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Star Wars Games
12 years ago
Okay so, technically its May the 5th now, but for the sake of yesterdays Star Wars day, lets look at some amazing Star Wars games!
I've always adored Star Wars as a franchise, from watching my first VHS of it in 1993, to the expanded editions in 1997, phantom menace, clones, the bullshit re-edits of 2004, revenge of the sith and recently managing to lay my hands on unedited digital copies of the originals to enjoy. I've always been there with Star Wars through its ups and downs, ready to hand Lucas and Lucasarts (RIP) my money whenever they venture somewhere new. I also adore video games too, so it makes sense that I'd love Star Wars games even more! This is my list of my top 5 favourite games created by my beloved Lucasarts before their demise in 2013.
5. Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic
Why I like it: KOTOR is like Mass Effect, well, it IS Mass Effect, just without Garrus and his calibrations, instead it has meat bags and lightsabers. I've always loved Biowares way of creating a story through choices you make, even if sadly all you can accomplish is a binary good/evil outcome, which makes KOTOR 5 on my list and not higher. The Graphics, gameplay and story are all amazing though and I can only assume that anybody out there that like Star Wars and has fingers has already played this one, so lets move on.
4. Star Wars Battlefront 2
Why I like it: MODS! Mods galore for BF2. The core game itself as I remember was always a massive disappointment to me, having played the shit out of BF1 I wanted something new, and sadly BF2 wasn't all that 'new'. I hated the linearity of the storyline and the tininess of the levels, However, as we're now living in the future some very tallented people have managed to mod literally thousands of levels, models and stories into the game at sites like this http://starwarsbattlefront.filefron.....ront/Mods;4498 Seriously, try playing the space-to-ground levels with a few friends, amazing fun! Just wish they'd develop BF3 already...
3. Star Wars Empire At War
Why I like it: Sometimes a controversial choice for Star Wars gamers, seen as a lackluster RTS game developed by Petroglyph Games in 2006, Empire at war has amazing space battles, some of the best ever played in a video game. It also has horrible ground battles, some of the worst ever played in a strategy game. It provides a somewhat mildly interesting story, which is improved no end by the expansion pack Forces of Corruption (plus a super star destroyer) also as with BF2 it has a highly active modding scene, a personal favourite of mine is Thrawns Revenge http://www.moddb.com/mods/thrawns-revenge (if you don't know who Admiral Thrawn is, for shame) which focuses on the wonderful expanded universe storyline written by Timothy Zahn after the battle of endor. It basically upgrades everything, adds more factions, ships, and a whole new story.
2. Star Wars Tie Fighter
Why I love it: This game is just so wonderful, a brilliant little game that originates from 1995 and documents your progression from a standard imperial pilot working for a corrupt and treacherous commander, to a personal hand of the emperor's inner circle, bringing order to the rebellion scum! Tie Fighter brings the best Star Wars has to offer to the table: atmosphere and the incredibly deep and delicious universe it is set in. You go on missions, talk to officers, complete objectives, with so much emersion you sometimes forget that you're just sat at a PC screen. Everything about Tie Fighter is good, sound, gameplay, and for 1995 the graphics are amazing, its a fully functional flight simulator too, with hundreds of complex controls to learn if you're going to fly with the big boys. It would be even better with a modern release, but I feel that current gaming trends and gimmicks would ruin it. Also, Darth Vader, The Emperor, and Thrawn are your bosses... I hear the pension is good!
1. Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D
Why I adore it: I made a vow when writing this I wouldn't fill up 3 spaces with Rogue Squadron games, so I chose the best one that I love most. RS is my all time favourite Star Wars game franchise, set during and after the original movies it follows Luke, Wedge and friends blowing the shit out of the imperials in a variety of settings both on land and space, in many different variations of craft from both sides of the war. Rebel Strike 3 is the worst of the franchise with horrible on-foot sections, with 2 being my favourite for movie accuracy, but 1 overall because of the gameplay, design, effects and nostalgia. Unlike Tie Fighter it is an arcade game, with plenty of missions that have quick replayability to test your skill, and different ships which present a whole number of different challenges. My personal favourite craft is the Y-Wing heavy bomber, its so slow and difficult to fly, meaning you're often open to an easy attack by Tie Interceptors. But its so powerful you can literally destroy a whole complex with two bombs, plus it can take one hell of a beating. The ion cannon is also fun for disabling enemy craft and watching them hilariously tumble to the ground in a fantastic explosion. After the 14 years or so this game has been out I've STILL never achieved a gold medal on every level... so I'd say its the most challenging game I've ever played, the movie-esque unlockable levels are good fun though, plus the secret Millenium Falcon, Tie Interceptor, Naboo Starfighter, Buick (yes, they let you fly a CAR) and a Chicken Walker AT-ST always kept you searching for more goodies. 3 whilst mostly shit, DID introduce a fully functional 2 player version of the 2nd game which was amazing, plus some dogfight modes, I just wish they'd developed a 4th one to combine all their best elements of the first 3 games... ah well...
