My list of the Top 10 Best Star Wars Video Games comes to an end with the final five picks.
5: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
As a young teen, the Lego Star Wars games were some of my favorite games. I achieved 100% completion on both the first two games, and nearly 100% completion on this game, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. While I completely dropped the Lego game franchise after The Clone Wars, the franchise never really could top the simple brilliance of the puzzles in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones games.
4: Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast finally allowed the player to be a true Jedi, specifically, Kyle Katarn. Why haven't there been a new game that uses a similar Lightsaber and FPS (first-person-shooter) mechanics of Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast? Seriously, the game is over a decade old and no other game series captures what it is like to be a gunslinging Jedi quite like Jedi Outcast.
3: Star Wars: The Old Republic
BioWare's MMORPG (massively-multiplayer-online-role-playing-game), The Old Republic has caused quite a stir in the gaming community. Some say that it is a disaster, while others love it. Personally, the game is not worth a subscription fee, but the free-to-play aspect of the game is a blast if you can play with friends. While I have not played after the recent update, which is said to improve the game drastically, The Old Republic is a fun and expansive game with a solid story that ties into one of the greatness eras of the Star Wars EU. If you want to give it a shot, you can play the game for free!
2: Star Wars: Battlefront II
Star Wars: Battlefront II and the first Battlefront are two of my favorite video games of all-time. I could not count the many hours my brother and I played the games. Sure, EA has attempted to bring the franchise back, and while the new game is quite fun, the original Battlefront is still packed with far more content and a class system that makes the new game look tiny in comparison. Also, the Hero Assault on Mos Eisley is one of the most fun things ever in video games.
1: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Finally, number one, the greatest game to ever come from Star Wars, Knights of the Old Republic, aka KotOR. KotOR is not only the best Star Wars video game ever, it is one of my favorite video games of all-time. It redefined what I came to expect from video games. KotOR showed me just how incredible video game storytelling could be, and it is the precursor to my favorite video game franchise, Mass Effect. Of all the Star Wars content outside of the films, KotOR is my favorite story. It packed with depth, emotion, and shocking plot twists. If you are a gamer and Star Wars fan, you owe it to yourself to play Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it is a true masterpiece of gaming.
What are your favorite Star Wars video game? Please comment below and let me know! If you missed part 1, click here to read it.
Note: I have never played Star Wars: Republic Commando.
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Star Wars, not only is it a massive Saga spanning several movies, hundreds of books, and several hundred TV episodes, there are nearly a hundred video games based on the movies and other original content, and today I am ranking the Top 10 Best Star Wars Video Games!
Ever since I was a five year old little kid, I have played Star Wars video games, and throughout the years, I have owned more than 20 Star Wars video games, a few of which I bought for the sole purpose as a collector item. Seriously, I bought Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi because it is considered the "Worst Star Wars Ever," and yes, it is sucks. So yeah, I love Star Wars video games. However, as with any list, my choices are limited to the games that I have played, so if your favorite did not make the list, I probably haven't played it yet! And as one rule, only one game per-series of games will be included. Otherwise, half the list would be KOTOR and Battlefront.
10: Star Wars: Empire at War
After several RTS (real-time-strategy) games, Petroglyph Games finally got it right, well, kind of right. Sure, Empire at War is no masterpiece of the RTS genre, but it did give players the ability to conquer the galaxy at large and even destroy entire planets with the Death Star!
9: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
In many ways, The Force Unleashed was a disappointment. It may have given the players a chance to become a Dark Jedi and destroy legions of Stormtroopers, but the controls and combat are not nearly as impressive as they look. However, The Force Unleashed made up for a lackluster game with an involving story about the formation of the Rebellion and the rise and fall of Starkiller, Darth Vader's secret apprentice.
8: Star Wars Racer Revenge
Probably the least well known game on the list, Racer Revenge is an underrated and all too often forgotten Podracer game. You can tour the galaxy and race on various planets in the Star Wars galaxy, from Mon Calamari to Tatooine! The races are fast pace and full of secret shortcuts to make things all the more intense.
7: Star Wars: Battlefront (2015)
EA's recent attempt to bring back the Battlefront, Star Wars: Battlefront is a bit controversial for the lack of content on release. However, if you take a step back and look at the game itself, Battlefront is a well crafted shooter that is a blast to play, even if there is not nearly enough content. The game almost makes up for the lack of with those moments when you are a mere soldier on Hoth as fighters battle overhead and an AT-AT is on the brink of destruction falls to your at your feet. Overall, Battlefront is a fun game thus far, just not one packed with content. And to be clear, EA’s Battlefront counts as an entirely different franchise than Pandemic Studios’ Battlefront, which you will see later on the list.
