Well, it's National Star Wars Day again, that day when we honor the--
heroic veterans who fought against the Evil Empire to bring freedom to
the galaxy. Its hard to imagine that epic struggle took place 45 years
ago; we must never forget the sacrifice made by all those young men,
women, and three-eyed slugs in defense of the freedoms and laser
swords that the vile Men-With-Vaguely-British-Accents wanted to take
away from us.
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces". The
original one, back before everybody turned out to be a Jedi. I didn't
play it to completion; just enough to remind me of those valorous
times. Because, for all the technicolor explosions and dismemberments,
those were the good times... before the reign of the Mouse and their
champion Mary-Sue darkened the galaxy again.
"Dark Forces" remains a solid title, but its age works against it. Its graphics are passable, if blocky, but the controls are almost painful
to use. No mouselook, no easy strafe and a very imprecise aim... its a
game where hitting a target is a struggle and accidental falls off
obvious levels are too frequent an occurrence. My fingers cramp just remembering all the hours I spent on this game.
The level design is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's a welcome
improvement from the very stylized mazes of Doom and its clones; you
really get the feeling of 'being there' in the Star Wars universe,
even if the actual implementation is rather crude. Maybe the bits
aboard the Star Destroyer don't really look all that much like a Star Destroyer - at least not without quite a bit of squinting and
imagination - but at least you could figure out what the map-designers
were trying to portray. Some of the levels were quite clever too, the
best being the one where you break into an Imperial prison.
On the other hand, "Dark Forces" was very much an early-90s fps, with
the de rigueur labyrinths and key-cards and leaps over instant-death
chasms. It even used the tired trope of slippery-surfaced ice-worlds.
The map designers were sometimes a bit too satisfied with their
cleverness, and some levels - like the Anoat sewers - overstayed their welcome. Running through the same bits over and over to find or unlock
the hidden door that let you progress to the next part of the map
wasn't fun, not even in the 90s.
The gunplay - despite the horrid controls - remains quite satisfying.
The weapon selection honors the pattern set down by Id software in
Doom, but adds a few nice twists. I'm particularly fond of the
Concussion Rifle, a weapon as deadly to the user as to his enemies. It
has an wonderfully pleasing sound-effect and entertainingly bounces
enemies (and landmines) across the room; what's not to like?
The story is simplistic and to the point, with archetypical characters
of good and evil. There's no attempt at shades of grey here. The
Empire is on the side of evil, you're the good guy; let the firefights commence. There is a good progression in enemies; you start facing off against the lowly Stormtroopers and Imperial officers, and by the end
you're facing off against Type 3 Darktroopers, Krayt Dragons, and Boba
Fett.
The whole game is an extremely polished affair, and the few areas that
rub me raw are more because my expectations have changed (then again,
I don't think I /ever/ enjoyed instant-death pits, so even back in '95
that part sucked). Still, 27 years on, the original "Dark Forces"
remains one of the best Star Wars games ever published, and revisiting
its intricate levels - even for just a bit - is a great way to
celebrate the 'holiday.'
The whole game is an extremely polished affair
Well, it's National Star Wars Day again, that day when we honor the
heroic veterans who fought against the Evil Empire to bring freedom to
the galaxy. Its hard to imagine that epic struggle took place 45 years
ago; we must never forget the sacrifice made by all those young men,
women, and three-eyed slugs in defense of the freedoms and laser
swords that the vile Men-With-Vaguely-British-Accents wanted to take
away from us.
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces". The
original one, back before everybody turned out to be a Jedi. I didn't
play it to completion; just enough to remind me of those valorous
times. Because, for all the technicolor explosions and dismemberments,
those were the good times... before the reign of the Mouse and their
champion Mary-Sue darkened the galaxy again.
"Dark Forces" remains a solid title, but its age works against it. Its >graphics are passable, if blocky, but the controls are almost painful
to use. No mouselook, no easy strafe and a very imprecise aim... its a
game where hitting a target is a struggle and accidental falls off
obvious levels are too frequent an occurrence. My fingers cramp just >remembering all the hours I spent on this game.
