Marathon Impressions (not a review)

A few hours into Marathon, and I say this will ALL respect, I REALLY want a Marathon single player campaign.

I waited a week before buying Marathon on the PS5. Not because I feared it would fail. As a fan of Bungie’s games since Halo: Combat Evolved on the Xbox, I enjoy the games and the “Bungie Gameplay” their first person shooters are known for. If this was a traditional shooter, it would be an automatic purchase. However Marathon isn’t like Halo or Destiny, it’s an extraction shooter.

Extraction shooters, the goal being to enter a world, get supplies/complete objectives, and leave before time is up, aren’t my normal jam. Save the Division games and Arc Raiders, I don’t have much experience in the genre.

Taking the week to read about the game and see people’s pros and cons, I made the decision to jump in. It’s also true I needed to have the coin to get the game. Stupid adulting and responsibilities… 🙂

In a time where everything is polarizing & too many scream doom and other fearmongering words I don’t care to write/type, the reports of Marathon being “horrible” is something I don’t share.Having played a micro-second of the pre-launch beta and nothing beforehand, many of the complaints and issues that were shared I haven’t experienced. I’m having a good time. 

Marathon plays as sharp as to be expected from a Bungie game.. Like with Halo and in Destiny, the gameplay is exceptionally crisp. Engagement with enemies is controlled chaos and at times uncontrolled chaos with other players and the game’s NPCs reacting to your actions. Many times you are forced to constantly alter the plans you made. Bring plenty of supplies for your drop and save room for the loot you’ll bring back. Should you survive.

When you drop in Tau Ceti IV, you’ll have the choice of seven classes. 

• The Assassin, spy class with the ability to turn invisible.

• The Destroyer, combat specialist with a wrist mounted shield and missiles.

• The Recon class, armed with a tracker drone and can send out a sensor pulse to detect nearby foes.

• The Thief, your loot specialist with grappling hook and drone that can pickpocket others.

• The Triage, a field medic with a med-drone that can heal you & your team. Also can revive teammates or deliver an EMP on enemies.

• The Vandal, the “combat anarchist” with arm mounted disruptor attack and the power to amplify their abilities.

• The Rook, when you want to join a game solo without worrying about your gear or NPC enemies targeting you.

I find myself excited to drop in the Tau Ceti IV. Like I said before, the objective in Marathon is to get supplies, complete your contract, and leave. Alive. You may, as I have more than a few times, been extracted barely clinging to life. And that’s cool. As long as you make it back with air in your artificial lungs, that’s a victory.

Of course the downside is that for every success, you will fail. And fail often. And I mean, if you are like me, a lot. The enemy robots (all I’ve encountered so far save the nasty ticks) are intelligent and will come at you with everything that they have. They are sneaky enough to trap you with great tactics and will overpower you if you underestimate them. Should they hear a commotion, they will investigate. I swore a few times that one called for help and the help kicked my can.

Unlike the last two games, this Bungie title focuses a lot on stealth and keeping a cool head. Should you take part in combat, the rush of combat amps up the experience in the game world. Not paying attention to your surroundings or ignoring the audio cues can mean a win or loss. I want to give a huge thanks to the folks involved in the audio production in this game. I broke out my headset to deeply immerse myself in the game. From the lightning strikes and rain drops to the sound of combat in the distance that can quickly move in your direction, much of my enjoyment in the game is through my ears.

Keep your head on a swivel…

The world is also ripe with people who are also looting and completing missions. And there is one thing you must know, there is no safe space. You can play in a group of three or alone. I am a “solo” player. Groups are fine, IF people communicate and work as a team. Battlefield is built around working together and working smart (and more savvy) than your opponents. Call of Duty, a person can use no mic and be a valuable teammate. That was me, “Lone Wolf, Great Wet Work Kofi” was a problem. So far my experience in Marathon, you NEED to be a solid crew to be successful. No exceptions.

The one, maybe it was two times I was successful in a group was when all three of us talked to each other and had each other’s back. Something like sharing ammo can mean the difference between life and death. The other times were pretty rough. Being partnered with someone who ran off to start a firefight like they were in a Halo team deathmatch, people who don’t talk or communicate in the slightest, and another who disappeared when things got rough, I discovered playing with randoms isn’t my thing.

It’s truly dangerous to go alone…

And for me that makes playing Marathon thrilling. Solo is when my internal storyline about my experiences take center stage. I don’t have to worry about a random person not covering my six & I catch a hot one. I’m in control of myself, ultimately responsible for each time I play. And if I want to hop in and play to explore for a bit or loot for a few, I don’t want to worry about ruining someone else’s experience or someone doing the same for me.

Encounters in solo are extremely personal. Stealth is everything, even for the brute shell. Taking out a robot means another breath I can easily take without fear. When it comes to other runners, I have had moments when we tip our hats to each other and let each other go about our business. That’s rare. Most times we solve our problems in the most violent way. I take no joy in another Runner’s demise. At first I mistook them for a robot with my adrenaline on eleven. Lately when I do go after someone, it’s on purpose. At first I felt shame in taking down someone. However, completing my mission means more than someone’s loot or feelings.

What have I become?

Not every time out is a bowl of sunshine. This is a safe space and we are in the trust tree. Tau Ceti IV is a brutal world and life comes at you fast, death faster. When I press the square button, I understand I may not leave a winner. And my average right now shows it. I’ve been bumped off more times than I count. Recently I took out a building full of UESC robots, had a ton of great loot, set a path to the Exfil, only to be taken out because I didn’t look both ways when I exited a door. Another time I was collecting supplies, enjoying the art direction and forgot I was out in the open in an environment with other players who may have long range semi-automatic rifles.

That being said, a loss can still be as fun as a victory. Both are teachable moments if you allow them to be. For example, look both ways before leaving a building.

And finally, playing solo is as close to a single player experience that I’ll get. Like with Destiny while I played it, it’s how I like to explore game worlds like this. IF there was a single player campaign, in the vein of a Halo: CE, Halo Reach, or Halo 3: ODST, I would jump for a chance to play it. After unlocking the first three factions, having a title that would go deeper into their origins and personalities would be amazing.

Yes, any lore books will be bought.

The elephant in the room is Marathon being a live service game. In a time where so many videogames have some element of it, we have to be honest that the failure rate of these types of games is pretty high. Over the last year Concord and Highguard are two of the biggest games that opened and closed shop in record time. I do not feel that Marathon is in a space to fail. It’s also true companies are very concerned about the player count and the expectations of monetization. This will be a factor in the overall success of the game and in its future. Right now I’m enjoying the moment.

In a few I’ll pop back into Tau Ceti IV and take my chances. We’ll see how far and what I get done, maybe complete a contract. Most of all I’ll have fun. And that’s all that matters.

Finn is STILL my homeboy!

