Category: Video Game Reviews

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Dark Forces 2 cover

Kyle Katarn’s inclusion in the Expanded Universe might have started with Dark Forces, but he was cemented in fans hearts and minds when the sequel arrived two years later. From the debatable FMV cutscenes, the inclusion of Forces powers, a lightsaber, dark/light side endings, and multiplayer (which is still supported to this day) Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II significantly expanded from its predecessor’s now seemingly measly offerings. While not all the additions are executed well, I’m looking at you FMV and Force powers, Jedi Knight shouldn’t be passed up, especially if you’ve played any of the successive games in the Jedi Knight series. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Dark Forces

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Dark Forces cover

The First Person Shooter (FPS) had just gained momentum in 1993 with the release of Doom. Many games attempted to emulate it and were quickly labeled as ‘Doom-clones.’ But as much as LucasArts wanted to make a FPS like Doom, they also wanted to make additions to stand out. Thus, in 1995, came Star Wars: Dark Forces. The game added (what was revolutionary at the time) the ability to look up, down, duck, jump, swim, and it also contained levels with multiple floors. All the above was thanks to LucasArts creating the Jedi engine basically from reverse engineering the Doom engine. In 1995, all those new features made Dark Forces a good game. In late 2012/early 2013, it’s goodwill from said features has pretty much worn out. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Dark Forces” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Rogue Squadron III Rebel Strike cover

We’ve all heard the following saying at least once in our lives: “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” But what should you do if you’ve already succeeded? The success was Rogue Leader and Factor 5 had to find a way to answer that question by beating a formula they largely perfected. In 2003, two years after Rogue Leader’s release, fans and gamers alike got to find out if they managed to succeed again. For the most part, Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike outshines its predecessor, but for every step forward, it occasionally takes two steps back. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Rogue Leader cover photo

– Minor Spoiler Review –

If you ever played the N64/PC game Shadows of the Empire and felt like the Hoth level was the best thing in it, you were not alone. Factor 5 and LucasArts felt the same way and thus created Rogue Squadron, released in 1998. Critically acclaimed and a sales juggernaut, it warranted a sequel not only in the developers eye’s, but also the fan’s. Three years later, and on the start of a new console cycle, Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader was made as a flagship title for Nintendo’s newly released system, Gamecube. Frustrating, fun, and a tad short, Rogue Leader makes me never want to actually have to get caught in a real space battle and happy I can pretend to do so from the safety of my basement. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Republic Commando

– Spoiler Review –

With the Prequels focusing on Force users good and bad, a lot of people missed the focus on the little guy/gal rising up against a bigger enemy. In the prequel era, the clones were the little guy(s) and not much had been told from their point of view regarding events like the Clone Wars (until Emmy award winning The Clone Wars, of course). Several novels started giving them major roles while LucasArts secretly toiled away on their own addition to the clones’ ever evolving story. Releasing a few months before Revenge of the Sith, LucasArts decided to make their version of giving the little guys a voice with a tactical first-person shooter named Republic Commando. While it doesn’t avoid every pratfall of the FPS genre, Republic Commando’s tactical side saves it from true monotony. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Republic Commando” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: Bounty Hunter

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Star Wars Bounty Hunter

– Minor Spoiler Review –

Though Boba Fett didn’t have much dialogue, his demeanor, armor, and capture of Han Solo left quite an impression on Star Wars fans. Sure, he kind of went out like a punk in Return of the Jedi, but his EU/Legends presence is profound and shouldn’t be missed. So when Attack of the Clones revealed Boba’s father and origins, things got even more interesting. Lots of new fans (and old) couldn’t help but be interested in Jango Fett as much as, if not more than, his son. Seeing the potential in uncovering some of the hazy backstory on how Jango became the clone template for the Republic’s army, LucasArts went ahead and made 2002’s Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. The third-person shooter will test your trigger finger and your patience, but it’s an overall fun romp as one of the most feared men in the galaxy. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: Bounty Hunter” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

The Force Unleashed 2

– Spoiler Review –

Despite the protagonist’s death at the end of the first The Force Unleashed, but thanks to its large commercial success, a sequel was quickly announced and put into development. To build the hype train, LucasArts started reassuring gamers they had heeded the criticisms leveled at the first game. Then Haden Blackman, writer and executive producer on both games, said the sequel would tell a more personal story about Starkiller and the early days of the Rebel Alliance. But it was when the developers stated the sequel would be their Empire Strikes Back, several hundred eyebrows raised in either terror or hope. Could this game ever be anything like one of the most revered Star Wars films of all time? On October 26, 2010, with the release of The Force Unleashed II, the answer to that question was finally revealed: Nope. Even though the game looks great, its overly repetitious gameplay and levels, a dismissible story, and short length make for an underwhelming experience. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2” →

Video Game Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

The Force Unleashed Cover

Considered the Dark Ages by most, there hasn’t been much content covering the 19 year time span between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, so when LucasArts announced their next multimedia project would fill in some of those blanks, fan excitement went nova. The project was named The Force Unleashed (Dubbed “Episode 3.5”) and its multimedia offerings included a novel, video game, graphic novel, and toys. The Force Unleashed video game released in September of 2008, telling the story of Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller. It went on to be one of the fastest selling Star Wars titles of all time. And despite its occasionally frustrating gameplay, The Force Unleashed has an intriguing plot and wonderful sense of Force-wielding empowerment. Continue reading “Video Game Review: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” →

Mobile Video Game Review: Angry Birds Star Wars II

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Angry Birds Star Wars II cover

Some things are just common sense: red lights mean stop, 1 plus 1 equals 2, space is unfathomably large, and there was always going to be a sequel to the first collaboration between Angry Birds and Star Wars. With not even a whole year separating the release of the original from the new one, Angry Birds Star Wars II, developed by Rovio Entertainment, has been unleashed upon the world. And while some of it reminds me of a line from the movie Spaceballs, “…we’ll all meet again in Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money,” the rest of it is simply amazing. So amazing in fact, I have to adjust my review of the first one to say, “The second best Angry Birds game behind the one, the only ABSWII.” Continue reading “Mobile Video Game Review: Angry Birds Star Wars II” →

Mobile Video Game Review: Angry Birds Star Wars

Posted on by Head Butler Ryan

Angry Birds Star Wars cover

When I first got my smartphone, I held out on the Angry Birds craze. I didn’t understand its appeal or why I’d want to waste my time with a little mobile game when I could be playing the newest Uncharted game. As I spent more time on my smartphone, I decided giving the series a shot probably wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Much like Tetris on my calculator in high school, I soon couldn’t go without at least one Angry Birds on my phone. Having played (not always to completion) the original all the way to Space, my feelings were mixed upon the Star Wars edition’s announcement. Could they do my favorite franchise justice while still making a solid Angry Birds game? Would this be the mobile game fans had been looking for? Would there be Wookiees? Find out all these answers and more as I run down the reasons Angry Birds Star Wars is the best of the series. Continue reading “Mobile Video Game Review: Angry Birds Star Wars” →