ds, ironically I wanted this game because I thought it was battlefront 2 which I loved watching on KZbin back In the day lol

[@jonathanwisk5830]

lol same story here, still enjoyed it

[@Langerang]

Do you remember Gamertagtowlie?

[@calebwalls9132]

@@Langerang no why?

[@deadlistt]

6:40 "Somehow managed to capture him" Oh nice to see Rise of Skywalker writing alive and well even in PSP era.

[@deadshot5007]

Rise of Skywalker was better than this

[@Snipergod1024]

@@deadshot5007 I mean, RoS was a multi-million dollar work, made about 14 years after Elite Squadron, for a movie screen. Elite Squadron is a 2009 PSP game, cobbled together from the butchered remains of Battlefront 3 and prayer. I would be surprised if it weren't better visually. The writing? No, Elite Squadron's better.

[@deadshot5007]

@@Snipergod1024 What part of the writing is better?

[@Snipergod1024]

@@deadshot5007 The parts that don't have rampant lore-breaking of established rules, of course! Elite Squadron is no masterpiece of writing, but at least it's consistent with the lore of its universe.

[@deadshot5007]

@@Snipergod1024 LoL it literally doesn't fit with either EU Clone Wars or post ROTJ lore. It's a giant fan fiction mess all around(at least the psp version).

[@quikgold513]

Played on Both PSP and An emulator with highest graphics and expanded upon control schemes. This is the definition of Saturday Morning Clone Wars binge. Simply God Tier.

[@OneLastScholar]

"Expanded upon control schemes"? What?

[@quikgold513]

@@OneLastScholar example wasn't a fan of the strafing/looking movement on psp so on a emulator I had changed it to fit my playstyle

[@comissardann]

I have knew that for years by now, its insane how the majority of people never noticed that some of the supposed "leaked cutscenes" were actually Elite Squadron cutscenes.

[@josemanuelperez3197]

there are also leaked cutscene that are ps3 graphics

[@mattguy1773]

3 is the cursed video game number

[@mane0ne]

Explain halo 3

[@SuperPickle15]

@@mane0ne Whats a halo

[@steelbear2063]

​​@@mane0neAnnoying af sections where Master Chief has waifu hallucinations and moves slower than a snail, and they are numerous. And for the game meant to "finish the fight" it sure ended on a cliffhanger, minor as it is

[@mane0ne]

@steelbear2063 crying about maybe 10 minutes of small in game cutscenes is a reach if I've ever heard one. Also chief finished the fight with the Covenants prophets, who were the main antagonists of the entire series.

[@steelbear2063]

​@@mane0ne Crying? Bruh you really thought. Annoying is annoying. And the main character being stuck in space waiting for rescue is definitely a cliffhanger.

[@warbirb9774]

Oboe has gotten so good at the Captain Price voice that his Captain Price voice can do a Yoda Voice

[@julianpourdanesh3339]

I feel like oboe should try some 40K games like space marine or fire warrior

[@finch3037]

He should 110% do fire warrior

[@VangopherTheGopher]

ITS QUIET

[@bomric1788]

"Mr President, a 2nd Bionicle line has been cancelled"

[@ongoingrhyme57]

So glad to see this game getting recognition, after so many years of being unable to find much on it.

[@Pattarek]

For a PsP game this actually looks pretty decent

[@dyslectische]

Its play on a emulator. Normal it not looks like that . And yes i know i have the game original

[@Crocogator]

Oh my god this would have been so good if it came out properly. The tibana platform crashing into the star destroyer is amazing.

[@videoquez]

If you haven’t played Rogue Squadron, you should definitely check it out! The gameplay was smooth, you could customize characters, and air to land battles worked. There was absolutely zero story, but I think overall gameplay value was just better

[@sithlord2225]

I don't know if you purposely left out things or if the PSP version is just like that, but the random Jedi is Fallon Grey, who's actually X1 and X2's "father" (actually their template)

[@MarsiB013]

Battlefront III Legacy mod for Battlefront II is the closest and best way to experience BF3. There are also mods for Battlefront Elite Squadron maps too for BF2...

[@LivingZombieJew]

The Dead Speak joke never gets old.

[@ThorGelad]

First

[@overtherenowaitthere]

what are you doing evil step bro

[@hazukichanx408]

When Palpatine said, "Beep boop, the dead speak", I felt that

[@John-pe7nf]

Pen Island

[@KaoticReach1999]

You should check out some of the mods for Battlefront 2 (specifically the BF 2 mod Battlefront 3 legacy, using much what was cancelled), as always the community made their own experience! RIP Pandemic/FR, you're sorely missed I actually never heard of this PSP game, it's a shame its never brought up had no idea they put BF3's story in it!

