Hankering For ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’? You’ll Want To Play These Games Before December 18th!
As with the majority of geeks all over the world, my relationship with Star Wars has been a long and tumultuous one. I went from absolute love and adoration, being a comic-reading, Shadows of the Empire and Rogue Squadron-obsessed child, to utter confusion and heartbreak as Episodes I and II slowly chipped away at the franchise that I once held so close to my heart.
It wasn’t all bad, of course. Scores of novels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and way too much Episode I Racer (not to mention Battlefront) made the franchise feel like an ex-lover that you still kind of had feelings for; you get constant reminders of why you had those positive feelings in the first place, but then you remember just why things didn’t work out. Maybe I’m just being dramatic.
Now it’s the end of 2015, Disney has owned Lucasfilm for just over three years, and I’m again in adoration of the brand. Every frame that we’ve seen from next month’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been beyond solid, the new comics, novels, and television shows have all been fantastic, and we’re slated to get a new proper or spinoff film every. single. year. And don’t even get me started on that Sphero BB-8.
To quote Ted Danson (or at least his Curb Your Enthusiasm character), it’s “simply heaven.”
I’m a grown-ass man these days (at least physically, mentally it depends on who you ask), and a gamer at heart. Right now, today, I’d say that it’s never, ever been a better time to be a Star Wars fan or a gamer (just look at some of the AAA releases this year), but it’s really never been a better time to be a Star Wars fan and a gamer. Shortly after Disney made the Lucasfilm purchase, it extended its partnership with one of gaming’s biggest publishers, EA, for another (staggering) 10 years.
This week saw the launch of possibly the most anticipated Star Wars game of the last decade; the company’s reboot of Star Wars: Battlefront, but that certainly isn’t all that EA has in store for the license (and gamers) as we roll up to the film’s release.
I’ve found myself obsessing over Star Wars for the first time in as long as I can remember, trying to eat up as much lore and content as I possibly can before The Force Awakens finally hits, and what better way to lean more even more about such a vast and complex franchise than playing video games?
We’ve got a hotly anticipated shooter, a gorgeous mobile RPG, and a huge new expansion for one of today’s hottest MMORPG’s. Unfamiliar? Or looking for some great holiday gift ideas (hint, hint, mom), here’s a little more information about each
Star Wars: Battlefront
This one probably doesn’t even need an introduction; it’s EA’s reboot of the beloved and addicting series first developed by Pandemic Studios back in 2004. Fans had been clamoring for a new title in the series for nearly a decade when EA finally gave us a brief (yet exciting) teaser trailer for the title back in 2013. Now, it’s two years later, and after some incredible trailers, some memorable hands-on time, and a lot of excitement and hype, the game has just launched.
It’s arguably the very best looking game on the PS4 and Xbox One, and critics have noted just how accessible the game is for players who may not be used to, or may not have the time to keep up with an online-focused title. This is freaking perfect for me, as I’m lucky to get a few hours of gaming in per week. To be able to jump back into a title and not instantly be at a disadvantage because I can’t play all the time made me infinitely more excited for the title.
If you’ve been listening to the Geekscape Games Podcast, you’ll know just how much fun the hosts have been having with the incredibly well produced title, and with a lot more Battlefront content in the pipeline (like 16 more maps, among other things), you can be certain that fans will be playing this one for a long, long time (but probably not on December 18th).
Take a look at the gorgeous gameplay launch trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront below, and let us know if you’re already playing!
Star Wars: Galaxy Of Heroes
Galaxy of Heroes hasn’t actually launched here in the great white North just yet (that’s Canada, if you weren’t aware), but as I’ve been desperate for another mobile Star Wars RPG ever since I played through Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic far too many years after I should have.
This one is ‘a collectible RPG experience giving players the ability to create powerful teams made up of 60 iconic Star Wars characters, and take them into battle.’
Galaxy of Heroes mixes the biggest Star Wars characters from every era, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and many more. Each character has (naturally) different abilities, so you’ll mix and match different complimentary heroes (or villains) in order to create teams to fight through missions on the likes of Hoth, Bespin, Tatooine, Coruscant, and even more.
According to the game’s description, you’ll also ‘unlock special leader abilities to buff your team and unleash moves like Darth Sidious’s Force Lightning, Chewbacca’s Wookiee Rage, and more.’
I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on this one. As a big mobile gamer, I’m always on the lookout for made-for-mobile experiences that I can quickly jump in and out of when I have a few minutes to play, and from the looks of it, Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes will fit the bill perfectly.
So far, the game is only available in Australia, but it’s headed elsewhere this holiday season, and with its current 4.5 star rating on the iOS App Store, it’s definitely a title that you’ll want to be on the lookout for! Take a look at the trailer below, and be sure to let us know what your ideal Star Wars team would be!
Knights of the Fallen Empire
This one looks damned cool. I’ve been interested in Star Wars: The Old Rebublic since long before it even launched, though without a dedicated gaming PC, I’ve never actually been able to play it. Sure, the game had a bit of a troubled launch, but consistent improvements, and awesome added content have made The Old Republic one of the very best MMORPG’s online today.
The game’s newest expansion, Knights of the Fallen Empire launched at the end of October, which ‘marks a renewed focus on cinematic storytelling by introducing a new personal story arc where player choice will shape the journey.’
I’ve heard a ton of feedback from current players of the game that this new expansion has them more hooked than they’ve ever been, and it’s also brought a lot of my pals who had left the game for one reason or another right back in.
With Knights of the Fallen Empire, you’ll ‘step into an epic story-driven adventure as your character becomes The Outlander, a veteran of the Great Galactic War. A third faction threatens the galaxy as we know it, and your choices will determine the fate of both the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic. Knights of the Fallen Empire includes the first nine chapters, fueled by BioWare-style cinematic storytelling, that kicks off a new player-driven story arc that puts you at the center of a conflict where your choices have impact on outcomes including unexpected twists and betrayals. Choose your path…join or betray companions, old and new…and shape the future of the entire galaxy as well as your own. Best of all, this is only the beginning…’
The new expansion is FREE to all subscribers, and includes a myriad of new enhancements, including eight class stories to offer a deeper, more accessible experience, the ability to assemble a ‘team of hand-picked allies to join your alliance’, and it also marks the beginning of a consistently evolving story, as new chapers will be released on a regular basis, among other things.
Hmm. Maybe it’s time to build that gaming PC after all.
With just a month to go until The Force Awakens finally (finally) releases, Star Wars fans, I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s time to get gaming!
How many hours have you put into Battlefront so far? Does Knights of the Fallen Empire pique your MMO interest? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!