6: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
While the sequel, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, is often considered the better game, I never played that one. So instead, the first game in the franchise, Rogue Squadron, makes the list! Rogue Squadron gives the player the ability to fight in many of the greatest starfighter battles from the films, as well as playout its interesting campaign missions. With the addition of a few cheat codes to unlock classic Star Wars starfighters like the Millennium Falcon, Rogue Squadron is one of the most fun games to come from the Star Wars franchise.
Where do these games rank on your favorites? Please comment below and let me know!
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Batman: Arkham Origins releases today! The third game in the Batman: Arkham video game series is out today. The Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City games are the closest thing you will ever get to actually becoming the Dark Knight. If you are a Batman fan, you own it to yourself to play the Arkham games because they are awesome. Seriously, they would at least make my Top 10 Video games of all-time. Since the game has just been released, I have decided that I will review the other two Batman games and then Origins after I finish it. Also I have already pre-ordered Origins and it will hopefully arrive in a few days. My main concern about the game is that Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are not back to reprise their roles as Batman and the Joker, and Rocksteady is not making the game, but instead are handing it over to Warner Bros. Games Montréal. Despite this, the multiplayer is intriguing and reason to play the game's awesome combat system is a good one. Do you plan to buy the game? Are you a fan of the other Arkham games? Please comment below.
Note: Due to the massive amount of spam comments, comments on this post have been disabled.
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Thoughts: Mass Effect is a science fiction video game franchise and one of the best sci-fi stories ever told. While it may seem like a bold claim, the Mass Effect trilogy is my favorite video game series and one of best experiences I have ever had with a work of fiction. Also it is available on PC if you do not own a gaming console. Since most readers are not gamers, I will explain how the Mass Effect games work. Think of it a "choose your own adventure" book combined with a movie, because you, the player, get to choose how the story progresses according to your actions. Most of the choices are done through the dialogue choices of your character, who you create. The main character, Commander (insert name) Shepard, is customizable, meaning that you decide the gender, class, and overall look of the character. Tomorrow in the next episode of the podcast, Jordan and I will further discuss the Mass Effect series.
One of the many things that make Mass Effect truly great are the characters, specifically your crew on the Normandy (your ship). You get to interact with the characters almost as if they are real people and some characters are "romance-able," meaning you cam form a romantic relationship with another member of your crew, which will carry on into the next game and alter the experience. For example, there is point where you can only save one of crew members and the other must die, and whichever character you choose to save will be in the next two games and you will never see the other character again. While half of the game is making dialogue choices, the other half is the combat, which is fun because you can upgrade your character to fit your gaming preference. For those more interested in the story than the combat, you can lower the difficulty to an easier mode, which I recommend for those new to RPGs (Role-playing-games).
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3,
Release Date: November 20, 2007
ESRB rating: M
The Good: Best video game story ever, Film quality voice cast, Unique dialogue system, Loveable characters, Well executed romance options, Tough choices, Long lasting appeal, Your decisions matter, Original sci-fi universe, Unforgettable experience, Tons of side quests, Replay value, Many choices, Great villain, Superb soundtrack, Decisions effect the sequels,
The Bad: Dated game play,
Warning: Mass Effect is rated "M" for mature content including mild profanity, violence, brief and optional sexual content. Basically, it is equivalent to a PG-13 movie.
Plot: 10/10- Mass Effect is the first chapter in one of the best fictional experiences ever created. Because the player has the decision to direct your character's actions, it offers an experience that no other form of media can offer. The characters are well developed, providing you explore their backstories and talk to them, which is optional. While the romance in the later games are better developed, Mass Effect 1 serves as a good starting point and the choices you make in that respect are important to what happens in the next game.
Gameplay: 8.1/10- Gameplay is the only slightly weak aspect of Mass Effect because the vehicle missions are somewhat awkward to control, unless you have are playing the PC version, which is said to be much better. The third-person-shooter controls can be slightly odd because of the RPG elements blended with the shooting aspect. However, combining both the RPG turn-based type game and the shooting part created something entirely unique that requires both strategy and fast react time.
Graphics: 8.9/10- For a game that is six years old, the graphics holdup surprisingly well. The character models still look very realistic, even by today's standards, particularly the default Shepard. The atmosphere and design for the alien species are stunning and original, one of the best and most unique science fiction universes to date.
