Category: Video Game Reviews

Video Game Review: Star Wars Outlaws

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

– Spoiler Review –

From the moment Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment announced Star Wars Outlaws, I was smitten, especially given the many starts and stops over the past near decade of similarly rogue-ish focused Star Wars games. My hype was pretty excessive by the time I sat down to play Outlaws for the very first time, and after 45 hours and two months to finish much of the game, I can safely say it lived up to my expectations more often than it didn’t. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars Outlaws” →

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” →

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” →

Video Game Review: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Last Call

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Last Call Review Mynock Manor

Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Last Call is ILMxLAB’s expansion for the latest Oculus Meta Quest exclusive series, which finds players exploring the wilds of Batuu alongside Black Spire’s colorful occupants. Whereas Part 1, released a year ago, was a short but fun experience that sometimes overstayed its welcome, Last Call is everything you’d want in an expansion and more, delivering way more story content, variety, and new items to further enhance the experience. If you’ve been holding out on picking up Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge for your Quest, your patience has been rewarded and there’s no better time than now to play. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Last Call” →

Video Game Review: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Part I

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Part 1 Review Mynock Manor

Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Part I is ILMxLAB’s latest Star Wars VR game for the Oculus Quest, which trades in lightsabers, Force powers, and Mustafar of the Vader Immortal series with blasters, smugglers, and Batuu wilds. Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Part 1 is a far more game-like experience, with various objectives, side-quests, and mini-games, which has its own benefits and drawbacks in the opening episode of the latest series. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Part I” →

Video Game Review: Vader Immortal VR Series

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Vader Immortal VR Series Key Art

– Spoiler Review –

Vader Immortal is a VR-only game series by ILMxLABs and Oculus Studios, spread across three episodes, that puts the player in the shoes of a smuggler caught by Imperial forces on Mustafar and roped into helping Darth Vader himself with his latest machinations. The episodic nature means it’s both easy to digest and a quick game, with longevity in the form of Lightsaber Dojos, while the VR controls, concepts, and implementation offer an immersive enough experience, with some drawbacks. And while the story which unfolds is intriguing, it can feel like a retread for those that read the Sith Lord’s comic series. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Vader Immortal VR Series” →

Video Game Review: Jedi: Fallen Order

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order Video Game Review Mynock Manor

– Spoiler Review –

Jedi: Fallen Order, a single-player action-adventure game from the developers at Respawn Entertainment, centers on the young Jedi Padawan, Cal Kestis, as he gets wrapped up in an adventure to restart the Jedi Order, set 5 years after Revenge of the Sith. The game has a rather excellent story, solid but rewarding combat, and great exploration mechanics, but little things along the way, including the main character, dampen some of the experience. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Jedi: Fallen Order” →

Secrets of the Empire Hyper-Reality Experience Impressions

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Secrets of the Empire

Secrets of the Empire is a hyper-reality experience from ILMxLAB and The Void which fully immerses you into the world of Star Wars like never before. One of the three locations for Secrets of the Empire was in London, so when I made a trip there to see a concert and spend time with my friends Elliot (who writes for the site!) and Felicia who live there, we had to check it out. I’m damn happy we did because it was one of the most memorable Star Wars experiences in my life, as the immersive nature of SotE places you into the GFFA in ways which stick with you long after its 15-20 minutes is over and I really, really want to go back in. Continue reading “Secrets of the Empire Hyper-Reality Experience Impressions” →

Video Game Review: Battlefront II (2017)

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

– Spoiler Review –

Battlefront II (2017) set out to answer many fans’ issues with the first game by including a single-player mode, where you play as the Empire’s elite spec ops team Inferno Squad, and putting more content into multiplayer. The end result isn’t as wondrous as fans would’ve imagined, as the singe-player hits plenty of highs but suffers from several issues, while the multiplayer is built around a broken progression system, making one yearn for the simpler days of 2015’s game. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Battlefront II (2017)” →

Video Game Review: Trials on Tatooine (ILMxLAB VR Experience)

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Trials on Tatooine Banner

I was joking before going to Celebration Europe 2016 that if the only thing I did there was ILMxLAB’s Virtual Reality Experience, Trials on Tatooine, I’d be perfectly content. On the convention’s final day I got my chance to play and I kid you not, over Thrawn’s introduction in Star Wars Rebels or the new Rogue One footage, Trials on Tatooine will forever be my top moment from SWCE 2016. Not only was it an wholly immersive VR experience, as it felt like my childhood imaginations came to (virtual) life, it also helped sell me on VR technology and its potential.  Continue reading “Video Game Review: Trials on Tatooine (ILMxLAB VR Experience)” →