I start this off by saying I am a huge Star Wars fan.  Like many of us, not more or less than others (ok there are some that take their fandom to extraordinary heights or can afford all the various Star Wars related items), I have loved Star Wars since my first toy and seeing Star Wars during its re-release.  Much of my life I have spent thinking about, watching, reading, playing video games and role playing games, and talking about Star Wars & the various principles in the film.  Empire Strikes is my favorite movie not just because it’s a great film, in Star Wars a young Kofi was able to come to grips with his father (or lack of father) issues.  After Return of Jedi I vowed that when I have children I would take them to every “cool movie” and we’d take the day off from school and work.  This is something I do with my son and Star Wars Episode Seven was announced, I was filled with joy.  Finally I would take my son to see his first Star Wars film in the theaters. 

And this is exactly what we did.  I took off work and he didn’t go to school; we went to see The Force Awakens at 12:00 PM.  It was a great movie, we had a fun time (Save for  the bro-dude who talked way too much.  The stereotype of Black folk talking through movies ended on the 18th of December).  It gave me the same thrill and joy of the 80s and my son saw a movie that fully entertained him and kept him involved.  This was the first movie I can remember that had him asking to see it again.  Usually that is reserved for the Marvel Superhero films.  More than anything, Noah saw and enjoyed a young man of color in a leading role. 

FN2187 or as he was dubbed, Finn is played by John Boyega.  This isn’t the first Black person in a Star Wars film.  There was Lando Calrisssian in Empire Strikes Back (I SERIOUSLY believe my mother took me to see the film multiple times because of Billy Dee Williams and not just because she knew how much I loved the franchise…) and Mace Windu played by Samuel L. Jackson during the prequels.  Those were the “biggest names,” but there have been others like Tony Cox, Femi Taylor, James Earl Jones (in voice), Gin Clarke, Lily Nyamwasa, among others who have played roles in the Star Wars films and put their mark in lore. 

However this is the first time that a young adult would be in a starring role, or even Star Wars having a person of color in a leading role.  I enjoyed Jon’s work on “Attack the Block” and was excited to see what direction his character would take.  In the first teaser I saw how he was out in the forefront and I had a ton of questions.  That is one of the best parts of this for me is having a ton of questions and coming up with my own theories.  As we saw more and more of Jon’s character, I attempted to get an idea of who and what he would be.  Then I saw the teaser with the lightsaber.  And not just any lightsaber, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber.  Mind was blown.

After dodging “spoilers” and any sort of information about the movie like Han in the Asteroid field, I finally saw the movie.  To be honest, I was very happy with the final product.  It met my nostalgia fix and added a lot of “new” in the mix.  I dug the characters (although I felt like the hype over Captain Plasma and how she was used didn’t do the character justice, unless the goal was to simply sell toys), Kylo Ren was great, the First Order actually gave me pause, Rey and Poe (who needed more screen time) were great additions to the franchise.  It was awesome to see the older characters and how they have moved on since the Battle of Endor.  And then there was Finn, FN2187…

I will go on record saying that I truly dig Finn’s character and his introduction.  Jon Boyega gave me a believable and likeable character who has enough heroism to be a hero and was able to get beyond his own flaws as a human being (that we all have).  It wasn’t the stereotypical “I’m Black and therefore the coolest in the room,” the “hyper masculine thug” the media usually projects us as, he wasn’t a “shuck and jive” cat either.  I felt he was a character who is starting his heroic journey and showed three dimensional growth in the film; with more growth to come.

However (this is when it gets tricky and I may lose people) I do feel like there is a “issue” I have.  I have been a fan of Star Wars since way back.  I’ve read many novels, comics, watched movies & TV shows, played many table-top role playing games (I lived and breathed the West End Game system and those books were worth it just for reading material) & videogames.  I’m not an “expert,” but I know my stuff.  And yes I understand that with this fresh start and all.  However, howeva in my best Steven A. Smith voice, I never heard of Stormtroopers or any variant of the group be listed as working in “janitorial services.” 

A friend of mine called Finn the “Roc of Star Wars.”  If you are familiar with the show, you got the joke.  If not familiar with the television show, then hop on that like right now (or after you are done reading this).  While Finn is a character I dig and have no issue with, him being a janitor felt wrong.  It leans into a slippery slope that has many Black characters being a butt of a joke or in some lesser role than what he or she should be.  We already have Finn very scared in the film, given it makes sense as someone who has seen the horrors the First Order inflicts on others.  That I can get, however I’ve never thought of or heard any combat trooper be a “custodian.”  Wouldn’t this be better suited to droids?  Why would Finn be on a combat mission and expected to kill if he was a guy who cleaned?  And again, you get a child, raise him for combat, and oh yeah, you are assigned pots to clean? 

The other issue is a bit trickier and does require careful navigation (and frankly not everyone can handle this conversation without getting stuckonstupid).  It’s the “magical negro” narrative: when a Black character is the catalyst for a white character’s success.  Usually by some mystical nature and in a way that the white character is able to manifest their personal power for the first time.  I can see where some may see Finn in this light with the final scene.  I don’t necessarily agree with it.  At least in a manner that is disrespectful to Finn or puts Rey in a better light.  As Rey was already doing amazing before she battled Kylo, in fact she already humbled Kylo earlier in the film.  (Also we don’t know her full story so it’s too early to say what Rey is and isn’t.)

While we do know that Finn is willing to help and fight, he isn’t some epic level combatant.  He openly talks about running from the First Order versus fighting them.  He knows what evil they do, he wants nothing to do with them.  He was nearly killed by a more skilled First Order Stormtrooper beforehand.  Finn was fighting on raw nerve and grit against Kylo who was more skilled in melee and lightsaber combat techniques.  I have no issue with the way the fight ended or with Rey channeling her strength to battle an already injured and shaken Kylo (I believe he hasn’t faced anyone who could stand up to him and clearly needed that training he was begging his new master for).

My theory is that Finn is Force Sensitive and if not, the fight made even more sense.  Asking Han Solo to fight with a lightsaber would have gotten the same result.  Had Luke would have ran up on Darth Vader on the first Death Star, he would have met the same fate as Obi-Wan.  Rey would have been flipped and bounced like Dominique Dawes had she fought any Darth; Vader, Dooku, Maul…  It is completely sensible for everything to happen as it did.  I believe that it’s the silly idea of Finn being a “janitor” that made this part hurt so many.

In no way do I see Finn as “useless” or weak or perfect.  There are problematic issues at play, more so with cinema and humanity and less on Star Wars itself.  Finn’s a fully fleshed out hero that we can support and put our arms around.  He can also be something we can critique as well.  Nothing is A or B, “black or white;” but shades of grey.  Personally, I am looking forward to more adventures with Finn and will be there for him (and Poe and Rey and even whiny Kylo).  I believe there will be much growth in his heroic journey.  I have to, the little Black boy who was heavy into Star Wars and would color my extra Luke Skywalker brown so I could be a Jedi refuses to believe Star Wars will let me down. 

