OldBadger Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 Hello All I am new to this forum and to be honest I initially came here looking for a hint. (Which I found) But now that I have found my way here, I think I might hang around for a bit. To be frank, I very nearly didn't but Jedi Knight 2 at all! (Gasp... But read on) I come from the lucky generation, that were kids when the magic that is Star Wars was very first released at the cinema's here in the UK. With it's mixture of Sci-fi gadgetry and old fashioned swash buckling It was completely different from anything that any of us had seen before and it captured the hearts and imaginations of a generation. Although I doubt that any of us understood back then, that we were seeing the birth of a phenomenon. That the splash made by this movie, would send ripples spreading out across the decades that followed, its iconic imagery eventually instilling itself in world-wide culture. Back in those days of course, we didn't have PC's (as such) much less the incredible games that we see today. If you wanted to play a Star Wars game, you had to adjourn to the murky shadows of the local Arcade, (Although the village I lived in did not have one) where if you were lucky, you would find the opportunity to pilot a wire framed X-Wing, through ever more tricky waves of the empires finest fighters, eventually securing the chance to take on and destroy the Death Star herself! (Heady Stuff). If you were extremely lucky, you might get the chance to do this all in the comfort of the rare "Sit in" version of the game. Where you sat enclosed with the sound from your adventure coming at you in stereo. Good Grief.... We felt like we were actually there. I expect that many of you reading this, would have to ask your parents what a Wire Framed game was.. Let alone have played one. These days of course, we greet with disdain, any release which does not utilise the very latest in Geforce tomfoolery, Tri Linear whatsetry, throwing around more pixels per second than you can shake a big stick at. Anyway, I have digressed long enough. I did have a point when I started writing this, I seem to have forgotten what it was mind you...oh yes, I remember. I have bought many Star Wars games over the years and nothing that appears on my PC screen, ever has quite as much nostalgic value as the epic opening chords of the Star Wars theme, as the story line winds its way slowly up the screen. While it might be true that these days I need glasses to read that winding text, still as soon as those notes hit the air, I am thirteen again. Though I have enjoyed many of these titles immensely, it has to be said that LucasArts recent releases have lacked a certain something. Coming to the point where I even returned a couple of them! And I haven't bothered with "Galactic Battlegrounds" so I really can't say how good it may or may not be. I just have not been inspired to buy it. Although to be fair, it has to be said that this probably has as much to do with my boredom with the current saturation of RTS titles flooding the market, as it does with LucasArts search for the missing magic ingredient that their titles have had in the past. So, what about Jedi Knight 2? Well, as I said right back at the beginning (waaaaay back up the page) I almost didn't buy it, my decision based as it had to be, on LucasArts recent track record. But I decided to give it a go, as I enjoyed the original "Dark Forces" and "Jedi Knight" so much. I am very pleased to say that this title seems to represent a welcome return to form. At first I have to admit that I was not sure. The graphics were splendid certainly, but the game play was really very "Been There, Done that, Bought the T-Shirt". I worried that I had bought just another average shooter, floating in a sea of.....er.....shootiness? Also there was little or no build up. I distinctly remember in the original Dark Forces, how cool it was the first time you got to the point where you heard the micro phoned tones of Stormtroopers through a door in front of you. Knowing that you were about to meet these guys for the first time was a buzz. But JK2 throws you straight in at the deep end with no preamble what so ever. I persevered however, and I am really glad I did because now I have some force powers and my Light Sabre, the game has suddenly opened up and become something other than it was when it started. I am currently on the first level after relearning the force. (Trying to find some gangster or other. Sorry I am terrible with names) and suddenly I think I have found again the elusive ingredient that LucasArts have been trying to rediscover. Turns out that it's no great secret.. It's "Fun". I have actually laughed out loud a couple of times (prompting strange looks from the wife and the cat) at moments like "Force Pushing" some unfortunate off a ledge. Or the moment where you use the Force to push a crate out onto a ledge knocking off one of those sniper chaps into the chasm of the streets below. Another time I saw a guard with a Bow Caster patrolling back and forth across a bridge in the distance. The sides of the bridge were glass and I shot them out, leading to a fantastic long range gunfight between us. It was only when this was over, that I realised that the floor the guard was walking on was glass too........ Bwa Ha Haaaaaa! (Twirls Moustache) I was of course forced to reload a previous saved position, so that I could give this guard the fate he deserved. Moments like this have turned this game around for me, and if this is the way it is going to continue, then it is going to be a complete classic. Welcome home LucasArts. Listen, I've taken up too much of your time with my ramblings, so I'll stop now. Oh.... And I'm not really "OldBadger", I'm just plain "Badger", have been for years. But apparently a "Badger" already exists on the forum role! D'OH! How annoying is that?? All the best (the real) Badger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zindell Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 That was quite possibly one of the longest posts I've ever read but it was worthwhile to read. Actually I don't have to ask what a wire frame game is, I actually know. Surprisingly enough. Maybe it'S because I've seen tron. or there was the VirtualBoy from Nintendo that tried to take that to the next level. I was also pleasantly surprised with this game, based on lucasarts track record I had all but givin up hope. I dont buy very many games from anyone most of the time I find myself dissapointed at it's lasting potential. Even so I have given up on the game I was getting too addicted to the multiplayer, I reverted back to counterstrike for now. But the single player was well worth what I payed for the game. Now that they are bringing back a new Full throttle I think Lucasarts is taking a step in the right direction. I think they were concentratin way too much on starwars and neglecting their other talents on making games from scratch instead of having to constantly base games on some fact written into the Starwars Universe. It gave them little room to be creative. Anyways I'm glad your enjoying your game and your faith has been restored in LucasArts. Let me be the first to welcome you to the board. Unless someone beat me too it well typing this. You'll find most people are friendly and others just plain annoying. Just like reality I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacky_Baccy Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 But now that I have found my way here, I think I might hang around for a bit. Good - you'll enjoy it, I'm sure I expect that many of you reading this, would have to ask your parents what a Wire Framed game was.. Let alone have played one. *Knows what one is and has played one - once * (I'm 16) I persevered however, and I am really glad I did because now I have some force powers and my Light Sabre, the game has suddenly opened up and become something other than it was when it started. That's what everyone says... Personally, I really liked the first few levels... (not quite as much, though - but I still enjoyed them ) I am currently on the first level after relearning the force. (Trying to find some gangster or other. Sorry I am terrible with names) <snip> Reelo <un-snip>...and suddenly I think I have found again the elusive ingredient that LucasArts have been trying to rediscover. Turns out that it's no great secret.. It's "Fun". So true Although I disagree to some extent that LEC have re-discovered their old 'talent' - most of the game was down to Raven... Another time I saw a guard with a Bow Caster patrolling back and forth across a bridge in the distance. The sides of the bridge were glass and I shot them out, leading to a fantastic long range gunfight between us. It was only when this was over, that I realised that the floor the guard was walking on was glass too........ Bwa Ha Haaaaaa! (Twirls Moustache) I was of course forced to reload a previous saved position, so that I could give this guard the fate he deserved. I did that too! All the best (the real) Badger. Welcome to the forums, Badger - enjoy your stay [EDIT] Beaten by a measley second! Posted by Zindell That was quite possibly one of the longest posts I've ever read but it was worthwhile to read. Ditto [/EDIT] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabbas WhOr3 Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 ahhh the good ol days....oh how u brought back the memories Im not gonna type anywhere near as much as anyone else here, but rest assured would like to but Big Brother is on telly! :dmaul3: Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russk Rijann Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 Welcome to the forums, hope you enjoy your stay.....and whats a wireframe game? (so embarrassed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jedi-Ghendu Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 i kinda feel bad for the UKer's due to the fact of the restrictions placed upon movies, video games , and such... I mean a movie banned (Natural Born killers) no i am not from UK but....oldbadger i feel sad for u guys sometimes:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldBadger Posted June 9, 2002 Author Share Posted June 9, 2002 Thanks for the welcome all. Sorry it was such a long post. I am terrible when you get me in front of a keyboard, I start typing and have to remind myself to stop. Ghendu, we don't have it so bad in the UK. Sure we have to wait for films a little (or a lot) longer than they do in the US, but they get around to us eventually. Maybe we don't get the games releases as quickly either, but sometimes the versions we get have the advantage of initial patches as part and parcel of the build. As for restrictions? Well, for the most part I hardly notice. It's like living anywhere really, there are pluses and minuses Talk to you later Badger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KordKelly Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 Welcome Badger, and nice post I share your sentiments on the Movies (I was 14 when ANH was released, although it wasn't ANH then, just Star Wars ) I'll never forget how the audience exploded into cheers when Han showed up at the Death Star and helped Luke. (I knew he was giong to show up...he just HAD to) As to the Wire-Frame, ahhhhh the memories... I wish I had all those quarters I wasted in that game back, I'd be rich. Don't froget the Nintendo foray into the SW universe..."Super Star Wars", "Super ESB", etc. Good for their time, but... I must say, though, I was really anticipating the release of this game, being very familiar with Raven's work I knew this game would be something special. Gladly I was not disappointed. DF was the first "Computer Game" I ever played straight-through to the end (You know my Wife just loved that... ) Anyway, Welcome Badger, enjoy your stay as I have enjoyed mine. This is one of the Best Forums on the 'Net. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurgan Posted June 9, 2002 Share Posted June 9, 2002 Fun, fun, and I know, I must be a geek, but it's "Star Wars" not any combination of the words "Arcade game" (that was a later flat-shaded polygon remake by Sega, and then the later "Star Wars Trilogy Arcade" still in many movie theatres and stuff). Even back when I first played it in 198x or whenever, we called them "vectors" and that's what they were. ; ) Nice post(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.