The level design is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's a welcome
improvement from the very stylized mazes of Doom and its clones; you
really get the feeling of 'being there' in the Star Wars universe,
even if the actual implementation is rather crude. Maybe the bits
aboard the Star Destroyer don't really look all that much like a Star >Destroyer - at least not without quite a bit of squinting and
imagination - but at least you could figure out what the map-designers
were trying to portray. Some of the levels were quite clever too, the
best being the one where you break into an Imperial prison.
On the other hand, "Dark Forces" was very much an early-90s fps, with
the de rigueur labyrinths and key-cards and leaps over instant-death
chasms. It even used the tired trope of slippery-surfaced ice-worlds.
The map designers were sometimes a bit too satisfied with their
cleverness, and some levels - like the Anoat sewers - overstayed their >welcome. Running through the same bits over and over to find or unlock
the hidden door that let you progress to the next part of the map
wasn't fun, not even in the 90s.
The gunplay - despite the horrid controls - remains quite satisfying.
The weapon selection honors the pattern set down by Id software in
Doom, but adds a few nice twists. I'm particularly fond of the
Concussion Rifle, a weapon as deadly to the user as to his enemies. It
has an wonderfully pleasing sound-effect and entertainingly bounces
enemies (and landmines) across the room; what's not to like?
The story is simplistic and to the point, with archetypical characters
of good and evil. There's no attempt at shades of grey here. The
Empire is on the side of evil, you're the good guy; let the firefights >commence. There is a good progression in enemies; you start facing off >against the lowly Stormtroopers and Imperial officers, and by the end
you're facing off against Type 3 Darktroopers, Krayt Dragons, and Boba
Fett.
The whole game is an extremely polished affair, and the few areas that
rub me raw are more because my expectations have changed (then again,
I don't think I /ever/ enjoyed instant-death pits, so even back in '95
that part sucked). Still, 27 years on, the original "Dark Forces"
remains one of the best Star Wars games ever published, and revisiting
its intricate levels - even for just a bit - is a great way to
celebrate the 'holiday.'
The whole game is an extremely polished affair
 Great to hear! I've probably said this before, but I've only played Republic Commando, which I did enjoy; just hearing the theme music was
nice. I keep hearing how good the KOTR games are, I'd like to play those
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces"
The whole game is an extremely polished affair
Great to hear! I've probably said this before, but I've only played
Republic Commando, which I did enjoy; just hearing the theme music was nice. >I keep hearing how good the KOTR games are, I'd like to play those
Well, it's National Star Wars Day again, that day when we honor the
heroic veterans who fought against the Evil Empire to bring freedom to
the galaxy. Its hard to imagine that epic struggle took place 45 years
ago; we must never forget the sacrifice made by all those young men,
women, and three-eyed slugs in defense of the freedoms and laser
swords that the vile Men-With-Vaguely-British-Accents wanted to take
away from us.
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces". The
original one, back before everybody turned out to be a Jedi. I didn't
play it to completion; just enough to remind me of those valorous
times. Because, for all the technicolor explosions and dismemberments,
those were the good times... before the reign of the Mouse and their
champion Mary-Sue darkened the galaxy again.
On Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 12:56:49 PM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
I still have a stack of star wars cards that
came in some bubble gum, and a the cassete tape of the movie I
listened to so much I'm surprised it didn't break.
On Thu, 5 May 2022 08:07:24 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<just...@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 12:56:49 PM UTC-7, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
I still have a stack of star wars cards thatThis one?
came in some bubble gum, and a the cassete tape of the movie I
listened to so much I'm surprised it didn't break.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl3cG50eOp8
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of the
movie with all the
dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on, but your TV picture
is broken.
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of the >>movie with all the
dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on, but your TV picture >>is broken.
Didn't BBC or someone do a full radio dramatization?
On Wed, 04 May 2022 15:56:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces"
I may me remembering it incorrectly, but what I do remember is
overlong levels and no way to save during said level which annoyed me.
On Thu, 05 May 2022 09:33:14 -0400, Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 04 May 2022 15:56:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces"
I may me remembering it incorrectly, but what I do remember is
overlong levels and no way to save during said level which annoyed me.
*--
I think I quit playing it because it turned into a jumping game for
me, which I hate.
-pw
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of the
movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on,
but your TV picture is broken.
I can't actually find it online, which makes me wonder if it might
be valuable. It's currently in a box in my garage somewhere, the only >cassette tape I couldn't bear to throw out. I don't think I have the >cassette box & sleeve any more though.
