On this week’s WhoDatJedi podcast, we dove into our favorite Star Wars books … so I thought I’d list them here in case anyone wants to take the list and run with it. The fun part of this list is it covers a little bit of everything, from Legends, to kids books, to even a couple of things that aren’t “technically” Star Wars (but really sort of are).
Here we go!
Continue reading Here’s your ultimate Star Wars reading listThere are times, as one works one’s way through a video game, that the entire experience begins to feel like an obligation. Some aspect of the game becomes tiresome or boring or frustrating, and boom, you’re out of the game completely. The very best games find a way (through superb design and programming) to keep that kind of reaction from ever happening.
Super Metroid is one of the better examples in gaming of an experience that never turns into a chore. It’s a joyful play, the kind of game that stays thrilling and fascinating throughout, even as the player runs into the occasional challenge or riddle they can’t solve.
Why?
The game is compelling enough to keep the gamer invested. Instead of quitting from boredom — or worse, anger — one wants to see where this all goes. And perhaps more importantly, one wants to continue the experience itself, challenging as it might be. An obstacle that becomes a conundrum and confuses the gamer … that kind of thing can actually work to a game’s advantage if the overall experience is appealing. Do the controls hold up? Does the level design inspire? These are game play elements that make completing the game less pressing a concern.
The point, as it were, becomes the journey itself.
It’s a fine line to be sure, trying to create something that challenges and thrills rather than something that frustrates. Something that isn’t so much meant to be conquered as enjoyed. Something that rises above the genre or even the medium itself. Something like art.
Super Metroid is art.
Super Metroid
Genre: Exploring platformer
Released: 1994
Platform: SNES
EGM’s Best Game of All Time (’03)
Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves and figure this thing out. Which is the best lightsaber battle in all of Star Wars?
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: Evaluating the best and worst lightsaber battles in Star WarsHey, we know Mardi Gras is a bummer right now due to the pandemic. But this conversation about Chewbacchus might brighten your day a smidge.
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus changing things up for 2021There’s nothing like a few jerks talking through the movie!
(tongue firmly in cheek)
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: Live movie discussion: ‘The Phantom Menace’Let’s do a quick review of Season 2, where we are, and where we’re going.
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: The Mandalorian Season 2 Review: It’s got the goodsThis is a fun trip down memory lane!
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: What was your best Star Wars Christmas ever? (and a Mandalorian Season 3 wishlist)I’ve been keeping a running thread of video games I’ve beaten on Twitter this year, which has been a fun project and a highlight of 2020 for me personally. Being under lock and key during a pandemic, it seemed a good time to make some headway on my backlog, go back to some favorites just for fun, and to clear some space on the docket for some new games … which is now reality as Santa delivered the kids (and to a lesser extent Mom and Dad) a Switch for Christmas.
Woohoo!
Didn’t put it into a NY resolution exactly, but wanted to play a lot of different video games and beat them this year, especially since my collection of mini consoles continues to grow. This will be a thread of games I beat with some thoughts on each.
— David Gladow (@davegladow) March 28, 2020
Anyway, I took the liberty of ranking the games I’ve beaten this year and included them in a list below. What you won’t see is a whole bunch of other games I played/enjoyed this year that weren’t “defeated” per se. Puzzlers like Mean Bean Machine, Tetris, Chew Man Fu, and Bubble Bobble ate a ton of my time, but weren’t an easy out. I also dipped my toes in with games I just didn’t have time or motivation to finish (such as Super Return of the Jedi, Comix Zone and Zombies Ate My Neighbors) as well as some games previously defeated to continue the process of unlocking items (like New Super Mario Bros. Wii). Finally, there was stuff I played with my kids that I had no interest in beating … like SSX Tricky, Kirby Super Star or Eternal Champions. Honestly, there’s a lot I played this year that didn’t make this list. But I wanted to be fair and only evaluate a game in its “complete” form (or at least as close to that as possible).
Continue reading My games of 2020There’s a lot to unpack from the season finale of The Mandalorian, Season 2, so let’s get to it!
Continue reading WhoDatJedi Podcast: The Mandalorian Season 2, Chapter 16: What is even happening?Of the many gaming opinions I’ll often state as fact, none inspires quite the level of self-confidence as “Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the best retro Sonic game.”
Yes, Sonic CD has many fans. Yes, Sonic 3 & Knuckles as a combo of two solid games becomes a better version of itself in its unified form (sort of like the Devastator or Voltron of video games). But I feel comfortable, confident, and maybe even downright cocky about this particular stance.
Sonic 2 is incredible.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genre: Side-scrolling platformer
Released: 1992
Platform: Genesis
GameFan Score: 197/200