The New Way

Note: This was written just before Star Wars: The Last Skywalker released in theaters.

We are two weeks away from Star Wars: The Last Skywalker and I’m extremely excited. I’ll be seeing it with the family that Saturday. Had you told me when I was younger that we’d have three prequel films, two stand alone films (which are my favorite films of the newer ones), a whole new trilogy, I’d never believe it. Unlike some, I have seen these films as a blessing versus something to complain about. Like the superhero film boom, I see this as the Golden Ticket Moment we wanted since our youth. Does it mean everything is perfect and the films are above criticism? Of course not. There are a few things I don’t like & I’m ok with me not liking everything or needing to feed into the hive mind. However is it enough to take away from my joy of the material or my fandom, not at the slightest

Not only are we getting a new movie, we have The Mandalorian on the Disney+ streaming service. For years I’ve argued that the Star Wars universe was so huge that you can have more stories to be told than just Jedi centered ones. Most times that is what’s given because the assumption is that people only care for the lightsabers and such. At one point a bounty hunter and smuggler centered videogames were teased and both were canceled. Jedi Fallen Order is an amazing game, however you could see that the same high stakes adventure could be done without the Jedi (see The Uncharted series).

Enter The Mandalorian, the Spaghetti Western/Samurai series that we didn’t know we needed. We get a warrior who is traveling from one scenario to another, all the while caring for a 50 year old baby who bears a striking similarity to Jedi Master Yoda. With production values of a film (thank you Disney) and using practical effects, we are put in the world of the “Mando” in a way none of us thought we'd ever see. What I love the most is that while there are Force elements, we aren’t trapped in the Dogma of the Jedi and the non Force Sensitive characters are given then time to shine. 

This along with Rogue One are examples of what the Star Wars universe needs for the future. Yes the Force is mighty and powerful. However these are the types of tales that will fully expand the universe beyond Jedi, Lightsabers, and the Skywalker Saga. I’d love to see a story about X-Wing/Tie pilots during the Civil War, a tale of smugglers, even a drama or comedy set in the Star Wars Universe, or a show that mimics a series like Planet Earth, but showcases animals and creatures in the Star Wars universe.

We had a great run of Star Wars material and I’m thankful to have been able to witness it all. Instead of being bitter over what isn’t given to us or griping about how someone “Ruined Star Wars” (the property doesn’t belong to you, just your memories and joy of fandom), I’m going to take all this goodness and hope for much more to come in the future. See you at the movies.

Unlearn What You Have Learned.

Watching the latest episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte and reading the various reactions to the storyline & Jedi has been interesting. One thing I love about The Acolyte is how they are dissecting the Jedi & their mythos. This isn’t a new thing, looking back Star Wars has made a point more than a few times that the Jedi are a force (pun intended) for good. They are morally upright people, warriors that put peace before everything. And it’s true they are as flawed as anyone else and those flaws can lead to issues. I’ll pick a few situations from the films as examples of when the Jedi steered off the path.

“Unlearn what you have learned…” Master Yoda, Empire Strikes Back.

To say that I am a Star Wars fan is an understatement. Since I could remember, I have quoted the films, read the books, listened to the scores, played the games, and enjoyed the various elements of the property. Like most people, the Jedi were a source of awe and wonder to me. My Uncle Gary used Yoda’s teachings as stepping stones when he talked to me about Karma and Universal Laws. The mix of monk and warrior appealed to me, they weren’t looking for conflict, but they were perfectly able and ready to defend themselves. 

And they had LASER SWORDS!!!

For all things awesome the Jedi are, as I grew older I began to look at them in a different light. Starting when I played the West End Games Star Wars roleplaying game, I found their lifestyle was rigid and playing a Jedi or a Force Sensitive (a character that has a strong connection to the Force) difficult. There were rules on not just how to act, but going as far as what you thought. You could easily be swayed to the Dark Side with the right GM’s hand. It wasn’t unfair or unreasonable. You just had to be ready to end up with a couple of Dark Side points attached to your character’s.

“He’s the Chosen One. He will bring balance.” Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace

With 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, we are introduced to the Jedi as a group of individuals and not just a small handful as we saw in the first film. One of my favorite characters from that film was Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi Master of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he felt totally in control in every scene, had a wit that wasn’t overbearing, and would see the “bigger picture” in each scenario he found himself in. Qui-Gon did not want his Padawan to simply go with what is the Dogma of the Jedi, each moment was a teachable moment with one of the biggest lessons being “What Would a Jedi Do” may not always be the best thing.

And that is where we get into the biggest problem with the Jedi.

Qui-Gon runs into a young fella named Anakin Skywalker while on a remote sand pit of a planet called Tatooine. Instead his sole focus being the protection of Queen Padme Amidala, Qui-Gon gets sidetracked in not using the boy to get off the planet (in an EXTREMELY dangerous race that humans rarely survive), Qui-Gon is stuck on the idea that Anakin is the “Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force.” Even his Padawan Obi-Wan questions the wisdom of his actions and is brushed off.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on a child as it is. Now let’s add that Qui-Gon’s master plan also involves separating Anakin from the only person he knows and loves, his Momma. His Momma. Let’s take Anakin away from his Mom, leave her in slavery, and start training him to be a Jedi (that will bring balance to the Force, don’t forget that) when other youth start their training earlier. And people wondered why Anakin was a ball of confusion and anger….

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Yoda, Revenge of the Sith

“Hey Kofi, you know so much about the Jedi, when do the parents drop the kids off at the Jedi Kiddy College?”

Thanks for the question, check this out! The Jedi Order finds young people at a very early age to start their training. The path of a Jedi is very strict and using the Force takes discipline and time. Therefore when children are accepted into the Jedi order as Padawan Learners, they leave their family. Leave them for good. You see, attachment is a big no-no for the Jedi. That “leads” to the Darkside of the Force*. In order to be the best Jedi you can be, you have to totally delicate yourself to master yourself and the Force.

*Allegedly

So let’s recap: Jedi Master Qui-Gon“finds” Anakin Skywalker and because he has a hunch & Anakin’s midichlorian levels are higher than anyone’s save Yoda, decides he will do whatever it takes to bring him to Coruscant to the Jedi Council, and demand that he (and he alone, as he apparently is the person who can train him) take Anakin has his Padawan. And his current Padawan Obi-Wan can go do the trials to be a Jedi Knight.

If this was Earth I’d say Qui-Gon is full of white privilege for his take on Anakin….

Sadly, Qui-Gon would not live long enough to train Anakin. After his death by the hands of Darth Maul, Qui-Gon tells his Padawan Obi-Wan to train the boy. Before Obi-Wan can be properly tested to be a Jedi Knight, much less Master, Qui-Gon in his infinite wisdom puts the pressure of training the “Chosen One” on Kenobi’s shoulders. Wow.

And this will not be the first time that the Jedi fail themselves and the galaxy.

