I'm a Sucker for a Cute Droid--Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

I will be the first to admit that I've felt a bit mixed about Star Wars related media in recent times.  I'm not a hardcore fan, but I do have a bit of warm, fuzzy nostalgia for the franchise.  In general, the warm fuzzies aren't enough to actively propel me toward anything labeled Star Wars.  Quite frankly, I've been feeling a bit turned off by Star Wars--it's very formulaic and I guess I've seen the formula enough times now that it has become pretty "meh" for me.  It was with these general feelings of "meh"-ness that I viewed STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order with very little interest.  As more and more positive reviews started popping up, I found my interest piqued and popped it on my wishlist and decided that if it went on sale I would check it out.  Just last night I finished up the main campaign and I have to admit that despite the formulaic nature of Star Wars, I still can find myself having a good time and that maybe, just maybe, we're entering a new age of Star Wars (I haven't watched The Mandalorian, but I hear good things about it).

Playtime stats: I completed the main campaign and focused on trying to explore as much of each planet/map as I could.  I made some effort to return to areas I had previously visited to unlock some of the ability gated areas and to search for chests/secrets.  I did not 100% (in general I am opposed to looking up guides.  Finding all the chests/secrets would probably require many more hours of painstaking exploration that I didn't feel like doing).  My total playthrough clocked in at around 24 hour.

You play as Cal Kestis (AKA Ian from Shameless!)

Pros:

+ Gorgeous Star Wars world building.  The planets you visit all have their own unique environmental aesthetic and are filled with lots of cool little details and beautiful, scenic vistas.  The Wookie homeworld of Kashyyk is located in a forest filled with massive trees; Zeffo is an icy, watery world with scattered ruins from an ancient civilization--just to mention two of the planets that you visit.  This is one part of the Star Wars formula that I enjoy.

Overall, the graphics in the game are beautiful.  I was pleasantly surprised that my PC defaulted to the "epic" setting and it ran like a charm.  I think that even if you have an older PC that you will still enjoy it.  I was stupid impressed by the hair...yes, the hair!  Cal's hair looks wonderful and moves in a very natural way.  Even Greez's mutton chops look good!

+ Jedi-tastic gameplay.  You play as Cal Kestis a padawan who was unable to complete his full jedi training due to the fact that the Empire enacted Order 66 (you know, the infamous order to hunt down and eliminate the entire jedi order).  Cal was forced into hiding and has lost many of his jedi skills over the years.  Fortunately for the player, he still retains many of the best jedi skills--he can block and deflect blaster bolts like a pro.  At first, Cal's toolbox of jedi toys is pretty meager, but as you advance through the story you can unlock more and more skills that are useful for traversal and for combat.  These skills include staples like force push and pull but also include the ability to briefly slow enemies.  Becoming a truly effective jedi means learning how to utilize a combination of force and combat abilities.

+ Talent trees that let you pick a personalized combination of force, combat, or survival skills.  You can beef up your force talents and utilize them to disable groups of enemies or to use certain powers for longer durations.  Or, if you're like me and are an abyssal failure at combat, you can pour your points into survival skills so you can take more hits.

+ Fun traversal and complex maps.  Navigating each world will take you across weaving, winding paths and through many visually different areas.  Cal is an expert climber and can scramble up the sides of certain vertical paths.  His ability to slow objects also frequently comes in handy as he is often required to traverse huge moving pieces of machinery.  There are also many times where Cal finds himself sliding down muddy or icy paths (a skating-like feeling) and you have to steer him through it.  One of the nice parts about each map is that you can unlock certain doors and create shortcuts that make returning to an area in the future much easier.  Sure, it's linear, but it doesn't feel like it at all.

+ Challenging combat that requires a mastery of force skills and combat.  To be truly good at the combat you really can't just madly button mash--there are mechanics that require some attention.  Basic enemies can be mowed down, but the more elite classes (captains, inquisitors, and certain larger creatures) require a combination of skillful blocking, timing, and utilizing force abilities at the correct time--some enemies have a stamina bar which means that they won't be fully impacted by your force skills until you have depleted their stamina (which is accomplished through landing blows), so it requires some mindful timing.

There are many different types of enemies to face off against--each planet has its own unique wildlife that you will frequently tangle with--you definitely shouldn't write off the creatures though; the larger varieties can present some difficulty.  The bulk of the combat in the game takes place against a wide array of Empire-style baddies--an array of stormtrooper style soldiers (but with more variety including those who wield a rocket launcher, a minigun-style weapon, and flamethrowers).  Sometimes these groups of stormtroopers will be accompanied by a captain who has more advanced combat skills.  You'll also run into the black-clad inquisitors who present more of a challenge--there are multiple varieties and each is armed with a particular set of weapons that requires you to change up your fighting style.  You'll also encounter some larger, more robotic enemies.

