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Lynata wrote:I'm a bit cautious after the whole "The Force Unleashed" gak
I enjoyed the first Force Unleashed enough to play through it twice. It had the right ambience, IMO, if not anything particularly cool regarding gameplay. For someone looking for "authentic" Star Wars, that was enough for me. I don't know anything about FUII (lol, just not realized the game can be abbreviated "FU") except that Kanluwen told me it was way too short.
Litterally adore all of it, favourates are ALL the movies, i swear episode 1 is actually well good, the mix of battlescenes and the very end hasn't been matched for me in any of the other movies.
The games are also great, personal favourates are rogue squadron on PC, and the simply brilliant in every way Knights of the Old Republic I and II.
Also, now and forever, i am willing to give anything at all, including sexual favours, organs and my abilities as a badminton player for a real-life lightsaber. Any colour accepted.
Bromsy wrote:There is one good side to the prequels. Finding people who defend them, sitting them down, and forcing them to watch the Red Letter Media reviews, which spell out in exacting detail how bad the movies are. Then asking them to repeat their arguments.
"badness" is objective. Sure you can force someone to watch those videos, but that doesn't mean that they stop liking the films, it just means that you're being a dick and trying to ruin their fun.
No. That doesn't make me a dick, it makes me a crusader for good and justice. Letting people be stupid and wrong is not the right path. I choose the difficult road of trying to help people rather than let them wallow in ignorance and sin.
RLM *likes* the horrible Star Trek remake, which to me automatically disqualifies him as a source of valuable opinions on movies.
Also, that last post reminded me of
Spoiler:
Manchu wrote:[I enjoyed the first Force Unleashed enough to play through it twice. It had the right ambience, IMO, if not anything particularly cool regarding gameplay. For someone looking for "authentic" Star Wars, that was enough for me. I don't know anything about FUII (lol, just not realized the game can be abbreviated "FU") except that Kanluwen told me it was way too short.
I didn't play it myself - the graphics were impressive, but what put me off was how the badassery of the player character was constantly being hyped in just about every preview, review and ad I've seen. You get to pull the most ridiculous stunts, you get to kick Vader's ass, you get to found the Rebellion, etc pp. That's just not what I want from a Star Wars game. I want to be a part of the setting, not dominate it at every corner. The retcon with the Rebel Alliance crest actually being the family emblem of the TFU guy just makes me want to vomit. Onto the head of whatever writer signed that off. Unless he'd actually like that.
Really, how hard can it be to make a cool game that does not try to make you the center of the universe and gak all over what came before? Let's hope 1313 aims at a different angle - at least you're not some uberhuge Force user in there. I think.
Manchu wrote:An elegant sport for a more civilized age.
I was born in '71 and Episodes 4-6 are the be all end all of Star Wars for me. End stop.
The rest since then for me is some sort of insidious marketing experiment gone horribly wrong that continues to fester and mutate like some horrible STD...
I will always have fond childhood memories of the original trilogy and the time I spent immersing myself in that universe, but present day the magic is gone for me and I'm not all that exited about anything new at this point...
Hmm... I remain a fan of the original trilogy and enjoy playing Star Wars Battlefronts. Episodes I-III had the odd moment, but for the most part, they were utter
This was kind of a good thing, because I was getting Star Wars obsessed at the time. I didn't remain obsessed for very long.
Lynata wrote:I want to be a part of the setting, not dominate it at every corner.
Good point. Somehow, the Apprentice never came off as that powerful. Pulling the Star Destoyer down, for example, didn't seem like the huge deal they made it out to be in the trailer.
Matty as always is relatively into it, but totally shakes his head at the fanboism. I just think its decent Sci-fi so I enjoy it, but thats about as far as it goes.
I loved the first three I saw as a youngster, I hated the last few. But I am "into" Starwars after being so impressed with it for so long.
For example, I have read about 6 of the "new" novels, I bought both the clone wars DVDs by Genndy Tartakovsky when they first came out, and I loved Dark Forces and such on the PC back in the day.. but thats about it from me.
No costumes, conventions, long chats about lore or T-shirts or anything.
Although.. to my eternal shame I did dress as a Stormtrooper for my mates stag do...
Automatically Appended Next Post: I've just noticed Darth was a fething midget.. why the hell did the smallest fether in the party get Darth!?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/16 19:44:19
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
I don't think there's been a truly good SW film since TESB. And yes, I even felt that way when I was 13 walking out of ROTJ. That one fell flat for me even as a 13-year-old, as did the prequels.
I thought the X-Wing/TIE fighter/X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter games were fun. And I thought the Thrawn novels were decent brain candy. But that's really the last SW fiction I've read.
Clone Wars seems like it's decently done, but I've maybe seen an episode or two. So I guess this all means I'm really not much of a fan, despite being into it in a major way as a young child.
