TIE Construction Yard--Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

A good level to start out with as the Apprentice. Got to kill a bunch of Stormtroopers and Rebels (sorry, they weren't rebels, they were Militia at this point. they wore Rebel uniforms, but they weren't rebels)

Then came the boss fights. First there was a mini boss, an AT-ST. the fight itself was more of a mini game, with regular attacks having virtually no effect. When it came time to finish it off, I blasted it with lightning, stabbed at the eyes with my lightsaber, then picked it up, crushed it into a ball, and slammed it into the ground :)

Next up was the main boss, Rahm Kota (name sounds really familiar. not sure where I heard it before) Best boss fight in a Star Wars game ever. Lots of cool Saber action, lots of property damage. It was one of those fights where you have to see it to get how cool it was. And this is just the first boss fight! I haven't even upgraded any powers or anything!

Skullker Factory--Drill Dozer

Another fun level with some tutorial stuff, but not as much. Almost at the very beginning I had to fight a mini boss, a crane thing that dropped enemies onto me, meaning I had to fight them as well as that thing. Then about half way through the level I had to face not one, but two tanks. Managed to beat them and found the Red Diamond, but then the Skullker boss, Croog showed up and took it. He climbed into his own Dozer, the Scorpion Dozer and I had to fight him. That was a fun fight, although I did die once. After I beat the Scorpion Dozer once, I had to fight it again when Croog used the power of the Red Diamond to transform it. Beat it the second time and he got away, but now I can start buying upgrades for my Dozer.

Why do I get the feeling I will have to fight Croog several times in several different Dozers, Dr. Robotnik style?

Skullker Hideout--Drill Dozer

Not bad for a tutorial level. I like that you have to do the different things you learn, or at least some of them, when it is being explained. and even though this was a tutorial level, it was still fun and a challenge. Not much of a challenge, but for a tutorial level, it was tougher then most.

Fought my way through the hideout and defeated a take to clear the level. I'm not a fan of tutorial levels, but I liked this one and can't wait to play the next level. Or to play this one again, since there was some stuff I couldn't get because my drill isn't strong enough yet

The last few Penny Arcade strips have been talking about the history of copy protection in PC Gaming, something I've had to deal with since my first two PC games (Maniac Mansion and Eye Of The Beholder 2 in case anyone is wondering) As a result I've seen several methods, including "Find letter V in word W in sentence X in paragraph Y on page Z", code books that give you the answers, maps where you are asked to name the X in grid Y/Z, Match the Picture (or variations of that theme) and my personal favorite, the Code Wheel, as seen in Yesterday's strip



Here is the thing though. I can understand why the code wheel would be stupid for an FPS or something like that, but the first one I got, and all of them since, have been for RPGs and adventure games, where a device like that made sense. It made you feel like you were solving a puzzle in the game, not by remembering some fact or combining items, but by actually interacting with something that would not be out of place in the game world. As a result, there was a level of pseudo-interactivity that added to those games.

Obviously all these methods have been made obsolete with the rise of the Internet. the passwords for Prince Of Persia, for example, kept me from playing the original for years, because I lost the list and my bro-in-law, who gave it, and the game, to me couldn't find his copy or the manual to make a new one. then a few years ago I decided to go online to find it and not only did I find the ones I had, I found the ones I didn't have as well (Saleem's list wasn't complete and we had called each other a couple of time when we discovered new ones, to work towards completing that list) I've done the same for several other games I own, but have lost the manual or copy protection answers that came with them. So obviously there needs to be some new method. Are the current ones the way to go? Probably not, but they are at least better then nothing. Sometimes not by much and in concept only, but they are.

Of course none of them are any match for a good hacker or someone who knows where to look for ways around them.

Prologue--Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Time to start the game. The Emperor has sent me to Kashyyyk to hunt down a rouge Jedi.

Yeah! I get to play as Darth Vader!