Of course, the ultimate combat challenge are the boss fights.  In the course of the campaign you face off against numerous powerful bosses that require you to utilize all your skills.  Like any good boss fight, you'll die several times before you figure out the pattern or the correct skills to use.  I found the boss fights to be good challenges, but nothing that feels impossible.

+ Multiple difficulty levels.  If you want to just focus on the story and exploration, you can opt for story mode.  If you want to prove yourself the ultimate jedi-badass you can crank it up to Jedi Master level.  I opted for the second highest difficulty, am admittedly horrible at the combat, and managed to finish it.

+ Exploration is optional.  If you just want to advance through the main story, it's doable.  Sprinkled throughout each map are numerous chests and secrets.  The chests mostly contain cosmetic items, so skipping them isn't a big deal.  If you do opt to mostly skip the chests and other exploration there is a good chance that you will miss out on the force and health essences which are also hidden.  Gathering three of each type of essence will increase your total force (allowing you to use your force abilities more often) or health.

+ Customizable lightsaber.  Part of the fun of finding chests is unlocking new looks for Cal's lightsaber.  You can swap out several different parts, the material (you can find many different kinds of metals with varying colors), and you can change the color!  It's weirdly enjoyable.

+ If cosmetic items are your jam, exploration can yield a wide array of options for personalizing Cal's look, BD-1's paint job, and also the appearance of the Mantis (the ship that Cal joins/is rescued by).

+ Cal Kestis is a familiar face.  If you're a fan of semi-smutty television shows you'll quickly recognize the protagonist--the character model and actor are none other than Ian from Shameless!  I was surprised by this fact (I guess I didn't glance too closely at the game art) but found him to be a good fit.

BD-1 is your cute droid companion.

+ BD-1 is adorable.  Cute droids are a staple of the Star Wars formula and one that I heartily approve of and will never tire of.

+ Photo mode!  I love snapping screenshots and there are numerous filters and settings to play with.

+ Great action sequences and some unexpected moments.

+ Collectibles.  You can stock the terrarium on the Mantis with different types of seeds you find during your travels.  You can also unlock databan entries through Cal's unique ability to sense force echoes that reveal information about an object.  The databank helps to flesh out information about the characters and settings.

+ Light puzzling.  There are several puzzle-like scenarios throughout the game.  They aren't too terribly challenging and can generally be figured out with a bit of experimentation.  One cool feature that they added is the ability to ask BD-1 for a hint if you get stuck.

Cons:

- Controller recommended.  Upon first booting up the game I was prompted that it's best to use a controller.  You can play with mouse and keyboard (I might try it in the future) if you choose.  (Maybe I can blame my horribleness of having to use a controller--it usually takes me a little bit to get the hang of it--but the controls really aren't too bad).  If you're a mouse and keyboard purist, you might have problems.

- Irritating camera/lock-on controls.  Maybe this goes a little bit hand-in-hand with using a controller, but I found myself often frustrated by the camera angles during combat.  You can lock onto an enemy and the camera will focus on it--theoretically the camera should then automatically lock onto the next closest enemy when you kill your current target.  That isn't always the case and I found my camera often wedged in an inconvenient location.  It can be particularly frustrating during fights with groups of enemies.

- Chests/hidden areas are not marked on your map.  I'm not saying that they should automatically appear on the map, but I was frustrated that even if you visually found a chest (early in the game there are certain chests that can't be opened and require an upgrade found later) that it wasn't marked for later.  The map does conveniently allow you to hover over each distinct section and tells you how many chests and secrets there are for that particular area--this is very handy, but it would be so much better if it would mark them!  Most people who 100% are probably going to look up a guide.

- Main story isn't anything particularly memorable.  This is where the negative part of the Star Wars formula kicks in for me--you'll undoubtedly have a character with some sort of inner lightside/darkside conflict, you'll have characters who doubt themselves and have to fall to an ultimate low only to rise up ten times stronger...you know, the typical stuff.

- Multiple launchers if you buy it on Steam--it will have to launch through Origin...so irritating!

Recommendation:

Even though the story isn't anything particularly special, I found the gameplay to be quite enjoyable.  Exploring beautiful worlds and using fun jedi abilities to defeat enemies is the highlight.  The game is a bit on the shorter side, so I would recommend trying to grab it on sale (it goes on sale fairly frequently). 