Voice Acting: 10/10- Until Mass Effect's sequels, this had the best voice acting in a game period. There are so many dialogue options; it is mind boggling! Both male and female Shepard are voiced in full and so are all of the characters, even aliens; they have a ton of well acted dialogue. Liz Sroka gives a standout performance as the always loveable Tali'Zorah. Also Seth Green, creator of Robot Chicken, is absolutely hilarious as the pilot of the Normandy, Joker. There is not a weak performance among the cast and they get even better as the series continues.
Sound Design/Score: 9.9/10- Jack Wall's score perfectly compliments the game. Many of the themes are memorable, particularly the "Love" and "Spectre" themes.
Humor: 7.8/10- Although Mass Effect is far from a comedy game, there is a good amount of humor, mostly from the pilot Joker, voiced by Seth Green.
Lasting Appeal: 10/10- On my first play through I spent roughly 30+ hours and about 17+ hours on my second time through. It will surely be a game that I will play through again and again trying all the different possibilities.
Overall: 9.8/10- Despite Mass Effect's age, the game is an absolute must play for science fiction fans or RPG fans.
Closing comments: Even non-gamers should consider playing Mass Effect because few forms of media gives you such a unique and complete experience.
Thoughts: Wreck-It Ralph, the movie that video game fans have been waiting for years, does it disappoint? Basically, Wreck-It Ralph is the equivalent to Toy Story for the gamer generation like myself, except so much better than any Pixar has ever done. As a die-heart video games fanatic the first half of the film was a geek-fest of nerdy awesomeness! More on the references later. As for the film itself, Wreck-It Ralph is a ton of fun filled with adventure and humor throughout. There are a few problem, which I explain in a "Plot" section, but as a whole it does not disappoint.
Even though many of the games referenced were more of the 80s and 90s arcade era, being a video game history buff I got more than 95% of the references, which was hilariously awesome. There were times when I literally pointed at the screen like "Oh, is that what I think it? That's really clever and funny!" My favorite was probably the Metal Gear Solid exclamation point (!), complete with original sound effects, but it would have been great to actually see Solid Snake. Some of the video games characters that appeared in the film were rather surprising, particularly the Mortal Kombat character Kano considering that the franchise is known for being among the goriest games out there. Although direct references to more modern games such as Mass Effect and Halo would have been great, but it probably would have not fit with the arcade setting very well, however there is hope for the sequel. Among all of the video game references there is small Star Wars reference, which makes me think was this originally planned before Disney bought Star Wars? Since it was in production long before the deal finished it could just be a coincidence because what filmmaker is not a Star Wars or it could have been a last minute type of thing because it was so minor. Despite being loaded with references they were actually subtle and only distracted if you know what the reference is, opposed to blatantly pointing it out.
Directed by: Rich Moore
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Video Game, Adventure, Family
Release Date: November 2, 2012
Running Time: 101 minutes
MMPA rating: PG
The Good: Tons of video game references, Amazing first half, Excellent cast, Hilarious video game jokes, Metal Gear Solid reference, Mostly humorous candy jokes (although a bit too much), Pac-Man!, Retro video game soundtrack, Small Star Wars reference!, Awesome Easter eggs, "Hero's Duty" scene, Nintendo characters (not Mario), Sonic cameo, Cool action scenes, Street Fighter cameos, Original concept, Did I mention video game references, Visually stunning, Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun was awesome, Leeroy Jenkins!,
The Bad: Too much "Sugar Rush", Unnecessarily childish second half (I know it is a kid's movie, but it still could have been handled better),
Plot: The following plot summery is copied from Wikipedia.com.
When Litwak's Arcade closes at night, the various video-game characters leave their normal in-game roles and are free to travel to other games. Within the game Fix-It Felix, Jr., the characters celebrate its titular hero but loathe the game's villain character, Wreck-It Ralph. At a support group for video-game antagonists, Ralph reveals his desire to stop being the bad guy. Back home, Ralph finds the other characters celebrating their game's 30th anniversary without inviting him. Felix reluctantly invites Ralph to join them, but the others ostracize him, saying he would have to earn a medal, just as Felix does in their game.
At Tapper's, Ralph learns he can win a medal in the first-person shooter game Hero's Duty. Ralph enters the game and encounters Sergeant Calhoun, its no-nonsense leader. Between game sessions, Ralph climbs the game's central beacon and collects the medal, accidentally hatching a Cy-Bug, one of the game's enemies. The Cy-Bug clings to Ralph as he stumbles into an escape pod that launches him out of the game. Meanwhile, with Ralph missing, a girl reports to Litwak the arcade owner that Fix-It Felix, Jr. is malfunctioning. Since broken games get unplugged, leaving their characters homeless, Felix goes to find Ralph.