First I had to get through a bunch of Wookies. No problem. Not sure why those incompetent storm troopers couldn't take them out, but for Lord Vader, they were no problem. Coolest moment so far in the game is him coming down an elevator, a storm trooper saying that they couldn't break the Wookie's defenses. Vader just said "Leave that to me" and proceeded to kick Wookie butt. After defeating the Wookie, Vader found the rouge and a fight broke out. Defiantly a tough battle, although it was mainly because I wasn't quite use to the controls yet, but it was easily the best saber battle I've ever fought in.

SO far this game Rocks The Casbah. Walking, almost strolling through the level as Vader, you got a real sense of "Why do I have to waste my time on these guys" as Vader easily slices through them and throws them around (or throws stuff at them, like exploding crates) there were times I had to remind myself that I had a job to do and I couldn't just spend all my time picking up stuff.

It is also weird playing a game when not only is there only one walk through on Gamefaqs, but one that is still being written! (The author is only 2 levels ahead of me) for someone use to going there to see level names (if I don't know them) it is defiantly something I wasn't use to, but kind of fun.

I went back an replayed the level. Got 15 of the 20 Holocrons on the level. I saw the rest, but it was during the fight against the Rogue Jedi and I couldn't get to them.

Tutorial--Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Ok, That was possibly the best tutorial I've ever played. Normally they are kind of annoying, but this one was nice. for one thing it wasn't part of the regular game. for another, it was actually fun to play!

I love the controls for this game. The chuck controls most of your force powers, while the Wiimote controls your light saber. Some of the stuff took some getting use to, but after a bit of playing around, it seemed very natural.

Got through the tutorial no problem. I almost didn't post about it, but I was excited that the tutorial was an option, not required. Game developers take note. Me no like mandatory tutorials. give them to us outside of the game and maybe some tips in game like Force Unleashed does. It;s better that way.

Metro City-Race--SSX 3

ok, that was quite possibly my best race in the history of racing games. I took the lead early on by taking a short cut, but a wipe and ended up in 5th place. Another short cut took me back to first, but Psymon had the same idea. From the halfway point on it was a battle between me and Psymon as we kept trading places. I thought I would have to settle for second after a wipe out, but I managed to get ahead just as we approached the finish line, winning ht race in 3:04.

In case any one is interested, the other participants in the race were Elise, Moby, Viggo, and JP

The race also had pretty much the coolest moment every in a game where you can do tricks. While doing a move (not sure what it was called, but in skateboarding it's a tail grab) the music paused as I was flying, almost in slow motion, through the air. it was very cool.

Happiness-Race--SSX 3

My first race in SSX 3. Took on Mac in a downhill race. Did a few tricks but mostly just tucked in and tried to get to the bottom as fast as I can. Did it in 3:18, with Mac finishing a few seconds later.

And incase anyone is wondering, I'm playing as Zoe, took her default outfit and added Sunglasses, because that is really all she needed.

Cemetery Hill--MediEvil

This one was tough. Ok, more annoying then tough. the enemies were easy. I got the club, broke some boulders, and found an only Witches Coven. then came the hard part. I had to light the club on fire to start another fire else where. Every time I tried I was either too close or too far away. Finally I lit the club on fire, went to another room and lit a fire. This released a bunch of enemies, who I defeated with out much trouble. I got the Chalice and the Witch's Token.

After the level, I went back to the Hall Of Heroes. Talked to Canny Tim again and he gave me a life bottle.

The Graveyard--MediEvil

The first actual level! Cleared Dan's Crypt easily enough since it's just a tutorial. I got the Copper shield, the Short Sword, the Throwing Knifes, a Life Bottle, and some gold from there.

Then it was on to the Graveyard, where I had to fight my first enemies. Fought my way through, gathering more gold and another life bottle and filling the Chalice. Once it was full, I made my way out of the level. In the Hall Of Heroes I payed my respects to Canny Tim, who gave me his Crossbow.