Worst games (that I have been unfortunate enough to play)...
1. Star Wars Starfighter
Why? Its a poor mans Rogue Squadron. Who the hell cares about Naboo. You're actually saving Jar Jar, you know.
2. Star Wars Galaxies
Poor suckers who stuck with it for the longest, all that money, gone. The update that ruined it for Jedi everywhere, the horrible episode 2 and 3 updates, bleh.
3. Star Wars Force Unleashed/2
Seriously? No optimisation for PC? And rather than crafting a genuinely interesting storyline you'd rather have us travel to hoth and kill Luke Skywalker? Awful game.
4. The whole NES/SNES Star Wars era
Without wanting to attract hate from people with intense nostalgia for these games, they just haven't aged well. I was informed that I should play them if I loved Star Wars but instead just found a collection of insanely difficult and unfair games that couldn't hold a candle to Super Metroid, Mario World or Donkey Kong Country.
5. Star Wars Flight of the Falcon GBA
If/when you could see this shitting game on your GBA, you'd be rewarded with an infuriatingly annoying/difficult game that sort of half followed the movies and did the rest with filler. Just watch the movies instead.
Thanks for everything Lucasarts, you will be sorely missed...
May the force be with you all.
I've always adored Star Wars as a franchise, from watching my first VHS of it in 1993, to the expanded editions in 1997, phantom menace, clones, the bullshit re-edits of 2004, revenge of the sith and recently managing to lay my hands on unedited digital copies of the originals to enjoy. I've always been there with Star Wars through its ups and downs, ready to hand Lucas and Lucasarts (RIP) my money whenever they venture somewhere new. I also adore video games too, so it makes sense that I'd love Star Wars games even more! This is my list of my top 5 favourite games created by my beloved Lucasarts before their demise in 2013.
5. Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic
Why I like it: KOTOR is like Mass Effect, well, it IS Mass Effect, just without Garrus and his calibrations, instead it has meat bags and lightsabers. I've always loved Biowares way of creating a story through choices you make, even if sadly all you can accomplish is a binary good/evil outcome, which makes KOTOR 5 on my list and not higher. The Graphics, gameplay and story are all amazing though and I can only assume that anybody out there that like Star Wars and has fingers has already played this one, so lets move on.
4. Star Wars Battlefront 2
Why I like it: MODS! Mods galore for BF2. The core game itself as I remember was always a massive disappointment to me, having played the shit out of BF1 I wanted something new, and sadly BF2 wasn't all that 'new'. I hated the linearity of the storyline and the tininess of the levels, However, as we're now living in the future some very tallented people have managed to mod literally thousands of levels, models and stories into the game at sites like this http://starwarsbattlefront.filefron.....ront/Mods;4498 Seriously, try playing the space-to-ground levels with a few friends, amazing fun! Just wish they'd develop BF3 already...
3. Star Wars Empire At War
Why I like it: Sometimes a controversial choice for Star Wars gamers, seen as a lackluster RTS game developed by Petroglyph Games in 2006, Empire at war has amazing space battles, some of the best ever played in a video game. It also has horrible ground battles, some of the worst ever played in a strategy game. It provides a somewhat mildly interesting story, which is improved no end by the expansion pack Forces of Corruption (plus a super star destroyer) also as with BF2 it has a highly active modding scene, a personal favourite of mine is Thrawns Revenge http://www.moddb.com/mods/thrawns-revenge (if you don't know who Admiral Thrawn is, for shame) which focuses on the wonderful expanded universe storyline written by Timothy Zahn after the battle of endor. It basically upgrades everything, adds more factions, ships, and a whole new story.
2. Star Wars Tie Fighter
Why I love it: This game is just so wonderful, a brilliant little game that originates from 1995 and documents your progression from a standard imperial pilot working for a corrupt and treacherous commander, to a personal hand of the emperor's inner circle, bringing order to the rebellion scum! Tie Fighter brings the best Star Wars has to offer to the table: atmosphere and the incredibly deep and delicious universe it is set in. You go on missions, talk to officers, complete objectives, with so much emersion you sometimes forget that you're just sat at a PC screen. Everything about Tie Fighter is good, sound, gameplay, and for 1995 the graphics are amazing, its a fully functional flight simulator too, with hundreds of complex controls to learn if you're going to fly with the big boys. It would be even better with a modern release, but I feel that current gaming trends and gimmicks would ruin it. Also, Darth Vader, The Emperor, and Thrawn are your bosses... I hear the pension is good!
1. Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D
Why I adore it: I made a vow when writing this I wouldn't fill up 3 spaces with Rogue Squadron games, so I chose the best one that I love most. RS is my all time favourite Star Wars game franchise, set during and after the original movies it follows Luke, Wedge and friends blowing the shit out of the imperials in a variety of settings both on land and space, in many different variations of craft from both sides of the war. Rebel Strike 3 is the worst of the franchise with horrible on-foot sections, with 2 being my favourite for movie accuracy, but 1 overall because of the gameplay, design, effects and nostalgia. Unlike Tie Fighter it is an arcade game, with plenty of missions that have quick replayability to test your skill, and different ships which present a whole number of different challenges. My personal favourite craft is the Y-Wing heavy bomber, its so slow and difficult to fly, meaning you're often open to an easy attack by Tie Interceptors. But its so powerful you can literally destroy a whole complex with two bombs, plus it can take one hell of a beating. The ion cannon is also fun for disabling enemy craft and watching them hilariously tumble to the ground in a fantastic explosion. After the 14 years or so this game has been out I've STILL never achieved a gold medal on every level... so I'd say its the most challenging game I've ever played, the movie-esque unlockable levels are good fun though, plus the secret Millenium Falcon, Tie Interceptor, Naboo Starfighter, Buick (yes, they let you fly a CAR) and a Chicken Walker AT-ST always kept you searching for more goodies. 3 whilst mostly shit, DID introduce a fully functional 2 player version of the 2nd game which was amazing, plus some dogfight modes, I just wish they'd developed a 4th one to combine all their best elements of the first 3 games... ah well...
Worst games (that I have been unfortunate enough to play)...
1. Star Wars Starfighter
Why? Its a poor mans Rogue Squadron. Who the hell cares about Naboo. You're actually saving Jar Jar, you know.
2. Star Wars Galaxies
Poor suckers who stuck with it for the longest, all that money, gone. The update that ruined it for Jedi everywhere, the horrible episode 2 and 3 updates, bleh.
3. Star Wars Force Unleashed/2
Seriously? No optimisation for PC? And rather than crafting a genuinely interesting storyline you'd rather have us travel to hoth and kill Luke Skywalker? Awful game.
4. The whole NES/SNES Star Wars era
Without wanting to attract hate from people with intense nostalgia for these games, they just haven't aged well. I was informed that I should play them if I loved Star Wars but instead just found a collection of insanely difficult and unfair games that couldn't hold a candle to Super Metroid, Mario World or Donkey Kong Country.
5. Star Wars Flight of the Falcon GBA
If/when you could see this shitting game on your GBA, you'd be rewarded with an infuriatingly annoying/difficult game that sort of half followed the movies and did the rest with filler. Just watch the movies instead.
Thanks for everything Lucasarts, you will be sorely missed...
May the force be with you all.
And the loss of LucasArts was rather a blow to me as well. I guess this means we can kiss Guybrush Threepwood and Kyle Katarn goodbye.
Anyway, if you like Doom, then chances are you'll like Dark Forces, because it's basically just Doom with blasters, stormtroopers and John Williams instead of shotguns, demons and metal. Jedi Knight and Mysteries of the Sith show their age quite a bit with their graphics, but they're engaging classics, in my view. Jedi Outcast is even better, I'd say, possibly even the series' pinnacle, and Jedi Academy isn't much different.
Basically, imagine Chuck Norris, then give him a lightsaber. If that sounds like an appealing prospect for a player character, then Kyle and his games should be to your tastes. If you do decide to go for it, I hope you enjoy them!
I haven't played too many Star Wars games to be honest ^^'
The only ones I recall where:
- Jedi Knight 2: Jedi outcast (which imo was pretty decent and fun )
- Pod Racer (once again – pretty decent and even fun, considering it came from... the Movie-which-name-we-shall-not-say...)
- Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (I could write an essay about how bad this game is for me. All I can say: “Age of Star Wars: We got to have money!”)
See if I were to write for Star Wars (preferably under a pseudonym given how balkanized the fanbase is) it'd be more like what the writers of KOTOR wrote. Not just because of the silly force use...
"[Force Persuade] You two. Give me all your credits.. then go jump into the pit right there."
"[Success] B...but....must...can't... resist. here. Take the credits... I have to go."
"[Success] Jumping into the pit is a good idea. Get to ground faster that way."
On a side note, yesterday was also Free Comic Book day. And I got a really kick ass Star Wars comic.
game with a big stupid periferal that strapped ovre the keyboard, could even set your figures on it~
the game played much like Dragons Lair (i think?) in which you pushed the right button on your discount millenium falcon to make the thing on the screen go...else you got the standard explosion game over screen
since the game was pretty much a FMV quick time event your reward for beating the game gave you
i...think?...the ending to episode 6 (return of the jedi?)
it was pretty short and pretty crap
and not as good as Dark Forces, my only other star wards game untill rouge squadron
but then again Dark forces was hard to go wrong with
i had no idea they made a sequel to that game for the longest time...i should get it
Problem is, it's hard to get into that "online" scene because it's already too oversaturated as is. :<
At my choice KTOR should be on first. its a great game with very good story very close to original saga.