Jedi's Hubris Part 2

Jedi’s Hubris Part II: The Failure of the Chosen One 

Before I begin, I’d like to give my praise to The Acolyte series. My goal was to discuss the Jedi in order of the films & shows. Then The Acolyte gave us a lot of Jedi foolishness. And I say this not as a complaint, but with respect to the storytelling and letting the characters be flawed beings being perfectly imperfect. The choices made set the stage for many things to come in the future. Like many organizations that see themselves in a certain light, what is said versus what is done isn’t always practiced by some in the Jedi Order. Now to our favorite Jedi Wunderkind….

After Qui-Gon’s death, Obi-Wan Kenobi was tasked to train Anakin Skywalker in the ways of the Force and to be a Jedi. Anakin’s valiant actions in Naboo convinced the Jedi Council that he should be trained, despite him being older than his Padawan peers. The newly ranked Jedi Knight will be responsible for the training of a young person who has shown he still (rightfully so) attachment to his mother and would have pressure to live up to “The Chosen One” moniker. And unknown to everyone, the Sith Lord Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, sees Anakin as a key piece for his plans to galactic domination.

That’s a lot on the plate of Obi-Wan and Anakin and unfair to both of them.

Because of how the Jedi are portrayed, everything I said sounds good on paper. The Jedi can do so much with their skill and powers. They are known for having foresight and wisdom beyond their years. It would be a great honor to train Anakin and Obi-Wan defeating Darth Maul shows he is up to the task of doing great things. Their relationship would be beneficial to the growth and development of Anakin as a Jedi and a man. Obi-Wan’s age and personality would give Anakin a relatable voice in his training.

“I sense great fear in you, Skywalker. You have hate. You have anger. But you don't use them.” Count Dooku

I argue this isn’t what Anakin needed and instead of building towards success, this led to Anakin’s downfall. Instead, Anakin should have been trained by a seasoned member of the Jedi Council who is skilled in the development of Jedi, wise, and powerful in the Force. If this child is to be the prophesied “one who will bring balance to the Force,” if I was on the Jedi Council I’d recommend one of us take the lead. Something of this magnitude shouldn't be left to one who JUST became a Jedi Knight.

In the nine or so years of Anakin’s training, he had no contact with his mother, Shmi Skywalker. In the interview he had with the Jedi Council Anakin showed Shmi was heavy on his mind. Even if Qui-Gon could have freed her, she wouldn’t have been able to keep in touch with her son. I wonder if Anakin was given any additional counseling because of his separation from his mother. When he finds his mother captured by a group of Tusken Raiders (we don’t use “sand people” over here), his fears of loss and her death causes him to snap. Anakin kills the group of them, only Padme knows of his act.

It could have been circumstance or Darth Sidious (because he plots a lot) that led to what happened to Shmi’s kidnapping and death. Had Qui-Gon never separated the two, we have no idea what kind of life Anakin & Shmi would have had. Given everything that we know, the Jedi failed the Skywalker family. 

Besides emotionally stunting Anakin with the Jedi rigid training, Anakin was used as a pawn by the Jedi Council. Yes, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine sweet honeyed words in Anakin’s ear, constantly praising him, sowing doubt about the Jedi, and promising to save Padme from death. That is to be expected from someone who is evil. The Jedi Council on the other hand placed weight on Anakin’s shoulders that he wasn’t prepared for.

“This is where the fun begins.” Anakin Skywalker

While a Jedi Knight, decorated war hero & leader, and trained Ahsoka, Anakin still had moments of doubt and overconfidence. Anakin’s desire for “power” and to show that he was “The Chosen One” put him at odds with the Jedi Council at times. The same Jedi Council that enabled everything to happen so far. Padme, his source of happiness, being pregnant (suppose the Jedi & Naboo don’t believe in birth control) only adds more pressure to a slowly simmering pot. 

As the Separatist War nears its end, the Council tasks Anakin to spy on his friend Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Because the Jedi “should not act in shadows,” Anakin is not thrilled with this and doesn’t want to ruin his relationship with Palpatine. This comes as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine asks Anakin to keep an eye on the Jedi Council as he believes they will betray him, and moves to place him on the Jedi Council. Of course, they aren’t pleased Supreme Chancellor Palaptine would “put” Anakin on the Council, but allow it.

“You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master” - Mace Windu

Was this the right move? Yes. Anakin was not ready for the rank of Jedi Master. And I’m sure Supreme Chancellor Palpatine knew that this would provoke Anakin. Anakin’s outburst proved their point. What could and should have happened was Mace and Obi-Wan explaining their reason to ease Anakin’s thoughts. Instead, dismissing him and making the man feel small only hurts and doesn’t help.

All the stress on his shoulders, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine becomes someone Anakin can rely on. After hearing of the tale of Darth Plagueis, Anakin feels he has a way to save Padme and his unborn child. Again Anakin is being pulled in two directions. Duty and Love are put against each other. The inflexible Jedi Order doesn’t allow the level of attachment that Anakin feels he needs. The love affair with Padme is “wrong’ because it brings with it attachment. Ultimately, Anakin will choose Love and his duty to the Jedi will shift to obedience to Palpatine Darth Sedious.

“The Force is strong with you. A powerful Sith you will become! Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Vader.” Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

By the time Palpatine reveals himself to Anakin, it is too late for him to turn back. In Palpatine, Anakin sees the one person who can save Padme from the death he sees in his dreams. Unable to save his mother after dreaming of her death and Yoda telling him to “train up” and lose the feeling of attachment, Anakin is placed in a corner. With Mace Windu gone (Sam is always championing for a Mace Windu return) by his hands, he submits to Darth Sedious and becomes Darth Vader.

Because he was never able to fully develop his emotional range, Anakin Skywalker chooses to embrace the fullness of the Dark SIde of the Force and become Darth Vader. I don’t absolve Anakin of his choices, the Jedi Order should carry the majority of the weight for Anakin’s fall from grace.

Jedi's Hubris Part 1

Watching the latest episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte and reading the various reactions to the storyline & Jedi has been interesting. One thing I love about The Acolyte is how they are dissecting the Jedi & their mythos. This isn’t a new thing, looking back Star Wars has made a point more than a few times that the Jedi are a force (pun intended) for good. They are morally upright people, warriors that put peace before everything. And it’s true they are as flawed as anyone else and those flaws can lead to issues. I’ll pick a few situations from the films as examples of when the Jedi steered off the path.

“Unlearn what you have learned…” Master Yoda, Empire Strikes Back.

To say that I am a Star Wars fan is an understatement. Since I could remember, I have quoted the films, read the books, listened to the scores, played the games, and enjoyed the various elements of the property. Like most people, the Jedi were a source of awe and wonder to me. My Uncle Gary used Yoda’s teachings as stepping stones when he talked to me about Karma and Universal Laws. The mix of monk and warrior appealed to me, they weren’t looking for conflict, but they were perfectly able and ready to defend themselves. 