PW <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
On Thu, 05 May 2022 09:33:14 -0400, Mike S. <Mike_S@nowhere.com>
wrote:
On Wed, 04 May 2022 15:56:36 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
Anyway, I've decided to celebrate by playing some "Dark Forces"
I may me remembering it incorrectly, but what I do remember is
overlong levels and no way to save during said level which annoyed me.
*--
I think I quit playing it because it turned into a jumping game for
me, which I hate.
-pw
It wasn't that bad. I do remember its annoying breaking into security
puzzle part. Argh.
Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of theI had, what I assume was the same recording, but on an LP record. It was called "The Story of Star Wars" and was an abridged version of the film
movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on,
but your TV picture is broken.
with original naration. In the days before VCRs and video rental stores
this was the only way to experience the movie at home.
On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 11:15:40 AM UTC-7, Ross Ridge wrote:
Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of theI had, what I assume was the same recording, but on an LP record. It was
movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on,
but your TV picture is broken.
called "The Story of Star Wars" and was an abridged version of the film
with original naration. In the days before VCRs and video rental stores
this was the only way to experience the movie at home.
I don't think it had narration. Maybe I'm misremembering though. I haven't >listened to it in decades, I don't think I even have a cassette player to listen
to it with if I could find it in the garage. The link to the youtube Spalls posted
of that one doesn't sound familiar, but it's badly distorted (probably to >avoid copyright takedown.) I'll concede for now it might be this one.
On Mon, 9 May 2022 08:19:05 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 11:15:40 AM UTC-7, Ross Ridge wrote:
Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of theI had, what I assume was the same recording, but on an LP record. It was >>> called "The Story of Star Wars" and was an abridged version of the film
movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on, >>>> but your TV picture is broken.
with original naration. In the days before VCRs and video rental stores
this was the only way to experience the movie at home.
I don't think it had narration. Maybe I'm misremembering though. I haven't >> listened to it in decades, I don't think I even have a cassette player to listen
to it with if I could find it in the garage. The link to the youtube Spalls posted
of that one doesn't sound familiar, but it's badly distorted (probably to
avoid copyright takedown.) I'll concede for now it might be this one.
All I had at the time was the record of the movie (LP) soundtrack...
complete with a bonus track of Disco version of the main theme. Which
I'd listen while to reading the novelization, of course.
I remember seeing the movie at home for the first time on (rented) VHS
tape and thinking that was the most futuristic thing ever, even if it
was on a blurry 12" TV. Truly, the past was a strange place.
The film really was a revelation at the time. It wasn't just the
special effects, although those were the best I'd ever seen at the
time. It was that - despite all the nonsense about Jedi and laser
swords and weird aliens - it was a strangely relatable tale, told with likeable characters.
A lot of sci-fi prior to that was either depressingly distopian (e.g.,"Soylent Green"), or moralistic (e.g., "The Day the Earth Stood
Still") or just silly monster-flicks (e.g., "The Pod People"). "Star
Wars" had a universe that made sense and characters that didn't seem - despite some wooden dialogue - like they were out of a badly-produced Shakespearean play. It really was transformative for the genre, and
watching it I knew that sci-fi would never be the same again.
On Mon, 9 May 2022 08:19:05 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 11:15:40 AM UTC-7, Ross Ridge wrote:
Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of theI had, what I assume was the same recording, but on an LP record. It was >>> called "The Story of Star Wars" and was an abridged version of the film
movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movie on, >>>> but your TV picture is broken.
with original naration. In the days before VCRs and video rental stores
this was the only way to experience the movie at home.
I don't think it had narration. Maybe I'm misremembering though. I haven't >> listened to it in decades, I don't think I even have a cassette player to listen
to it with if I could find it in the garage. The link to the youtube Spalls posted
of that one doesn't sound familiar, but it's badly distorted (probably to
avoid copyright takedown.) I'll concede for now it might be this one.
All I had at the time was the record of the movie (LP) soundtrack...
complete with a bonus track of Disco version of the main theme. Which
I'd listen while to reading the novelization, of course.
I remember seeing the movie at home for the first time on (rented) VHS
tape and thinking that was the most futuristic thing ever, even if it
was on a blurry 12" TV. Truly, the past was a strange place.
