Deals hunters, the best Cyber Monday gaming monitor deal has arrived, as Dell has just slashed $200 off its 144Hz, G-Sync-enabled S2419HGF display, taking its price down to a mere $99. That’s the cheapest price I’ve ever seen for a 24in, 144Hz, G-Sync monitor, so fill your boots, monitor deals fans, because I doubt this bargain will be around for long.
Star Wars is, for me, first and foremost a video game franchise. I know there are films, I’ve seen some of them (seven of the eleven by my count), but I’m far more likely to tell you that A New Hope took place between the events of Jedi: Fallen Order and Dark Forces II than the other way around. When I see that title fade away, and the yellow letters begin to scroll, I have that warm glowy feeling of familiarity and happy memories, but they’re of the nefarious deeds of Darth Malek or the ripping yarns of Kyle Katarn, rather than Luke and his naughty daddy. (Sorry, spoilers.)
It is a peculiar relationship I’ll concede, where two of my all-time favourite games have “Star Wars” in their titles (Knights Of The Old Republic, Dark Forces), but the films wouldn’t even be thought of when making my movie list.
When I boot up the backwardly named Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, there’s immediately a hefty dose of nostalgia. Meanie old droid 8T88, mentions of “Dark Jedi” (as opposed to Sith?), Kyle Katarn’s beard, it’s all a warm bath of teenage years. But, I was wondering, is it actually as good as I remember?
The Logitech G432 and wireless Logitech G935 are two of the best gaming headsets I’ve tested this year, and right now they’re almost 50% off as part of Amazon’s Cyber Monday sale. If you’ve been searching for a great Black Friday and Cyber Monday gaming headset deal, step this way.
Let’s not pretend that Star Wars isn’t good. Answer me this: if Star Wars isn’t good, how come they got away with having BB-8 branded oranges?? Less reliably good are the official Star Wars video games. Despite throwing out some absolute bangers in the LucasArts days, or stone cold classics like Knights Of The Old Republic giving us big Force energy, the more recent quality has been varied. One could even say scandalous.
But what is this? A new single player Star Wars game? Lightsaber battles where you have to block, parry, and break your opponents guard? Levels that have an almost roguelike approach? Shorcuts and hidden secrets? And – gasp – a small robit friend? Jedi: Fallen Order, I think you and I can talk.
I have been dead for roughly thirty seconds. I’m floating across the table from a nervous fellow ghost who is recounting his own introduction to the afterlife, when he was too agitated to figure out how the ground works and sank down through the Earth’s mantle. It’s a horrible, horrible story. I tell him so, then the bell rings and I meet my next date.
I’m playing Speed Dating For Ghosts, “a weird dating sim made by a former BioWare dev and his indie rapper friend”. A free expansion dropped over the weekend, though I haven’t seen anything from it yet. At the moment I’m busy chatting to Spooky Peter, who is going to show me something that can “spook even Spooky Peter”. Also I have agreed to rob a bank with a shark.
As I write this I am on my week off, so I don’t have to be professional. Blarg bloog bleeg. You see? Not even real words. I can say what I want. They knew what would happen when they hired me. This is on them. Or, I might just openly berate you for not playing Wildermyth, a tactical RPG with turn based combat. It launched into early access a couple of weeks ago.
You’re not playing Wildermyth. Why aren’t you paying Wildermyth?
Fine. I’ll throw you a bone. Let me tell you about the Sisters of the Vine.
The first thing you need to know about Tabletop Simulator is that it isn’t goofy physics nonsense, in the vein of goat or bread. It’s an earnest attempt to let you play board games over the internet, recreating each component rather than translating games into a digital interface.
The second thing you need to know is that, for the most part, it works.