Watch the movie to what happens next.
Plot: 9.6/10- Despite a ton of references in the first half, the film does unfortunately shy away from the video game references in the second half. Since the movie needed to appeal a verity of movie goers, this is understandable however, was it really unnecessary to spend so much time in the fictional and childish game "Sugar Rush"? Some of it had good character building moments and seemed necessary, but a few parts could have been cut or replaced with more of the other video games. Also there were some parts in "Sugar Rush" that were unnecessarily childish and pandered towards little girls, it could have been easily changed to appeal to a wider audience. Even with those problems, the climax was great, reminiscent of classic video games boss fights and the characters were given a solid story arc. There is a plot twist that I saw coming, but from what I heard in the review most did not see it coming.
Action: 8.5/10- For an animated film, the action was fantastic. During the "Hero's Duty" scene the action was all over-the-place, in an awesome chaotic video game way. It actually reminded me of the Collector Base attack in Mass Effect 2, did anyone else think of that? The cart race was fun, thrilling and reminded me of Mario Kart.
Acting: 9.7/10- Overall the cast was top notch with every member giving an excellent performance. Jane Lynch was the standout of the film as the tough military commander Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun. John C. Reilly as Ralph was solid in the title role. Jack McBrayer as Fix-It Felix, Jr. was excellently cast in his role. Although Sarah Silverman's character, Vanellope von Schweetz, was intentionally annoying, she was a tad too annoying at times. Many of the video game characters who had a cameo were voiced by their original actors, which was great.
Art Style: 9.9/10- Wreck-It Ralph might have the best 3D animated art design I have ever seen. Everything was crisp and clean were it needed to be and the design for characters in the older 8-bit games was very clever. Each game had a unique art style, yet they blended well into a coherent film well.
Soundtrack: 9.4/10- The score was reminiscent of video games from the arcade era and gave the film a great retro atmosphere. Normally any use of licensed songs during
Comedy: 8.5/10- Humor is the only aspect were Wreck-It Ralph slightly disappoints, while there are plenty of hilarious moments and jokes, some of the humor was too childish and not funny. Obviously the video game references were absolutely hysterical, most of which was in the first half. Although some of the candy jokes were good, but some humor just did not work. However, it is far funnier than the majority of animated films and still among the best in the animated comedy genre. Humor Percentage Hilarious: 65% Mildly Funny: 20% Not Funny: 15%
Would I Watch This Again: Most definitely, to catch even more of the references a second viewing is a must.
Overall: 9.6/10- There is so much I love about Wreck-It Ralph from a video game fanatic perspective, but there a few things that just did not work and it drug at times. However, Wreck-It Ralph is possibly the best 3D animated film ever made, even if there are a few minor things that I would tweak and an absolutely must watch for video game fans. On the other hand, it is difficult to determine whether non-video game fans would enjoy the film but there should be enough there for the general audience to enjoy.
Note: All rating are relative to other animated films, not live-action. The score would be closer to 8.4/10 compared to most films.
Closing Comments: Even with a few flaws, Wreck-It Ralph blended video games, an original story, and likable characters into a fun family film that has enough for older video game fans like myself to enjoy. Considering the film success, maybe it will revive some of the old franchises like Pac-Man for the modern era.
Reviewing Wreck-It Ralph has reminded me of how much I want to review video games, so if you have a request for a video game for me to review please comment. (I own a Xbox 360, Wii, and PS2).
Also a big thanks goes to Buddy2Blogger for hosting a Redbox giveaway, which I won, that gave the means to rent the Blu-Ray.
BioWare's MMORPG (massively-multiplayer-online-role-playing-game), The Old Republic has caused quite a stir in the gaming community. Some say that it is a disaster, while others love it. Personally, the game is not worth a subscription fee, but the free-to-play aspect of the game is a blast if you can play with friends. While I have not played after the recent update, which is said to improve the game drastically, The Old Republic is a fun and expansive game with a solid story that ties into one of the greatness eras of the Star Wars EU. If you want to give it a shot, you can play the game for free!
Finally, number one, the greatest game to ever come from Star Wars, Knights of the Old Republic, aka KotOR. KotOR is not only the best Star Wars video game ever, it is one of my favorite video games of all-time. It redefined what I came to expect from video games. KotOR showed me just how incredible video game storytelling could be, and it is the precursor to my favorite video game franchise, Mass Effect. Of all the Star Wars content outside of the films, KotOR is my favorite story. It packed with depth, emotion, and shocking plot twists. If you are a gamer and Star Wars fan, you owe it to yourself to play Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it is a true masterpiece of gaming.
