The second one did something to shooting. I don't know if it was weaker cooling or faster laser bolts, it just is missing something BF2015 had.I'm in total agreement with you on the fact that EA's first battlefront felt far more Star Wars-y in terms of its shooting. It just felt good to blast stuff in that game. Felt like you were shooting lasers and not bullets.
Then there's the whole class system... i don't have anything against class systems in principle. Indeed, i even like them. But the way BF2 did it... it just doesn't quite work.
And the upgrade system... I tried out the multiplayer, and got instantly killed by someone with maxed out upgrades. Actually, everyone had maxed out upgrades but me. How am i supposed to play in such environment?
And the customization was a mess too, why are there only few weapons for each class that are faction-independent and far better than base weapons? Why have factions with set weapons but then guide everyone to use inappropriate weapons anyhow? And BF2015 had a lot of weapons but they were for most part rather balanced, especially after they sorted out the egregious issues. One could pick a weapon purely based on their style, yet there was no obvious best weapon, nor was any weapon a dud either if your playstyle and equipment worked with that weapon. BF2 had one best weapon from what i could figure, the end.
BF2015 were flaws to be sure, some balance issues, too few maps, only OT content. But man, it was the most fun i've had in any online shooter since classic Halos, hell, some of the most fun i've had with any game.
BF2... what the fuck happened. This was the one time when "more of everything (and teeny tiny bit more balancing)" would have been the correct way of making a sequel, they didn't do that.
Hell, they could've sold cosmetic skins and have their monetization system too, maybe credit/XP earning boosters, and they could've avoided the PR mess BF2s actual monetization caused.
Sorry, i'm just so bitter about that. There are many disappointments in gaming but somehow BF to BF2 feels really bad.