And they had LASER SWORDS!!!

For all things awesome the Jedi are, as I grew older I began to look at them in a different light. Starting when I played the West End Games Star Wars roleplaying game, I found their lifestyle was rigid and playing a Jedi or a Force Sensitive (a character that has a strong connection to the Force) difficult. There were rules on not just how to act, but going as far as what you thought. You could easily be swayed to the Dark Side with the right GM’s hand. It wasn’t unfair or unreasonable. You just had to be ready to end up with a couple of Dark Side points attached to your character’s.

“He’s the Chosen One. He will bring balance.” Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace

With 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, we are introduced to the Jedi as a group of individuals and not just a small handful as we saw in the first film. One of my favorite characters from that film was Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi Master of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he felt totally in control in every scene, had a wit that wasn’t overbearing, and would see the “bigger picture” in each scenario he found himself in. Qui-Gon did not want his Padawan to simply go with what is the Dogma of the Jedi, each moment was a teachable moment with one of the biggest lessons being “What Would a Jedi Do” may not always be the best thing.

And that is where we get into the biggest problem with the Jedi.

Qui-Gon runs into a young fella named Anakin Skywalker while on a remote sand pit of a planet called Tatooine. Instead his sole focus being the protection of Queen Padme Amidala,Qui-Gon gets sidetracked in not using the boy to get off the planet (in an EXTREMELY dangerous race that humans rarely survive), Qui-Gon is stuck on the idea that Anakin is the “Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force.” Even his Padawan Obi-Wan questions the wisdom of his actions and is brushed off.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on a child as it is. Now let’s add that Qui-Gon’s master plan also involves separating Anakin from the only person he knows and loves, his Momma. His Momma. Let’s take Anakin away from his Mom, leave her in slavery, and start training him to be a Jedi (that will bring balance to the Force, don’t forget that) when other youth start their training earlier. And people wondered why Anakin was a ball of confusion and anger….

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Yoda, Revenge of the Sith

“Hey Kofi, you know so much about the Jedi, when do the parents drop the kids off at the Jedi Kiddy College?”

Thanks for the question, check this out! The Jedi Order finds young people at a very early age to start their training. The path of a Jedi is very strict and using the Force takes discipline and time. Therefore when children are accepted into the Jedi order as Padawan Learners, they leave their family. Leave them for good. You see, attachment is a big no-no for the Jedi. That “leads” to the Darkside of the Force*. In order to be the best Jedi you can be, you have to totally delicate yourself to master yourself and the Force.

*Allegedly

So let’s recap: Jedi Master Qui-Gon“finds” Anakin Skywalker and because he has a hunch & Anakin’s midichlorian levels are higher than anyone’s save Yoda, decides he will do whatever it takes to bring him to Coruscant to the Jedi Council, and demand that he (and he alone, as he apparently is the person who can train him) take Anakin has his Padawan. And his current Padawan Obi-Wan can go do the trials to be a Jedi Knight.

If this was Earth I’d say Qui-Gon is full of white privilege for his take on Anakin….

Sadly, Qui-Gon would not live long enough to train Anakin. After his death by the hands of Darth Maul, Qui-Gon tells his Padawan Obi-Wan to train the boy. Before Obi-Wan can be properly tested to be a Jedi Knight, much less Master, Qui-Gon in his infinite wisdom puts the pressure of training the “Chosen One” on Kenobi’s shoulders. Wow.

And this will not be the first time that the Jedi fail themselves and the galaxy.

Hooray for Next Gen?

With each week it's getting harder for me to keep any excitement for either the #PS5 or #XboxSeriesX with no launch date or price. Especially when I have a Xbox One X & PS4 Pro that delivers amazing games, and will continue to do so into the Fall. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, Watch Dogs: Legion, NBA 2K21, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Marvel’s Avengers (jury is still out on that one, but more than not I’ll get it), and I’m sure I’m missing a few others. All games that are releasing this Fall and will entertain & amaze me without the need of a new console.

Much of the delay of news and information has been the COVID Pandemic we are in. These are extremely uncertain and troubling times. There is no way I can you can talk about this with mentioning that COVID-19 has impacted our lives in ways we never imagined. In my eyes, just being able to have this conversation is a testament to the ladies and gentlemen who are working hard to craft these games & behind the scenes of these systems. I want to salute them and say this is no means a criticism of them.

The positive for buying those titles is getting the current generation version will (for the majority of them) grant you the next generation version for free. On the current system you bought them for... That means you aren’t going to buy Cyberpunk 2077 on the Xbox One X and then have it (for free) on the Playstation 5. By now I would have had several games pre-ordered or at the least knowing what games I want to buy Day One. Right now I have nothing pre-ordered and I can't even do that at this time because it’s still up in the air what next generation system I’m getting. IF I’m getting one at all this year.

My default machine is the Xbox. I have long subscribed that “The Console Wars” ended with the Sega Genesis/Super Nintendo era. Now it’s just a matter of that company has what you are looking for, for me the games matter a lot more than the name of any company or any “cool factor.” The Xbox is my default when buying the majority of my games. NBA 2K is one of them. I've played 2K on the Xbox since the Sega Dreamcast ceased. There is no way I'm spending $60-$100 on a game, THEN doing it on another system. Nope.

I’m not sure if the current global climate is a reason why a launch date & pricing for either the Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X has been announced. At the 2013 E3 in June, both Microsoft and Sony announced the dates and prices for their systems. If memory serves me right, the next day my son and I went to Gamestop to reserve and pay for my Xbox One (a flip of a coin, I gambled my entertainment on a coin flip… The things fathers do to entertain…). Five months later, gamers had the systems in their living rooms. It’s August of 2020 and we are no closer to knowing when the systems will be on store shelves, when we can reserve one (I WILL NOT engage in the foolishness that buying consoles have become), and the price.

I have enough saved right now for one system. I believe. I guess... Because no one knows how much the systems are, one could say $400 MIGHT be enough. Or you may need $500. I read an article that stated $600 could be the price point for the Xbox Series X. And the Xbox Series S (not announced, but rumored to be a really real thing) COULD be $400. As far as the Playstation 5, who knows. This isn’t the way I as a consumer wants to go into a shopping experience. Again, there could be any number of reasons for this. I would rather know and be prepared versus waiting everyday or wondering when the next press release/video will drop.

I want ALL systems to do well. That means ALL gamers are doing well & having fun. It's minor gripe to have right now being honest. I'm good with what I have and the money saved isn't going anywhere. It’s looking like this might be the first year ever I’m not getting a system at launch. Given what is releasing in the Fall, I can definitely live with that.

I Gotta Story to Tell... (Biggie Smalls)

Hey everyone, Happy New Year and I hope all is well with you and yours!!!  I apologize for the lack of content.  My PC went south over the Holiday Break and it through a loop.  While I'm working on some new work, I want to share something I wrote some time ago.  There will be more stories and such VERY SOON.  Until then Peace.