Sun and Monster Slaying Fun

I've finally reached my favorite part of The Witcher 3, the sunny, storybook-esque kingdom of Toussaint.  To me, the Blood and Wine DLC is The Witcher's equivalent of the Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC--it's a nice opportunity to have a happy ending for our favorite heroes.  Plus, maybe there's just something in the fact that it's the first day of spring and I just want to play something bright and happy (also, probably depressing pandemic related).  What do I love best about Toussaint?  Where should I start...

My number one favorite thing about Blood and Wine is Corvo Bianco.  There's just something very comforting about fictional heroes having a place to call home.  I love the fact that you can add some small levels of personalization to Geralt's new witcherly home--displaying your favorite weapons and armor as well as various paintings (don't sell them!).  If you're a completionist like me, at this point in the game Geralt's no longer the penniless, scruffy witcher wandering the countryside.  He has plenty of money to fully fund all the renovations to restore Corvo Bianco to its former glory (and to give it a nice witcher friendly feel).  I also made sure to save my Reginald d'Aubry statue for its glorious place on the plinth outside of the wine cellar (something that I've managed to miss in every previous playthrough).  At the end of the DLC story it's nice to see all of Geralt's friends dropping by for a visit.

A beautiful Toussaint sunrise.

Another feature of Blood and Wine that I enjoy is the fact that Geralt gets to be fully immersed in the knight errant culture of Toussaint.  It's kind of silly, but a fun break from the seriousness of the rest of the game.  The chance to have Geralt compete as a knight in the royal tournament is highly enjoyable.

As I've been spending time wandering the countryside trying to eliminate all the pesky question marks on the map, I've realized that I also like the random tasks in Toussaint.  I like helping the vintners clear out caves so that they can store their wine; I like clearing out the abandoned locations and seeing the grateful population return; and I like eliminating all the hanses sprinkled around the map.  In Toussaint you get the opportunity to feel like the good guy and it's quite nice.

Even though I do enjoy the fact that there are many "lesser of two evils" type of situations in the base game, I like that there are fewer of those in Toussaint--you get more happy endings.  One example that springs to my mind is a quest chain where two competing vineyard owners hire Geralt to eliminate a strange number of monster related complications.  As Geralt clears out the monster infestations he discovers that the owner of a different vineyard was actually plotting against both competing vineyards!  Geralt informs both owners of this fact and two people who were previously enemies come up with an option C...what if they joined forces?  It's a very satisfactory ending.

The main storyline in Blood and Wine also gives Geralt the opportunity to revisit an old friend, the higher vampire Regis (of the many surnames).  Regis is one or my favorite side characters in the series (and from the books).  He's a reformed vampire recovering from his brutal past as a blood addict (something akin to a drug or alcohol addiction) and even though he's a powerful being who could decimate the human population, he's actually a loyal, good friend.  In the novels he helps Geralt search for Ciri even though he's basically a stranger.  He also is killed (*but not really, as we find out in Blood and Wine) by the evil mage Vilgefortz while assisting Geralt.  It's nice to see a favorite character in the game.

Happy spring and happy adventuring in sunny places with friends (real and imagined)! 

The Head or the Heart--What's the best TW3 Ending?

(**This post contains spoilers for The Witcher 3's ending.  1. Go play it--it's great.  2. Read with caution if you haven't finished it before)

Even though I've played through The Witcher 3 multiple times, I somehow managed to get my least favorite ending.  I felt some heart pangs when Ciri unbelted her sword, handed it to Geralt, and rode off to become the successor to the Nilfgaardian throne.  Where did I go wrong?  Oh yeah, rather than telling Ciri to ignore meeting with her father (the emperor of Nilfgaard himself) I told her that she should probably meet with him.  For some dumb reason I was very sure that this decision didn't really matter and that Geralt would still have the option to talk Ciri out of it in the end.  I have a gift for replaying things and still managing to mess something up!  Yeah, it's the ending I don't like, but I got to thinking about it and maybe it's the better of the two potential endings.

Say it ain't so, Ciri!

I decided to think of the two endings as the head--the logical option--and the heart--the emotionally satisfying option.  To me, having Ciri become the future empress of Nilfgaard has the potential to benefit the most people.  As ruler of a vast empire she can play a positive role in how Nilfgaard rules over its many subjects.  Life under Nilfgaard seems a bit like a mixed bag--they have a very organized system of laws and run an orderly government but there are some negative aspects.  Mages don't seem to have much freedom and are kept under the oppressive thumb of the emperor.  I suppose that is the preferable option to being burned at the stake by a looney tune like Radovid.  There's also the entire concept of using newly conquered peoples in labor camps that seems a bit sketchy.  I don't think this option is the preferable one for Ciri herself--she's basically trapping herself in a position of authority that is inescapable.  It's clear that her duties will keep her from spending much time with her beloved REAL family--Geralt, Triss, and Yen.