As I said, the Clone Wars by GT was spot on though, I was genuinely impressed with it.
We are arming Syrian rebels who support ISIS, who is fighting Iran, who is fighting Iraq who we also support against ISIS, while fighting Kurds who we support while they are fighting Syrian rebels.
I loved Rogue Squadron for the 64. I got a gold on every mission after about, 4 years of on-off play? Damn that was rewarding. I think I still have it in a box somewhere.
Bromsy wrote:There is one good side to the prequels. Finding people who defend them, sitting them down, and forcing them to watch the Red Letter Media reviews, which spell out in exacting detail how bad the movies are. Then asking them to repeat their arguments.
"badness" is objective. Sure you can force someone to watch those videos, but that doesn't mean that they stop liking the films, it just means that you're being a dick and trying to ruin their fun.
No. That doesn't make me a dick, it makes me a crusader for good and justice. Letting people be stupid and wrong is not the right path. I choose the difficult road of trying to help people rather than let them wallow in ignorance and sin.
The very fact that you seem to think that because someone likes something that you don't, they're ignorant, is worrying.
I'll say it again. Liking stuff is objective. you can say that X plot point doesn't make sense, or Y character had an annoying voice until you're blue in the face, but that doesn't mean that someone can't enjoy the films despite those.
[edit: my grammar is awful at the moment for some reason]
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/17 09:25:13
Lynata wrote:I'm a bit cautious after the whole "The Force Unleashed" gak
I enjoyed the first Force Unleashed enough to play through it twice. It had the right ambience, IMO, if not anything particularly cool regarding gameplay. For someone looking for "authentic" Star Wars, that was enough for me. I don't know anything about FUII (lol, just not realized the game can be abbreviated "FU") except that Kanluwen told me it was way too short.
Indeed it was way, way too short. The Endor DLC was fun, as it continued the "Alternate Timeline" idea.
But that's a different story entirely.
How do I feel about Star Wars?
It's a long story. I've read the books, I've played the games, I've seen the cartoons(including Droids and Ewoks, mind you!), and I've enjoyed the old Decipher card game. One of my first gaming experiences was participating in a card tournament at age 11 or 12, getting absolutely crushed and still coming out of it with the unanimous "best sportsman" award and a special edition card(Gold Leader's Y-Wing from "A New Hope" with the pilot's stats baked in) in foil, and numbered 1/1000. But that's not what Star Wars is for me
For me, Star Wars is something that has been a part of my life since I was 4 and my (now long deceased) grandfather decided it was okay for me to watch it while I was visiting him and my grandmother in Candor, New York. He didn't want to go to a party that my parents and grandmother were going to--he had something far more important to spend time with.
Me.
So he decided we'd find something to watch on TV, and a local affiliate was showing the Star Wars movies. His idea was "Well, there's not really any swearing, there's not too much violence, and his father absolutely loved these movies...so I'll share that with him." So at 12pm, we started watching.
And we kept watching until way past my bedtime...
But after watching "A New Hope", I was pretty much sucked into this universe from the start. I loved space, I loved robots and wizards and dinosaurs and monsters, and I loved this fantastic world where all of those things were there! I had to see the other movies, and there was no stopping it. We watched "The Empire Strikes Back", and then went to watch "Return of the Jedi" before I got absolutely unnerved by the Sarlacc Pit and Jabba the Hut in "Return". But that didn't put me off of the universe. Oh no...I had to keep watching. I had to see what happened. And that moment where Vader throws Palpatine will always make me remember my grandfather and the words he said.
"Do you know what I think the person who made this movie wanted you to take from this, Nicholas? He wanted you to take an important lesson from it: No matter how far down you've fallen...you can come back. While all your triumphs can be taken away from you and you can be remembered for your tragedies, your losses and your failures are not irreparable. You just have to realize that they were yours and own up to them. You have to work to make things right. There is always a path back, but it might not be the easiest path."
The next day my grandfather took me to a flea market with him, as he was going to find parts for his CB radio. We were walking around, and lo and behold...we found a gentleman who used to own a toy shop selling some Star Wars figures...still on card or in their boxes. A Wampa, a Tauntaun, Luke and Han in their Hoth gear, a Scout Biker, and --this is going to make people rage so freaking hard at me for this--a Boba Fett who actually had the firing backpack missile.
Right then and there--I had to have these. They were too cool, and it just had to be mine. My grandfather couldn't say no--especially not to the price the guy wanted(freaking $40 for all of that). $40 for something for his only grandchild at the time? He wouldn't have even dreamed of saying no, even if he couldn't have afforded it.
But of course with him, there was a catch...he got to be the Wampa when we played Star Wars when we got home!
The next week and a half at Grandpa's was spent playing Star Wars with him, and it's something I always will cherish.