[@DemoniteBL]

Imperial/Rebel Commando being cancelled was worse though

[@steelbear2063]

Definitely Imperial. Delta Squad stayed loyal

[@DemoniteBL]

@@steelbear2063 I think the idea was to have Seven on the Rebel side and Delta Squad on the Imperial side.

[@manuxx3543]

I had this game, liked it but my DSi rt button broke during it so i had no way to progress once i got the force ability :(

[@Trigster015]

“What have borders given us Lord Vedeh?”

[@AntiVectorTV]

Lightsaber as the KZbinr Thumbnail Arrow is inspired.

[@kidcollectable4043]

First!

[@rogerveid2270]

You both can’t be first

[@H1tlerOsama]

How do you play P.S.P better than this I'll wait

[@SnizelOfficial]

The dead don't speak, they are dead.

[@steelbear2063]

Somehow, the dead spoke

[@queenlilac7608]

I think it's really cool that they named the protagonist after the first fourth dimensional rollercoaster.

[@shrimpkraken]

Grievous having a fight to the death with mace windu while some random clone beats the shit out of him with a stick would have been amazing to see in the movies

[@greaterdanemark2397]

i played and loved the ds version, especially the campaign+ where you can start as a clone with a lightsaber

[@RealDuendeNoFake]

I looooved that game as a kid, it wasn't amazing but it satisfied my need for battlefront 3 back then

[@PatternLand]

Ds was better but not always.....

[@jacobbecklehimer7781]

I never got to actually own the game, but I remember playing the demo on my psp when I was a kid. Just 1 map and if I remember correctly, a timer for the match. (Maybe that was normal? Don't think you could edit settings.) It was pretty fun for a demo though.

[@Korgano]

I didn’t even realize it came out. I played Renegade Squadron on PSP back in the day, but even as an avid fan missed this one… somehow.

[@odstbag337]

Fair enough. The only time I heard about Elite Squadron was by word of mouth when it was still new. There was effectively zero marketing for it, which both makes sense and is a shame.

[@Katsuhono]

I'm here early !

[@Katsuhono]

alright it's pretty crazy that this game exists, I had no idea Battlefront III 'abridged' existed

[@Opno]

Given recent events, I'm now convinced that Elon Musk is the biggest Elite Squadron fan in the world and he wanted to name a company after his favorite character

[@nathandts3401]

Does Lobot count as a Bionicle?

[@steelbear2063]

No

[@pamplemoussefurtif8220]

I played this game so much on DS, I had a very hard time beating X2 at the end and was so so happy when I finally killed him. Man those memories. I thought the game was ok tho, the srtory expands on multiple star wars eras and that was so cool, from the clone wars to the end of the empire, and we could see the evolution of X1 and of course X2, from basic clones to jedi/sith masters, so cool

[@e.l.b6435]

It took Ages until I‘ve Beat Grievous on Geonosis

[@Galimeer5]

The V-wing was the bomber in SWBF2. You were supposed to use it to blow up the frigates and capital ship hardpoints (bridge, engines, life support, sensors, and communications), not to dogfight

[@nagger8216]

But the V Wing was canonically a fighter, the direct predecessor to the TIE Fighter actually. Making it a bomber was always a nonsensical choice

[@syfyguy4276]

I've been saying it for years

[@dennisnastasi2000]

I remember playing this on the Nintendo DS. It was a much more simplified version but I was satisfied with it as a kid.

[@hansstrudel9614]

Watching the flow of action in this vs the DS version I think the DS version is actually better. Later game DS would get pretty mental and the boss fight with grievous was a pretty brutal experience when I was younger. Was it janky? Hell yes, but it was pretty fun and was it’s own game instead of being an asset flip of the pandemic battlefront 2 like this is

[@finch3037]

I've never played the psp version, only the ds one, but the ds one has a pretty different story too. Seems like it went into more detail and cut out at least a little of the egregious fan-service.

[@Attackalpaca_2]

EVIL HAIR!

[@zachludwig5544]

Yes father

[@Nick-hm9rh]

If i got a nickel every time they cancelled battlefront 3 id have two nickels. Wich isnt a lot but its weird that it happened twice

[@1NOTEGBEATZ]

Bro even the running animation is ripped straight from battlefront one & two. This is actually neat

[@Saturn-Matrix]

This game is not known for its single players but it's planetary conquest and customization

[@DIEGhostfish]

5:41 Technically that's a Vindicator Cruiser, something that's been mentioned in the books as the ship they built the anti-hyperspace interdictors (You know, the things that made way more sense than perfect hyperspace tracking) out of but we never actually saw any image of without the giant anti-hyperspace titties.

[@themechbuilder6171]

why does it always have to be the third game? YEAH GABEN... I'M TALKING ABOUT YA

[@bl00dlikewayne]

"somehow he captured skywalker" was the precursor to "somehow palpatine returned"

[@kabob0077]

Ya know... I hope that somewhere that almost finished build of Battlefront 3 exists and gets leaked.

