Video Game Character of the Month - August 2018 - Galen 'Starkiller' Marek - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Video Game Character of the Month

July 2018
Galen 'Starkiller' Marek (Starkiller)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Overview:
For completing his final test, making me feel like an all-powerful Sith/Jedi, Galen 'Starkiller' Marek's, has been granted the prestigious Video Game Character of the Month Award. Now only two goals remain for the Star Wars production team: to finish the Force Unleashed Trilogy rather than leaving it as the Half-Life of movie tie-ins, and to grant Chewie his own medal for his role in a New Hope.
And now for a bit of information on Galen 'Starkiller' Marek:
Spoilers ahead:

Film Review No. 40 Solo: A Star Wars Story (12+)

Strong Points:
Likeable characters
Easter eggs
Brilliant special effects
Extreme wide shots and almost painting-like backdrops
Great acting by all, especially Paul Bettany and Alden Ehrenreich
Some good laughs
Cameos
Tense action sequences and dialogue
Subtle score references and remixes

Weak Points:
Very busy on screen at the beginning turns an action scene into a swirl of colour
Emotions didn't always continue as you'd believe
Some themes weren't subtle, some too much so
Some characters should have been in the film more

Nit-pick:
Prequels never really allow you to invest in characters who you know must meet their end or disappear in the film to allow the canon to work

Some spoilers ahead:

Film Review No. 34 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (12+)

Strong Points:
Subverting the Star Wars tropes...
...Although still definitely Star Wars
Amazing CGI
Great acting from all
Back to puppets for the creatures
Porgs
Set piece after set piece
Final battle
Visual imagery
Opening battle's tension
Some returning faces
Risk taking
Benicio Del Toro's character
Andy Serkis's character
Tense throughout
The film shows a difference in style to T:FA but is still noticeably Star Wars
Focus on other characters
A conversation in two halves
Transitions between scenes

Weak Points:
A shouty start
Some odd bits of film (either too real or CGI)
Sometimes visual representations were questionable
Not sure if all the comedy will hold up
Death count was sometimes overly large

No spoiler review:
Go see it. Even if you don't really know about Star Wars, go see it. You won't regret it

Spoilers ahead:

Film Review No. 18 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (12+)

Strong Points:
Good expansion of the Star Wars universe
Fills up plot holes from the first movie
A nice, varied cast
Great easter eggs from the first film
Amazing visual effects
Grand Moff Tarkin
Darker atmosphere shows another side of Star Wars
Some unpredictability
Awesome action scenes

Weak Points:
Changes to certain characters costumes
The opening scene, while a nod to the original film, lacked the visual finesse
First half had so many cuts to other planets and characters it can be confusing
Pacing
No scroll-up Star Wars credits!

Some spoilers ahead:

Review No. 116 Star Wars Lighsaber Escape

Strong Points:
Fun
Free
Technologically Impressive
Phone works well as a Lightsaber
Equipment available for use
No download required

Weak Points:
Bad wifi can cause Lightsaber to disconnect
No real way to attack the Storm Troopers
A bit short (but this is expected)
Textures of some things are a bit too low resolution to be seen up close.

Film Review No. 1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12+)

Strong Points:
CGI was astounding
Superb set pieces
Great acting from the leads
Lots of references to the original trilogy
New weapons for the Storm Troopers!
Humorous
Awesome sound and music
Multi-layered with enough action to keep kids interested and enough darker themes to keep adults thinking
Some bits were very unpredictable

Weak Points:
Some bits were predictable
The rest of the cast were overshadowed by the two mains
If you think about it, the story is actually extremely dark for a 12...
Too short
Some references seemed to be shoved in just to be there
No Senate hearings or Trade Blockades!!!! (Maybe... I just don't know what I'm allowed to say anymore! #spoilers)

First Impressions: Star Wars Battlefront Open Beta

I downloaded the beta on my PS4 due to it being Star Wars. Personally, I thought it was going to be okay, probably a Battlefield clone with a couple of new mechanics and, most importantly, need PS Plus (like the Battlefield Hardline beta). Thankfully, I was wrong. Oh so wrong.

App Review No. 70 Angry Birds Star Wars 2

Strong Points:
Lots of familiar characters reimagined as Angry Birds
Lots of levels
You can play as the Pork Side as well as the Bird Side
Great Angry Birds physics gameplay
Star Wars soundtrack
Medals let you buy characters to get out of a difficult situation
Infinity Use characters allow collectibles to be obtained easier

Weak Points:
Telepods, being able to buy characters and lots of powers makes the game less skill based
Collectibles can be frustratingly difficult to get

App Review No. 12 Angry Birds Star Wars

Strong Points:

Great Angry Birds formula still used

Great new powers that are still linked (slightly) to the Birds old powers

Good storyline

Different sort of levels from the other games

Incorporates all features from all games

The Pigs are still in the game!

Weak points:

Not enough levels

More updates needed

Lots of frustrating levels