It was one of the last times I would ever get to spend with him, just him and I. That same year my first brother was born and my cousin was born as well. The year after that, he passed away of particularly aggressive lung cancer. But those figures stayed with me until my stupid brothers broke them and they got trashed by my mom (who only saw broken toys, not treasured memories).
Star Wars has changed over the years. No matter what though, I always remember that wide eyed feeling I had watching the entire trilogy with my grandfather shortly after Christmas of 1990 and the New Year's Eve marathon that he let me watch.
That sense of wonder, and the "NO WAY" of Vader being Luke's father.
That sense of awe when Vader decided "Enough" and sacrificed himself.
No matter what has changed through the technology or the prequels, I can only thank George Lucas for those memories.
Star Wars, for me, isn't a movie.
It's a memory and a lesson.
mattyrm wrote: Oh yeah that last animated movie as well....
fething awful.
As I said, the Clone Wars by GT was spot on though, I was genuinely impressed with it.
The Clone Wars movie was never really meant to be a movie, which is part of why it was so bad. It's actually the first two episodes of the first season of the Clone Wars TV series. They mashed em together and then called it a movie.
Terrible, terrible decision. That's also back when Ahsoka is still using "Ar-Tooey" and "Skyguy", which is beyond obnoxious. Thankfully it has gotten much, much better.
Kan, we may not get along all that well much of the time, but what you just wrote ... wow, just wow.
Have an exaltation.
streamdragon wrote:"Skyguy", which is beyond obnoxious.
She still does it later on, it's just gotten a lot more rare. Y'know, like a proper nickname, something you just don't use every single time, especially in front of other people.
When you hear her calling him "Skyguy", or him calling her "Snips", you know they're just teasing each other.
But yeah, that movie really cannot compare to the later episodes. Especially stuff like the Ryloth or the Malevolence Trilogies.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/16 23:09:23
I really liked the "proper 3 films" but thought the recent prequals were terrible in all respects.
I quite liked the cartoon (except for the stupid comedy robots and Jar jar)
be interested to see what FFG can do with it
I AM A MARINE PLAYER
"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos
"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001
Howard A Treesong wrote:Got to admit, recently I introduced a friend to the Star Wars trilogy, did the original three and told her to skip the prequels.
I think the prequels were always going to struggle to live up to expectations, but they fell quite a bit short.
,
Dah there's a difference between having to work hard to compare to a beloved original IP and falling straight on one's face.
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long
I'm with the OP. the original movies have an amazingly inspired,,organic quality to them which, IMO, made them such a tremendous success.
Whatever chemistry between the director, actors and numerous creative people that existed during those times is now gone, and everything that has come after is a pathetic mechanical attempt to cash in on that chemical reaction which has ended.
I especially hate all the cartoons and video games that have arisen. The art style in particular. It's very Disney looking, and inorganic.
Star Wars always had that greasy, dirty, asymmetric look to it, with improvised props and extreme levels of detail. Now it just looks lame and is a sad parody of itself.
I'm not getting the love for Dark Empire unless its a nostalgia thing. I thought it was pretty cool when I was 11-12 as well. I've looked around a bit at reviews and discussions on various Star Wars forums and there is a lot of dislike for it, especially for the art. Most of the like for Dark Empire and most of the EU for that matter is despite its horrendous flaws and repetitive stories.
Seriously though, 3 WMDs (World Devestators, Galaxy Gun, Eclipse /w Death Star Superlaser) is OOT in one story alone, adding in Luke turning to the Dark Side for a piss poor reason, three Jedi that miraculously survived Order 66 (including an Ent and Pacman), Palpatine having dozens of clones and acting like a moron for most of the series and you end up with a sorry story.
The Thrawn Trilogy was good because it introduced new elements and focused on something other than Jedi and Sith for a bit. Thrawn was nothing like any character seen in the OT, Karrde was a bit like Solo and Calrissian, but much more pragmatic and calculating, C'baoth was an interesting way to introduce a Jedi survivor, and Jade hadn't become OOT yet.
Cave_Dweller wrote:I'm with the OP. the original movies have an amazingly inspired,,organic quality to them which, IMO, made them such a tremendous success.
Whatever chemistry between the director, actors and numerous creative people that existed during those times is now gone, and everything that has come after is a pathetic mechanical attempt to cash in on that chemical reaction which has ended.
I especially hate all the cartoons and video games that have arisen. The art style in particular. It's very Disney looking, and inorganic.
Star Wars always had that greasy, dirty, asymmetric look to it, with improvised props and extreme levels of detail. Now it just looks lame and is a sad parody of itself.
Are you seriously saying that every cartoon and video game of Star Wars since the original trilogy all have exactly the same art style?
Seriously?