Today marks nineteen years since Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G. aka Biggie Smalls was shot and killed in Los Angeles, California.  In a short time Notorious B.I.G. made an Extinction Level Event impact on Hip Hop and Pop Culture.  I have to admit that at first glance I dug the Brooklyn emcee, however I wasn’t a huge fan.  “Party and Bullshit” was the jam and got regular rotation in my friend’s ride and 88.9 WEAA “Strictly Hip Hop.”  I thought it was dope, however I was in an era where every week it seemed like a dope cut came out.  Not bragging or anything, one of the benefits of being my age is that I have heard a lot, A LOT of dope music.  So this Biggie Smalls cat was cool, but what was next?  The jam with Super Cat was hot and I didn’t think he’d be “one hit wonder” or anything.  As a spoiled Hip Hop Head, I wanted to see what old boy was going to do.

Then he dropped “Juicy.”

“Juicy.”

“It’s alright.”  That was my only comment I’d give on the song.  A classic cut, a song that defined a time and moment, a nearly perfect introduction to a emcee who ability to flip & bounce words so effortlessly…  “It’s alright.”  It wasn’t that I didn’t like the song.  I thought it was pretty damn clever and anyone who drops videogame references was cool with me (I’d fight a panda back then to have both consoles..), my “issue” was that I heard it EVERY FIVE MINUTES.  It became a song I would run from because it was all over the place.  Rightfully so it got a ton of airplay, it was a dope jam.  For me, it was an overplayed jam and I was tired of it.  Perhaps it was the name, in my juvenile mind I couldn’t get over “Juicy.”  A big dude rhyming on a song name “Juicy…”  Yeah I was that juvenile…

Fast forward to the album release. I heard cats rant and rave over “Ready to Die.” I’d see the album cover and wondered what was the deal with the kid.  Was it him?  Was the child ready to die?  Like any good music buyer I copped the tape and popped it in the Walkman.  First song in I was rewinding back to hear it again.  This album had one banger after another.  This cat B.I.G. was telling stories.  I wasn’t hearing a song, I’m being put into a middle of a story and the narrator  was perfectly putting me through one scene to another.  “Warning” became the song that I storyboard in my head a hundred ways and joined the list of my “get hype” jams.  “The What” paired Biggie with one of my favorite emcees Method Man.  The blend was peanut butter and chocolate, it was perfect.  I always wanted an album with those two much like what Method Man and Redman have done.  I returned to “Juicy” and it became a favorite.  Yes I still was tired of the song, but I found a new appreciation for the song when listening to the whole album.  “Suicidal Thoughts” was a song that was a somber reminder of how final suicide is.  Listening to this, I would be able to transfer any negative feelings and urges on the tape and cd and move on.  This track, like Ice Cube’s “Us” and “Bird in a Hand” and “Self Destruction” by the Stop the Violence Movement saved my life.

“Ready to Die” was in constant rotation with my discman when my best friend told me of the upcoming Biggie Smalls/Method Man concert coming to town.  I was never a concert goer, however I had disposable income and this was a change I wasn’t going to pass up.  We go down the Baltimore Civic Center (now known as the Royal Farms Arena) and get ready for a dope show.  I didn’t realize I would be incredibly close to being Mufasa in “Lion King” and see one of the greatest shows ever.

Keith Murray’s hype men came out and kept requesting the audience to chant “Keith Murray.”  After several prompts and no Murray, we got tired and gave his people the business.  Maybe they thought we were some fanboys or fangirls, but this is Baltimore.  Do what we paid for champ.  After the hypemen left the stage and we booed, I suppose the promoter came out and asked us to chill and give it up for Murray.  Keith came out and did his thing, cool.  Next Redman came out and was Redman.  Had he’d been the headliner I’d been happy with that.  The intermission was extremely long and the crowd was getting restless.  Along with the many variety of weed smoke going around (I honestly didn’t know how many smells one plant could have), there was murmurs of a group of “New York dudes” acting out of pocket.  From where we were, we had nothing but peace and chill.  Someone step on your shoes, you got an “excuse me,” everyone was offering a hit of their joint or blunt and no one was mad when you passed.  

Then it happened.

Up front a fight broke out.  It wasn’t much of a fight, more like a explosion.  There was a wave, a tsunami of people coming at us from the front of audience.  My friend and I started making our way back and navigating through all the people also moving. Kofi being Kofi, I stumbled trying to avoid a young lady also running back.  I landed on my side and I could only think that my mother was going to get a phone call telling her I got stomped out like that damn lion.  I was going out before my life really got rolling.  I’d never meet Janet Jackson and sing “Funny How Time Flies” to her as I leave her after our whirlwind trip around the world….  Thankfully a good brother extended me a hand and helped me up.  As soon as the scuffle started, the scuffle was over with.  It seemed like “two white kids in white button ups” got into with the “New York dudes.”  Whatever it was, the event gave us better seats.  We were able to move up a dozen plus rows up to the stage.  I suppose it was a win, in a weird way….

Method Man came out and ripped it.  Scratch that, the Wu-Tang Clan came out and ripped it.  There was no sign of any trouble, everyone was jamming and it was like the fight never happened.  The Brothers from Shaolin did a medley of jams and Method Man was more energetic than that bunny advertising batteries.  Then Biggie came on stage.  White suit, looking sharper than a katana with +10 sharpness.  I still wasn’t the “biggest” Biggie fan, but I was looking forward to his performance.  After Redman and Method Man, I am thinking how is he going to top these two?  Then he started to rhyme.

Biggie barely moved, he stood in one spot (he may have moved once or twice), he stood there and ripped the mic.  Every line was crisp and clear, there was none of the “stage voice” you get from some performers.  The crowd responded by chanting every line and chorus.  The crowd moved like the ocean.  The high tempo songs the crowd was more amp, “Big Poppa” had the crowd moving a slow rhythm.  The dope boys bobbed their heads, the weed heads vibed off the jams, every woman moved and gyrated the pace to whatever song Biggie was on.  Puffy was the perfect counterpiece to Biggie.  As Biggie was a colossus of emceeing, Puffy was a kinetic ball bounce off the crowd and Biggie.  This is when I saw what everyone talked about.  Biggie Smalls is the illest.

Fast forward to March 9th 1997.  A Sunday.  I’m sitting in my apartment in Pittsburgh, Saturday Night Live just went off.  Maybe I had finished playing a game or drawing, I wasn’t sure.  I know I looked up when the local news broke the word, “Rapper Notorious B.I.G was shot and killed in Los Angeles.”  Six months ago I had the same dry throat and knot in my stomach when news came that Tupac Shakur was shot.  It was too late for me to go over one of my friend’s apartments.  Maybe I didn’t move because I didn’t want to have an outburst of emotion.  After a few minutes, I cried and popped in “Ready to Die.”  I didn’t have the “Hypnotize” single yet, but I made a joke that I was “tired of hearing it already” after a couple of days.  The one thing I noticed in the “video movie” was Biggie looked hella happy.  Biggie smiled more in that video than I can remember in any other video.  