The film really was a revelation at the time. It wasn't just the
special effects, although those were the best I'd ever seen at the
time. It was that - despite all the nonsense about Jedi and laser
swords and weird aliens - it was a strangely relatable tale, told with likeable characters.
A lot of sci-fi prior to that was either depressingly distopian (e.g.,"Soylent Green"), or moralistic (e.g., "The Day the Earth Stood
Still") or just silly monster-flicks (e.g., "The Pod People"). "Star
Wars" had a universe that made sense and characters that didn't seem - despite some wooden dialogue - like they were out of a badly-produced Shakespearean play. It really was transformative for the genre, and
watching it I knew that sci-fi would never be the same again.
On 10/05/2022 04:59, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
On Mon, 9 May 2022 08:19:05 -0700 (PDT), Justisaur
<justisaur@gmail.com> wrote:
On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 11:15:40 AM UTC-7, Ross Ridge wrote:
Justisaur <just...@gmail.com> wrote:
Lol, no. It's an odd one - it's (nearly?) the full sound track of the >>>>> movie with all the dialog. Like putting the video tape of the movieI had, what I assume was the same recording, but on an LP record. It
on,
but your TV picture is broken.
was
called "The Story of Star Wars" and was an abridged version of the film >>>> with original naration. In the days before VCRs and video rental stores >>>> this was the only way to experience the movie at home.
I don't think it had narration. Maybe I'm misremembering though. I
haven't
listened to it in decades, I don't think I even have a cassette
player to listen
to it with if I could find it in the garage. The link to the youtube
Spalls posted
of that one doesn't sound familiar, but it's badly distorted
(probably to
avoid copyright takedown.)Â I'll concede for now it might be this one.
All I had at the time was the record of the movie (LP) soundtrack...
complete with a bonus track of Disco version of the main theme. Which
I'd listen while to reading the novelization, of course.
I remember seeing the movie at home for the first time on (rented) VHS
tape and thinking that was the most futuristic thing ever, even if it
was on a blurry 12" TV. Truly, the past was a strange place.
The film really was a revelation at the time. It wasn't just the
special effects, although those were the best I'd ever seen at the
time. It was that - despite all the nonsense about Jedi and laser
swords and weird aliens - it was a strangely relatable tale, told with
likeable characters.
A lot of sci-fi prior to that was either depressingly distopian
(e.g.,"Soylent Green"), or moralistic (e.g., "The Day the Earth Stood
Still") or just silly monster-flicks (e.g., "The Pod People"). "Star
Wars" had a universe that made sense and characters that didn't seem -
despite some wooden dialogue - like they were out of a badly-produced
Shakespearean play. It really was transformative for the genre, and
watching it I knew that sci-fi would never be the same again.
I think I watched it when it came out at the cinema but that could be
false memory syndrome and even if it wasn't I was too young to remember
it. To be honest I can't remember when I did first watch it (probably
one of the blockbuster films at Xmas) but I do know I didn't watch the
next two in the series until the late nineties. I think they're fun
romps but they aren't must sees for me. Then again I'm not really into
sci-fi (Red Dwarf is one of my favourite series but that's a sitcom) and
off the top of my head the only one that's in my classic list is
Bladerunner. I did also enjoy the first two series of The Expanse but I stopped at the start of series three as I thought, and this is often the case, that it's now just being dragged out as it's popular.
As always, horses for courses and all that!
I think I watched it when it came out at the cinema but that could beThe Expanse is an adaptation of a series of nine books. IIRC you
false memory syndrome and even if it wasn't I was too young to
remember it. To be honest I can't remember when I did first watch it
(probably one of the blockbuster films at Xmas) but I do know I didn't
watch the next two in the series until the late nineties. I think
they're fun romps but they aren't must sees for me. Then again I'm not
really into sci-fi (Red Dwarf is one of my favourite series but that's
a sitcom) and off the top of my head the only one that's in my classic
list is Bladerunner. I did also enjoy the first two series of The
Expanse but I stopped at the start of series three as I thought, and
this is often the case, that it's now just being dragged out as it's
popular.
As always, horses for courses and all that!
dropped out somewhere around book 2. :D
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 297 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 104:12:29 |
| Calls: | 6,660 |
| Calls today: | 2 |
| Files: | 12,209 |
| Messages: | 5,335,170 |