And if you think that all these different media that supposedly all have the same art style are "Disney looking", then I'd propose that you've not actually watched anything from Disney (either that or you've not seen anything star wars based, and since this is a star wars thread I'd really hope that that isn't true) because the animation styles are vastly different.
Compare the animation styles in UP and The Clone Wars. The characters in UP are shorter, more unrealistic, and more stylised.
For those wondering about using LEGO figures for a wargame, there is this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brikwars I don't know how good it is but, there it is.
Amaya wrote:I'm not getting the love for Dark Empire unless its a nostalgia thing.
It's a couple of things:
The artwork was both gritty and mystical. As I mentioned, the combination of severe inking and watercoloring over those blocky lines invokes a familiarity with the "utilitarian future" look of the OT on the one hand and a sense of fresh mystery and a completely new psychedelic atmosphere on the other. It was pitch perfect for the tenor of a story about the persistence of evil and the deeper nature of the force. Speaking of which, the idea that the man who forged the Empire would just be thrown down a ventilation duct by his right hand man while his crack troops were massacred by teddy bears never set well with me and many other fans. The revelation in Dark Empire that the Emperor had constructed the entire scenario as a purge made a lot of sense.
IMO, a sense of moral ambivalence came along with the prosperity of the 1990s. I don't mean that either phenomenon was at its apogee in 1991 but rather these were were emergent attitudes that people were not yet fully aware of even as they experienced them. The black and white moral universe of the OT was not as relevant. And our IRL "victory" over Communism did not yield the uncomplicated world many had expected. Instead, the world appeared less coherent. In Dark Empire, this zeitgeist was reflected in the Imperial infighting and how the Alliance was actually still a Rebellion. Even in this fictional universe, history would be more complicated than blowing up a single space station. And the redemption of Darth Vader had not totally clarified things, either. The idea of the Emperor surviving Endor and Luke kneeling before him was and is an incredibly chilling postscript to the American hopes and expectations portrayed in the OT.
In many ways, I believe Dark Empire reflected the anxieties of the times. Luke's turn spoke to the experience of youthful idealism giving way to a hunger that was not merely a matter of practicality but also of despair and even greed. The World Devastator was a prescient image of consumerism as the destroyer of societies. The proliferation of super weapons made sense in a time when the rapidly decreasing cost of technology might make SDI plausible sooner rather than later. More than anything, Dark Empire visually depicted the Star Wars universe as cracked, splintered, and littered with broken weapons -- the scrap heap graveyard of a long and costly war. That spoke to me as a reader in the immediate wake of the Cold War. It made me realize how silly it was to expect that everything would be better after RotJ or, for that matter, the exuberance surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/17 14:46:49
Melissia wrote:Meh, it's okay. Has some decent games for it, and is an okay setting for roleplays at times.
Also this is the only reason I would choose SW over Star Trek. Star Trek has far better movies.
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
Amaya wrote:The Thrawn Trilogy was good because it introduced new elements and focused on something other than Jedi and Sith for a bit.
Looking back, the biggest contribution Zahn made to Star Wars was the rehabilitation of the Empire. Imagine a historical novel about a good, noble, and wise Nazi general who was also somehow a Jew. That's Thrawn with regard to the Star Wars franchise. A lot of Star Wars fans, including myself, somehow adored the bad guys of the OT. Zahn gave us a moral justification for our guilty love of the baddies by making one of the most capable of them a good guy. He even wears a white uniform! And he has a Watson-like sidekick to constantly reinforce the audience awe of his brilliance and nobility.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/17 14:54:44
streamdragon wrote:Wait... you dont like the Clone Wars series but you do like a series of novels widely regarded as the worst EU crap available?
I don't see it. Sorry your opinion sucks. A quick google search showed me that it isn't widely regarded as the worst EU books and that you are full of gak. Obviously you have different tastes. For instance you imply that the clone wars is better, therefore your opinion is invalid.
Spoiler:
Did you actually watch any of The Clone Wars? I mean, it's all well and good saying that it's awful and ruined your opinion of star wars and raped a kitten, but can you actually say what you actually found wrong with it? Was it the characters? The storylines? The tone?
I mean, if you've seen it and don't like it then fine, but the vast majority of people who've told me that they don't like The Clone Wars have formed the opinion entirely from either the trailer or from hearsay, and very rarely actually watched the program.
Well it is not something I think about much. I would have to dig deep to remember what it was that I didn't like. Off the top of my head, I do remember hating with a passion what they did with the Mandalorians, namely those ones called the New Mandalorians. There was something about them being peaceful yet they was able to remove the other mandalorians from the planet.
I do recall the Mando episodes being a major issue for people, especially fans of the Travis clone/mando stuff. I didn't have an issue with them, myself, other than being a bit bland.
Not to mention Travis is a hack... (andthenbobafetttakesthestuffandnowislikeimmortaland*sploosh*)