Later that day I went to friend’s place, living in the school’s apartment meant I had near instant access to my “fam.”  We talked about Biggie and discussed our favorite songs and such.  People who weren’t into his music were respectful of “our moment.”  Then a friend of a friend came out with “Well that’s what he get.  He was a gangster and was shot.”  The air left the apartment like a explosive decompression on the ISS or Starship Enterprise.  I am not much for “stargazing” and being a stan.  While Biggie was my dude, it wasn’t like I caped up for him like a Stevie Wonder, Prince, or the like.  I am “big” (all pun intended) on being respectful.  Wishing death or cheering the death of a cat who just made music, because your right-wing sensibilities gives you the “right” to look down on others, that doesn’t fly.  Then I remember this was the same cat who had the big ass Confederate flag in his room and I left his party because I’m not the man who parties under the flag of hate.  

I don’t know what I said to him.  Not sure if it was a long statement or just a word.  I do know I said something and it clearly got his attention.  Perhaps it was my balled up fist that also alerted him that THIS was not the day for it.  He left shortly afterwards and I went on with my day.  I didn’t get “Life After Death” until much later.  Part of it was Biggie’s death left me a little “meh” on the idea of getting the album.  Part of was the whole “shiny suit era.”  Biggie videos with Ma$e and Puffy prancing around in shiny suits…  Naw.  I dug the songs, but I didn’t get the album until later.  In the time of double albums (who started that mess?!), I thought “Life After Death” would have been much stronger with just being one album.  But it was dope and it was also very somber.  Even today it’s a mixed bag of emotions listening to the album.

I’d like to think that had Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. had lived, they would have hashed out their issues and moved on.  We could have had an album with them both rhyming at the height of their skill.  I don’t go into the whole “the game would be different” talk, the game will be the game.  I don’t bang with a lot of “current/popular” stuff because it’s not for me.  It’s not for my demographic and that’s cool.  Again, a benefit of growing up with Hip Hop Culture.  I have the memories and I’ll always have the jams to listen to.  Nineteen years has been a long time, most people “know of” Biggie.  Thankfully I was able to bare witness to the greatness of the Notorious B.I.G.  Peace.

More Thoughts on Star Wars: Rogue One

Hey there, I hope all is well.  Last time I talked about the parts of Star Wars: Rogue One that I enjoyed and thought highly of.  Since the last post I’ve had time to really go over what I wanted to talk about and I thought of few more points to address.  Again like my last entry, this is an asteroid field full of spoilers.  You aren’t Han Solo, I’m telling you the odds and you will get hit with a spoiler….

One thing I’ve heard more than a few times is how the film felt very dire and hopeless.  This is something I thought the folks at Lucasfilm did very well.  They treated the subject of war with some weight and also remembered this was a Space Opera.  The original trilogy and the prequels had it’s moments, mostly Empire Strikes Back and Revenge of the Sith, however they had a very lighthearted feel to them.  The Phantom Menace, Anakin jumps around and is a Padawan Learner.  In Attack of the Clones, Anakin and Padme gets married.  After the Luke and the pilots destroy the Death Star in A New Hope, they get medals.  At the end of Return of the Jedi, the Ewoks have a jam session and the Galaxy celebrates the fall of the Empire (given how the Empire controlled the HoloNet, I still give a side eye to the all the planets not only finding out about the death of the Emperor AND openly celebrating his death.  Especially on Coruscant… but let me stop being an uber nerd…).  

With Rogue One people die.  The heroes die.  The villains die.  Civilians die.  Planets die.  Career ambissions die.  Despite the heroic actions of the Rogue One team, much like in a real war, there was no happy ending for those fighting.  It would have been easy for Disney to have Jyn and Cassin to find a U-Wing and fly off or K-2SO to have survived his gunfight to save one of the heroes.  These events didn’t happen and it made Rogue One a more powerful experience.

The Thursday the movie released, many friends (shout out to them for not spoiling anything) and other people commented on how this was not a movie for young children.  There were articles on this that made some great points.  For having great behavior, being responsible, and doing well in school (He’s an A student, #humblebrag), I treat my son to “hooky days” when he and I can see movies on opening day.  A ten year-old who plays Halo, watches all Star Trek shows, and such, I figured he would be able to handle whatever the film can throw at him.  He stayed glued to the movie and even caught some Easter eggs in the movie.  After we left the theater, I did the usual asking him about the movie.  He loved the movie and was very sad when his favorite character died.  K-2SO stole many scenes and pretty hilarious, his death did take a few breaths away from the viewers.  It was dramatic and no one wants anyone to die.  

However this was a war and with pretty impossible odds, the chances of survival was small.  K-2SO knew it and still did his job.  We had a great talk about guns, war, and death on the way home.  Not that we haven’t had these conversations before, this movie helped nailed home that guns and war was not for fun and we don’t wish death on anyone.  I wonder how many parents and adults had this kind of conversation with their children and the youth in their lives as they left the theaters?  I would hope that this teachable moment wasn’t lost.  We are so use to Call of Duty and videogames with its depictions of war and “respawning,” seeing people not getting up in this film might be a way to talk about a very serious subject.

Lastly I’m pretty excited about the continued diversity and what the future holds in the Star Wars films.  The Force Awakens had it’s ups and downs for many people, however nearly everyone was able to recognize and enjoy the cast of the movie.  Rogue One continues this forward movement in the right direction.  Compared to other franchises, notably Star Trek, Star Wars doesn’t have the greatest record when it comes to it assortment in it’s cast.  Granted Star Trek has five live action shows, countless movies, and an animated series, Star Trek has a MUCH greater variety when it comes to different cultures being seen (other than humanoid aliens).  The Original Trilogy had a hand full of Black people, a small amount of Asian people in the films.  The Prequels were better, however still people of color were secondary characters.  Force Awakens and Rogue One has main characters that are people of color.  I see this as a positive as EVERYONE loves the franchise and EVERYONE sees themselves as someone who can be a hero or villain (or in-between) in the Star Wars Universe.  

Next up in the theaters we have Star Wars: Episode XIII, the continued saga of Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren.  I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen next.  Then there is the “Young Han Solo” film (played by Alden Ehrenreich) that will have a “Young Lando” (played by Donald Glover), rumors of a Obi-Wan film, a Boba Fett film, and the amazing Star Wars Rebels show currently playing now on Disney XP.  Add the comic books and the novels that ties everything together with the “new” continuity, this is a great time to be a fan of Star Wars.  I am hoping we get a "X-Wing" or another space fighter centered movie, cross your fingers....

Keep rockin’ until next time.

