Category: Video Games

Video Game Review: Jedi: Survivor

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

– Spoiler Review –

After three years, the sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order has arrived, continuing Cal Kestis and crew’s adventures in a galaxy where hope is few and far between as the Empire’s reign seems unstoppable. With Jedi: Survivor, Respawn Entertainment expands on its formula for the series for its betterment, resulting in a more refined package and rewarding gameplay, while its story remains a highlight, implementing aspects from recent shows and publishing initiatives to help flesh out its world, though certain developments across the game’s many aspects hold it back in little, but important ways. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Jedi: Survivor” →

Star Wars: Outlaws Announced, Set for 2024 Release

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

First announced in January of 2021, Massive Entertainment’s upcoming open-world Star Wars game was officially revealed as Star Wars: Outlaws at Xbox Games Showcase 2023 with a slick CGI cinematic trailer (seen below). I’ve always enjoyed these, and often got very hyped by them back in the day, but I’ve since cooled on them and always wait for gameplay before getting too excited for a game. We didn’t have too wait long from the first trailer thankfully, as the Ubisoft Forward 2023 showcase delivered our first glimpse of scoundrel Kay Vess and (the cutest) Nix in action for Outlaws and it looks absolutely incredible, combing Grand Theft Auto and No Man’s Sky and putting it into a Star Wars game. It’s like something out of a dream, as I’ve been hoping for something like this for a long time and my hype for its release is through the atmosphere. You can see the full gameplay walkthrough above, as it’d be rude to hide it below the cut, but there some additional details below! Continue reading “Star Wars: Outlaws Announced, Set for 2024 Release” →

Final Gameplay Trailer for Jedi: Survivor, Out April 28 (SWCE ’23)

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Jedi: Survivor keeps looking absolutely gorgeous every time we see new footage. I can’t wait to learn more about where the story for this will go, especially the potential High Republic Jedi, while the companion combat seems like such an awesome addition. While you wait for April 28, make sure to read Jedi: Battle Scars to find out some of what happened in the 5 year gap between games, and read an interview with game director Stig Asmussen for new screenshots. We hope to have a review up, probably in May, after playing the game!

Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.

Jedi: Survivor’s Story Trailer Hypes Up April 28 Release!

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

With almost a month to go until Jedi: Survivor’s new release date on April 28, Respawn Entertainment unveiled a story trailer which teases some cool new features, highlighted Merrin’s return, and confirmed the game’s The High Republic era connection. Between the excellent interquel novel Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs, which bridges the two games by fleshing out its characters and where they’re heading for Survivor, and this new trailer, I’m all aboard the hype train for the game (even if random animal murder still features heavily). Check out some new screenshots, the THR connection, and more below the cut! Continue reading “Jedi: Survivor’s Story Trailer Hypes Up April 28 Release!” →

Canon Novel Review by Chris: Hunters: Battle for the Arena

Posted on by Chris

Rieve, a young woman making her way in the world, finds herself on the planet Vespaara, home of the ever-popular Hunters! Will Rieve make it in a new arena, or will her past doom her and her new teammates? Read our review of Mark Oshiro’s Star Wars: Hunters: Battle for the Arena! 

Continue reading “Canon Novel Review by Chris: Hunters: Battle for the Arena” →

Canon Novel Review: Jedi – Battle Scars

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

– Spoiler-Free Review –

After the success of Jedi: Fallen Order and the way fans connected with the crew of the Stinger Mantis, a sequel seemed like a no-brainer. While Jedi: Survivor is on its way April 2023, the first sequel is instead the novel Jedi: Battle Scars, out March 7, which bridges the 5-year gap between the first and second game. Written by Sam Maggs, Battle Scars provides a fast-paced, winding adventure exploring the game’s main crew, as their goals change and character arcs resolve lingering aspects from the first game, leaving interpersonal drama a highlight of Maggs’ work, though overall the book can’t escape certain interquel traps. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: Jedi – Battle Scars” →

Canon Novel Review by Chris: Jedi – Battle Scars

Posted on by Chris

– Spoiler-Free Review –

After the crew of the Stinger Mantis escaped the clutches of Darth Vader, they are bringing the fight straight to the Empire. But when a stormtrooper defects and promises a powerful new weapon in the fight against tyranny, will the crew accept? Or will the threat of the Inquisitors turn them away? Read Chris’ review of Jedi: Battle Scars now!

Continue reading “Canon Novel Review by Chris: Jedi – Battle Scars” →

Jedi: Survivor Gameplay Trailer Revealed

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Thanks to this year’s The Game Awards, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor received its first gameplay trailer, giving us our first look at how the sequel will build off the previous entry’s sold underpinnings while taking advantage of current-gen technology. I’m already bracing for the lack of stealth options and inability to not kill poor, innocent creatures, but everything else I’m seeing in this trailer looks like a beautiful expansion on Fallen Order’s strengths, which Survivor is set 5 years after (at around the same time as Obi-Wan Kenobi). Out March 17, only a week after its prequel novel on April 28 now, a month after Battle Scars, Jedi: Survivor will hit PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Head below for screenshots from the trailer (Cere Junda’s look new look, Cal’s new pal Brode) and pre-order bonuses (leaked and not leaked)! Continue reading “Jedi: Survivor Gameplay Trailer Revealed” →

News: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Trailer, Jedi Battle Scars Cover Revealed, The Mandalorian S3 Premieres March 1

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

While we are primarily a Star Wars blog, Lucasfilm does more than Star Wars (I’m going to start watching the Willow show soon), the mynocks would never let me not mention Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny had its first trailer today (which you can watch below the cut). Back to Star Wars, the upcoming novel Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs had its full cover revealed and a blurb with intriguing new details, along with a confirmed release date of March 7. The fun doesn’t end there, as on March 1, and overlapping with The Bad Batch’s second season, The Mandalorian’s third season premieres. Head below for the new Battle Scars details and its full cover! Continue reading “News: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Trailer, Jedi Battle Scars Cover Revealed, The Mandalorian S3 Premieres March 1” →

Video Game Review: LEGO Star Wars – The Skywalker Saga

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the first new LEGO Star Wars game since 2016’s The Force Awakens, one that didn’t quite impress in the short demo I played for it. But the prospect of playing across all 9 Star Wars films, three of them never attempted before in LEGO Star Wars game form, with a giant galaxy map full of LEGO antics to explore and collect, sounded way too good to be true. And in 2022 it came true, as LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga released, bringing with it the largest plethora of content to enjoy in a LEGO game to date, and despite an overwhelming beginning, the galaxy opens with possibilities the more you play. But when many objectives outside the main story feel rote and the staggering amount of bricks and characters to collect continues to add up, it begs the question if the game needed to be this big, especially considering the human toll such labors took. There’s no denying this a fun, excellent way to play the Saga for fans of any age, but it’s important to keep the other issues in mind. Continue reading “Video Game Review: LEGO Star Wars – The Skywalker Saga” →