Sign up
Search
Advanced search settings

Search only in certain items:

Search results
All (2304)
Content
People
Apps
Books
Orbs
Movies
Music
Podcasts
Shows
Tabletop Games
Tech
TV
Video Games
YouTube Channels
Videos
40x40

David McK (3623 KP) rated The Aeronaut's Windlass in Books

Dec 20, 2023  
The Aeronaut's Windlass
The Aeronaut's Windlass
Jim Butcher | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.6 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first book in Jim Butcher's new series: Cinder Spires series, if I'm honest I was a little unsure what to make of this at the start: it's not 'traditional' fantasy (that would be his 'Codex Alera' series); nor is it the urban fantasy (his - still ongoing - 'Dresden Files' series).

Rather, this is probably best described as Steampunk, which is a genre I previously had little exploration in, and which Google defines as:

"...a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.".

Reading that description, this definitely fits right into that bracket!

To my mind, it also falls more towards the fantasy aspect of Steampunk: after all, we have a new magic system, airships, the ability to communicate with animals (cats), and monsters from the ground all within the pages of this story even if (for my money), it never quite gripped me as much as a Harry Dresden book.
  
40x40

Otway93 (580 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order in Video Games

Dec 23, 2019  
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
2019 | Action/Adventure, Fighting
9
7.9 (14 Ratings)
Video Game Rating Watch
Story (4 more)
Graphics
Free Roam
Customization
Characters
The holomap (0 more)
The best Star Wars game so far!
After many years without a Star Wars game with a proper campaign, this truly delivers something excellent to the fans.

The story follows Cal, a survivor of the purge, and his mission to find a list of force sensitive individuals. It has a great story, that takes you to several planets from the Star Wars franchise, some new, some old favourites that I'm pretty sure we've all wanted to find out more about.

In the game, you have freedom to do whatever you want, and view the Incredible scenery around, but the maps are quite limiting compared to what they could have been. There are set paths, and doesn't allow for much more exploration outside the missions, a Grand Theft Auto style free roam would be better, maps representative of large islands instead.

Exploration can also be made difficult by the holomap, as it shows multiple transparent levels, making it difficult, sometimes impossible to figure out where you're supposed to go.

The characters for the most part are brilliantly written, each one reminiscent of other characters from the franchise, but all still individuals. The best character addition to the Star Wars canon is most likely the droid that sits on your shoulder for most of the game, BD-1, a handy little guy with the personality of R2 (seriously, if BD had a Lego model, I'd buy it, he's that cool).

The game is not the hack and slash game you expect, but improves upon it with quite a few puzzles to stop you from getting bored, requiring moving objects with the force to allow entry to other areas.

Finally, customisation. The different skins for the ship, BD-1 and Cal are pretty pointless, but when it comes to the lightsaber, the possibilities and upgrades are brilliant, allowing for other colours (apart from red, which was quite disappointing), but with colours, looks, and upgrades, it can keep you amused for ages!

Enjoy everyone!

P.S. Don't bother with the Deluxe Edition, thr extras it includes add absolutely nothing to the enjoyment of the game.