[@harrysneed9998]

I played this game when I had a PSP and I don’t think I’ve ever met another human being who has.

[@BenKane-m5i]

So the random Jedi that got killed by X1 is actually who X1 and X2 are clones of. They explain that in the DS version but no here for some reason

[@leeionicatlas6461]

Elite Squadron and Rogue Squadron were both some of the best Star Wars games to ever release. Crazy how much time I spent with them on PSP.

[@Dbear39]

RIP battlefront 3. You were the childhood dream that will always be nothing but a dream.

[@Rexini_Kobalt]

that patapon reference literally gave me an out-of-body memory flash fuckin time warp experience that i wasnt prepared for 😂

[@DIEGhostfish]

The DS version actually has even MORE of the original campaign script in written interludes. So the story makes MUCH more sense. This doesn't make it GOOD, but it makes more sense.

[@kylemulkey9659]

thanks for bringing back flashbacks of trying to kill Pixy on Ace difficulty.

[@RealZefrety67]

i still find it crazy how hard game companies fumble. easy billion dollar franchise. mmo star wars with xenoverse move list setup and open world like the old republic game somewhat. create your own character light or dark, add mandos in the game. all you need is some story that is EASY asf to make or take from. but hey let’s not use an easy cash grab people would like

[@plasticchairguy6471]

This game hurted when it was cancelled but not as 1313, First Assault, The darth maul game, Force unleashed 3...... I will never forgive disney for what they took from us

[@adaa12345SixSevenEightNine]

It's funny how the DS version somehow has more of the story intact. I guess it's cause art stills and text boxes take less time than cutscenes and voicelines lol. The whole fanfic tier story is intact and it's a pretty fun top down shooter.

[@legendofshazam]

I can’t wait till you do renegade squadron

[@johnfawcett7606]

Me when oboes hoes gaming critiques a game from ten years ago I’ve never heard of: XD Me when oboes hoes gaming critiques my favorite DS game of all time: >:(

[@b-conn6624]

"It was so cool, they couldn't make it." Sums up the entire project.

[@josephnunez4450]

I didn't even know this game existed I got the special edition PSP Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron that was white and had Vader on the back

[@connorbutters8479]

We may not have Battlefront 3 made by Free Radical but At least we have the Battlefront 3 mod for Battlefront 2, and this psp game

[@606films9]

As corny as some lines were, for its time, this story was great

[@Falkriim]

I loved Elite squadron as a kid. One of my favourite childhood games (PSP)

[@theamericanjoeshow]

I loved this Starwars game. I played it over and over again. Just like I'm going to play Tom Macdonald's new song when it comes out this friday on youtube!! 😅

[@blueshit199]

I haven't heard anyone pronounce Coruscant the way it's written since I was 12

[@AJ-wx8xf]

I played this for 3 years till my psp gave out but apparently loved it even with the low quality

[@rcbmmines4579]

I remember playing Elite Squadron on the PSP all the time as a kid. Maybe an actual BF3 on modern PCs and consoles and use its new concepts to their full potential.

[@davidromeroblaya7920]

Forget Luke! I want to be X2 and use my generic personality traits to vanquish my enemies.

[@uriahgarcia3329]

Elite squadron was so janky compared to renegade squadron, the the ground and space combat was really cool

[@tjjordan4207]

So, this game is pretty much like getting a direct-to-video sequel to a Disney classic.

[@nycSnowman]

Yeah i remeber playing this story on the ds. Ah the memories

[@versebuchanan512]

I'm completely with X1 on this. Like, why does every SW game wanna force you to be a criminal terrorist?

[@peterkrochmalni673]

The Rebel Alliance were not criminal terrorists until Disney turned them into that.

[@blazelightzero595]

I remember this being one of the first PSP games I've ever played right next to Yu-Gi-Oh and Midnight Club LA Remix. I know for sure it doesn't hold up today, but my nostalgia for it is still there.

[@sethgaston8347]

This game is HEAT!!!! Elite Squadron was my fav when I was 12!!!

[@SiriusZiriux]

2:45 Poor Baby Yoda...Having to Witness That Retardation..🙏🏻 3:56 .................................................................................................That; sir, is a Star-Destroyer, not THE Death-Star. 😶

[@nunyabusiness9013]

May the Jank be with you...

[@TheMrhalo007]

This was the last place I expected a reference to Ace Combat Zero but I guess here we are

[@DIEGhostfish]

Ah yes, Metal Gear Star Wars.

[@g5knightlyshell445]

You should checkout the Battlefront 3 Legacy mod. Pretty dope.

[@silasskirata]

You actually have the Clone Chest piece and gauntlets in your rebel get up.