Get Your Blocks Out

Harry Potter LEGO game coming next year!!!



I love the LEGO series, and get a real thrill from the click-clicky noises all through the games. This is a MUST BUY for me.

Prof. H

Star Wars: Force Unleashed

For all you Star Wars fans out there, Tuesday brings the release of The Force Unleashed. In this video game we get to play Vader's apprentice. The story line flows with Star Wars lore: there are no fake Earthlings who seem to be able to withstand a blow from a light saber several times, nor does Yoda use Force lightning on his foe. But I digress.

There are many places to see the previews for this jaw-dropping game. I have seen commercials on TV and, of course, demos on starwars.com. The full story will be released with the game; expect to see books that continue the story as well.

As for now, I will have to practice my gaming skills (because I really do lack in that area). I am even tempted to buy a Wii just so I can use the little "Light saber" to play the game, but alas, my Jedi instructor paycheck does not allow me to. Oh well.

Jedi J

The Gamer in Me

I know I'm a bit late to this party (considering The Half Blood Prince video game will be out a in a few months), but I just started playing the Order of the Phoenix videogame on the Wii.

I'll admit, I'm not much of a gamer. My husband watches me play and gets so immensely frustrated with my lack of hand-eye coordination that he leaves the room, or takes over the controller. This videogame ineptitude has not been alleviated by OoTP videogame, but I charge on, dammit!

The Wii controller is your "wand," which makes gameplay fun, though not always accurate. Harry tends to wave his arm around like an insane person under my control. Tiny footsteps tell you where to go, which is good for a spatially challenged person like me. And the best part--if you Reparo a bunch of things, you reveal mini making-of featurettes. Lots of Rupert Grint interviews (squee!). That alone motivates me to go on.

The game is not really challenging, which again, fine for me, but serious gamers will probably get bored Reparo-ing half the castle. Also, Hermione spends much of the game urging you to "Get to the library," while Ron incessantly tells you to "Check your map!" No worries. You can always throw benches at them when they get really annoying.

Here's a preview featuring the cut scenes. The graphics are quite good, and Hermione, especially is, creepily, Emma Watson to a T:

There Are Some Things Which Should Not Be Messed With

I was walking through the mall on Saturday and I passed by the video game store. I look in expecting to see some display or poster announcing the release date of The Force Unleashed instead I see a poster announcing the release of Soulcaliber IV. In this poster there are two very familiar faces, Darth Vader and Yoda. I am curious about this, so I pick up the box that has some details about the game. I don't see where the Star Wars connection is so I decide that I must research this game.

Finding information about this game is very easy and in no time I realize that there really is no Star Wars connection. This game takes place during the 16th century here on EARTH!

I am not too happy about this but I must read on. I go to starwars.com to find out more and possibly why this is happening. After I spend some time checking out some Clone Wars action, I go directly to the main site where I see "Realities Collide: Soulcalibur IV". I click that link and I begin to read the information. I don't really see a true explanation of why when I read so I am including the link to see if maybe someone out there can explain to me why this is being done other than because it is cool.

Here are my problems with this game.

1. Star Wars takes place a long time ago (I concede that the 16th century is a long time ago) in a galaxy far, far away. How do Yoda and Vader get to Earth? The Galaxy that Star Wars belongs to is such a great distance from Earth that the word "far" is mentioned twice. Can only Jedi make this great journey that takes them light years away from their own galaxy? With all the solar systems in their own galaxy, why would they even bother with ours?

2. Lightsabers touching swords. UMMM, last time I checked, lightsabers cut through metal. So the fight would be one sided and end really quick.

3. Jedi vs. Non Jedi. HMMM, another advantage for the Jedi. Like in The Empire Strikes Back, Vader just took Han's blaster from him by using the Force. Wouldn't Yoda just disarm his Earthling foe by using the force to take it away? Jedi are meant to fight as a last resort not as the first option. How can an Earthling block Force Lightning? Why wouldn't Vader just put a choke hold on his foe? Bottom line, the Jedi will always win.

4. Star Wars was meant to remain untouchable by Earthlings. If not then why haven't the books or the real video games introduced this concept?

Let's just say, this is one game I would rather not play.

Jedi J