Star Wars

Is it Worth Your Allowance? Save Up Special: Star Wars: Battlefront

Is it Worth Your Allowance? Is a column written by 15 year old Nate. Nate reviews inexpensive games and lets your geeklings know if it’s worth spending their hard earned allowance on. Have a game to suggest? You can email Nate here.  My parental perspective appears at the end of the article.

Star Wars Battlefront (3) – Closed Alpha Access

Genre: Action, First person shooter, Third person shooter, sci fi

Developers: EA, DiceStarWars

The Star Wars Battlefront series started 2004 and there is now a new title in the series with improved graphics, and new gameplay, but it differs a little bit from the series. The game is currently in alpha so its not completely finished, but so far it has 4 weapons, two classes and obviously the empire and the rebels. If you were to peruse this page https://www.yesgamers.com/info/top-11-diablo-2-builds-ladder-reset/, you’d know that the game draws concepts from Diablo 2 and overlaps a lot of gameplays. The two classes, one being a more maneuverable scout class wielding a  jetpack and burst fire grenade launcher, and a shield carrying heavy class that has a lock on missile launcher and they can both choose from a sharedarsenal of weapons from the light blaster to the heavy machine gun blaster (its star wars so… its all blasters and sometimes a rocket). There are lots of vehicles for there only being one map; so far there are x-wings, tie fighters, AT-ATs, snowspeeders, and AT-STs. My favorite vehicle is the AT-ST, because it’s a walker like the giant AT-AT but faster and more mobile and you can actually control it unlike the AT-AT where you can only control the head and shoot.

The graphics are beautiful and very life like, the detail is amazing from things like AT-ATs leaving foot prints that can be used as fox holes to the sounds of blasters, x-wings, tie fighters, and the walkers being the same from the movies. When i first booted it up i was amazed at how beautiful it was, it is like you’re really on Hoth and you really are fighting the “rebel scum”. I think that game could be good for everyone because there is no gore, there is violence but nothing horrible.

Though at least for now I think that the first game is the best.  I miss being able to be a stormtrooper and steal an x-wing, because in this game instead of actually getting into a vehicle you can pick up special battlefield pickups.  However they are team specific and you call them in. In the case of the first game, with the map Kashyyyk docks, if you play clone wars, the C.I.S (confederacy of independant systems, or droids) have an island where all there vehicles spawn and if you’re playing as a clone and manage to get to it, there is a free supply of droid tanks and speeders. The space battles from battlefront 2 were amazing, but I don’t think they will be include them in this game. I would love it if they did include space battles, Being able to fly through space it was very original for a first/third person shooter to have space battles in a full 3d environment, and I think the game could have really benefited from adding details like this that have been implemented in the older titles of the series. (Editor’s Note: They have since added space battles. They were not part of the closed Alpha, but footage has since surfaced, see the Update at the end of this article to see video)

This game will probably be about $60, but since it comes out on November 17, 2015 you have time to save up. I think it will be worth your allowance.

So far I think that this game gets a 5/8, but it’s still in alpha so changes are to come.

Parent’s Perspective:  This is a hotly anticipated game, and we were fortunate to get into the closed Alpha last month.  While not all the features were available or fleshed out, it was already an immersive experience that should excite all Star Wars fans.  This is an online shooter, but I appreciated the lack of blood and gore.  All in all, I think it’s appropriate for ages 10 and up with supervision, and ages 14 and up solo – because of the interactive, online nature.

Update: New footage shows Fighter Squadron Mode.  Yay!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjqqwZGNHPg

Seattle Geeks: See the Premiere of Star Wars Rebels on the Big Screen

Seattle Geeks: See the Premiere of Star Wars Rebels on the Big Screen
Courtesy: Disney XD

On October 3rd, Disney Channel will be premiering Star Wars Rebels. (After that premiere the series will run on Disney XD starting on October 13th) Star Wars Rebels is a new animated series that takes place between the events of Episode III and Episode IV.  Here’s the synopsis:

A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away….
Against the might of the Galactic Empire, an unlikely band of heroes emerges to renew the fight for freedom. Witness the epic debut of the riveting animated series Star Wars Rebels, in this one-hour movie event – showing on the big screen one time only!
The story unfolds during a dark time when the evil Empire is tightening its grip of power on the galaxy. Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet and are ruining the lives of its people. The motley but clever crew of the starship Ghost — cowboy Jedi Kanan, ace pilot Hera, street-smart teenager Ezra, the “muscle” Zeb, explosives expert Sabine, and cantankerous old astromech droid Chopper — is among a select few who are brave enough to stand against the Empire. Together, they will face threatening new villains, encounter colorful adversaries, embark on thrilling adventures and become heroes with the power to ignite a rebellion.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg5YN3LAGw4

If you’d like to check out the one hour series premiere Star Wars Rebels: Spark of the Rebellion before it hits the small screen, you can see it on the big screen in Downtown Seattle on September 27th.  Prior to the screening there will be Star Wars themed events including face painting, a costume contest and balloon animals (Balloon Wampas maybe?).  Bring your Star Wars loving family and have a good time!

To register for tickets you just need to go to: http://www.seeitfirst.net/pin/167614.
Event Code: 167614

I’ll be there, and would love to have you join me!

For those of you not in the Seattle area, you can learn more about the series here.

Star Wars family decals are way cooler than the stick figure ones most families have.

Star Wars family decals are way cooler than the stick figure ones most families have.

At this point I think I just need to sign my paychecks right over to Think Geek.

I am not a fan of car window family decals.  I just don’t get the point of wanting weird stick figure representations of the members of your family (really only identifying their gender) on the back of your car.

I am however, seriously considering buying some of these Officially Licensed Star Wars Decals.  for $14.99 you get 50 decals, with 19 separate characters to choose from.  So Mom’s truck can have Han+Leia= Yoda and R2-D2  and Dad’s car can have Darth Vader + Padme = Kid Luke and Leia.   The set comes with 12 Stormtrooper Kid decals, so even the largest geek families can represent!

Star Wars Family Car Decals $14.99 at Think Geek.

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