Thoughts on Star Wars: Rogue One (Part One)

I will start this by saying I’m still on a bit of Star Wars high right now.  Not a blind love or lust, but I’m on a nice cloud nine over what I saw over twenty-four hours ago.  We live in a time when everything is supposed to over analyzed and flaws should be found (and rewarded), this is not that.  If you are expecting a contrarian thought piece, I will disappoint.  And yes, spoilers are abound, you are warned.

With that being said….  HOLY SMOKES THIS MOVIE IS DOPE!!!!

My son and I went into the theater expecting a good movie.  A great movie would have been nice.  What I got was a experience, a flashback to good times with old friends, something I wanted since 1983, and more fan service than you can fit in a tauntaun..

First, this is a great film.  Is it “perfect?”  No.  Nothing is “perfect.”  I can find “flaws” in the film easy.  However the overall product is stellar and frankly should be the benchmark.  Yes, it was that good.  You have a single story that wraps up when it’s done and starts the saga we know and love.  The opening sequence, you think it’s going to be the standard Star Wars opening (most media outlets spoiled there would be no scrolling banner) and we start with a very intense scene.  The introduction sets the pace and tone of the film perfectly.

Not that it is a total dark film without any sort of light or humor.  K-2SO (my son’s favorite character) steals EVERY SCENE he is in.  It’s not that forced “droid humor” we sometimes get with C-3PO, R2-D2, or even BB-8.  Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus (played by Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang) also add to the lightness to the film.  Their banter and back & forth is natural and offsets the darkness set around the makeshift band of adventures.  Chirrut is also the only Force Sensitive person in the film.  Not a Jedi but a warrior-monk who a attuned to the Force, Chirrut spouts wisdom and also as a sneaky streak of humor.  Baze, a very capable, heavily armed solider, plays off him very well, their chemistry is very easy to see & feel.  Only if we could have had more time to get to know them and their past together.

These characters and their moments weave a bit of light in an overall dark movie.  This is the era of Star Wars where the Empire has had twenty or so years of putting their boot on the Galaxy’s throat.  At this point the Galactic Senate is nearly powerless, Emperor Palpatine rules with fear, and the Rebellion is at a point where have a power but no focus.  There have been a quiet war brewing for years and now the Empire has had enough.  Their ultimate weapon, the “Death Star” is near completion.  It has the power to destroy planets and the Rebels have no idea what to do and how they should go about attacking it.

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) are among my favorite Star Wars duos.  Jyn is MORE than capable of handling herself and does not need a scoundrel or Jedi to save her.  Not to dismiss past heroines in the Star Wars Universe, Jyn is for play.  It was refreshing to have a heroine not tied to some guy for emotional or sexual support.  Along with Rey, the gatekeepers at Disney/Lucasarts are making a great effort to have strong women that don’t go into the normal tropes.  Cassian, yet another character that I REALLY would know more of, is a straight cut military intelligence officer.  Fighting the Empire since he was a young lad, he has seen his fair share of combat and conflict.  Early in the film we see how far Cassian will go for the mission.  Again we have a character that doesn’t fall into the stereotype.  This time it’s the “I’m the hero guy who is going for the girl.”  These two play off each other well because they are two strong willed individuals and yet see there is something bigger than the worlds they know at stake.

Rogue One, in the greatest compliment I can give it, feels like a tabletop role playing game.  I’m a veteran of the West End Games Star Wars set.  For my money, it’s one the best games to play.  The system (only using six sided dice, D6) was easy to pick up, very hard to “power god” through (make overpowered characters/weapons/equipment), and was balanced.  I’ve witnessed high level characters get dropped with a bad role and a would-be Jedi reflect back an AT-AT’s blast back it and destroying it.  A group of friend ran a near three year long campaign going from Return of the Jedi thru the Thrawn Trilogy, Dark Empire, and beyond.  This movie felt like an amazingly ran campaign.  From how the characters united, the interactions, the combat, and even the end.  What made the West End line so amazing was the WEALTH of books and backstory the writers put into the lore of Star Wars.  Some of which I can see, if not directly, in Rogue One.  You could buy a sourcebook and read it like a storybook or to learn more about Star Wars.  If I can wish for anything in the world, it would be either a return of the West End Games or at least a release of the old books for us who loved them (I sold the majority of my books in college, one of the saddest days ever…).

The final thing I want to touch on is Director Orson Krennic (played by Ben Mendelsohn).  He is perhaps the most polarizing part of the film for many people.  Many see him as a weak villain and is a poor-man’s Vader or Tarkin.  I believe people are missing one of the biggest points behind Krennic’s character in this film.  I see him as a person who is a cog in the great machine that is the Empire.  However Krennic would have you believe he is irreplaceable and his sense of worth is higher than what Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader feel it is.  In fact, both me let him know in their own ways exactly what they think of him, his worth, and his behavior.  By the time the third act of the film starts, I feel a bit sorry for him.  He’s still an Imperial scumbag, however here is a guy who put a lot of trust and work in a power that does not share the same love for him.  By the time he lands Scarif, Krennic looks worn down and tired.  This is a far cry from the slick dressed, always in command, would-be galaxy badass every trailer and promo photo shows.  This made him a better villain since he wasn’t the classic world/galaxy destroyer of the weak.  All the man wanted was his props….

I’ll come back to talk about a few more things I got from this film.  Perhaps I will have seen the film again.  May the Force be with You.  I am One with the Force, and the Force is with Me.

Cue the Theme Music...

Hello, I hope all is well.  I would like to welcome you to my blog, "10 Hit 16-Bit Combo," my home for all my geeky viewpoints and other random supernova of wordplay.  The title comes from my love of video games and the 16-Bit Era.  Even though I have a lot of love for the Atari 2600 (my first console) and the NES (what made me a fan), the 16-Bit Era with the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo was the Voltron lion that formed the head when it comes to my love of the hobby.  "10 Hit" is my nod to the Street Fighter Franchise.  I have spent many quarters on various Street Fighter games and various Capcom (and other) fighting games.  Other people have spent MUCH MORE attempting to beat "KJS."  I wasn't EVO level, but I was nice.  Back when I had no grey hairs...

At 10 Hit 16-Bit Combo or 10H16BC, I will be covering my views on superheroes, comic books, sci-fi/science fiction, video games, and much more.  The world can be a grim place, 2016 has been a tough time for many of us.  While I'm not some ostrich with his head in the sand, I would love to provide a space where a little light and warmth can shine.  But don't let all the warm and fuzzy talk fool you, I have no problem tackling any topic.  This includes any and all issues that are in the news and such.  Overall I want this to be a place where I can speak my voice and is also welcoming to EVERYONE.  Even if we disagree, we can talk and share.  This is still "my house," so don't think you will Rick James my couch...

I won't have long winded posts each time.  There will be scheduled posts, however when the mood hits I'll drop something.  Upcoming topics will include:

Comics & video games I'm enjoying
Star Wars: Rogue One
My year end review

Until next time, have a great day and stay radiant.