On the other hand, Ciri can decide to become a witcher and set out on the path--a life of wandering the countryside and taking contracts for dangerous monsters.  This option is the more emotionally satisfying one.  Throughout the main storyline it becomes abundantly clear that Ciri values her freedom and has spent her entire life running from one threat or another.  She desperately wants to have the ability to make her own choices and do as she pleases rather than constantly having to worry about staying ahead of whoever is currently pursuing her.  She could visit Geralt and the sorceresses whenever she feels like.  With this option it's also important to remember that Ciri isn't a full witcher--she never underwent mutations.  In choosing the Nilfgaard option you are reminded of this fact when Geralt spends a last few quality moments with Ciri.  He offers to show Ciri the carcass of the griffin in White Orchard and the two encounter a forktail that has settled in the abandoned nest.  Ciri narrowly avoids getting smacked by the beast and Geralt chastises her for her lack of attention.  Yes, Ciri has special gifts that give her fabulous abilities, but maybe trying to be a full fledged witcher is too dangerous.

Of the two options, I greatly prefer the second.  Ciri has been through so much and has spent basically her entire life suffering because of her "gift."  She needs a chance to enjoy life rather than being saddled with responsibility that she has never wanted.  That option is definitely the more selfish of the two--it's what's best for Ciri, but not what's better for the greater good.  

Unanswered Questions--Ciri

Good news--I managed to finally finish off the quest to track down all the question marks in Skellige.  Geralt is no longer the poor, lowly witcher of yore and could now finance an entirely new Kaer Morhen.  As I've progressed through the remaining side quests, witcher contracts, and various other distractions, I've been thinking about Ciri as a character and the future of The Witcher franchise.  Several years ago, CD Projekt hinted that The Witcher 4 could be a possibility (and, after the CyberPunk fiasco, maybe going back to the tried and true is a good move...).  In thinking about a potential fourth game, I wondered if Ciri would be a good protagonist.  In playing through the third game for the bajillionth time, I am always struck by how little you actually get to know Ciri--she's a major part of the plot, but you don't get a ton of insight into her complicated history.

Artwork from the novels depicting Ciri
and Mistle.

One of the questions about Ciri that I (and, apparently many others) came away with has to do with her sexual orientation.  During the Skellige mission chain, Ciri is rescued after being wounded and barely managing to flee through a portal that dumps her into the sea outside of the village of Lofoten.  She awakens with her wounds bandaged but in a weakened state.  The villagers inform her that the only way to fully recover her strength is to spend some time soaking in the heat of the sauna.  Ciri accompanies the sister of Skjall (the young man tasked by Avallac'h with caring for Ciri) to the sauna.  Players are given a seemingly odd choice in the sauna--does Ciri wrap herself in a towel (which is kind of an odd thing to do, but would be understandable for someone who is modest) or enter sans towel (no, you don't get to see any extra-special Ciri parts if you choose this option--pervs!)?

Choosing the no towel option reveals the fact that Ciri has a tattoo of a rose on her upper thigh--a fact that the other ladies in the sauna are keen to remark upon.  This is one part of the game where there just isn't a lot of additional information given and that has a tie-in with the novels.  The ladies in the sauna ask about the origin of Ciri's tattoo and she responds with a vague statement about getting it to remember someone who she loved but who had died.  If you read the novels (which I do recommend) you learn that Ciri's tattoo was a product of her time with the Rats--a gang of bandits who took Ciri in after she helped to rescue one of their members.  During her time with the Rats, Ciri had a somewhat complicated relationship with Mistle, a female member of the group.  The complication comes from the fact that there is some indication that Ciri  pairs off with Mistle in an effort to avoid the advances of another member of the group and that Ciri's mostly looking for safety.  However, there are some indications that maybe the relationship was more serious--they both choose to get matching tattoos and Ciri does tell Mistle that she loves her and that she will come back to find Mistle in the future (Ciri decides to leave the gang...I don't remember the exact reasons--I need to re-read the books).

Bea, the barmaid at the Golden Sturgeon.

After the brief exchange about Ciri's tattoo, the ladies playfully joke about Skjall, the young man who has adoringly cared for Ciri since he returned her to the village.  Here players are allowed to choose how Ciri responds--she can drop a hint that Skjall is a nice guy (maybe there's a bit of interest there); simply state that she's not interested; or make it clear that she prefers women.  I've always felt a bit conflicted about what to choose because Ciri's sexuality is so clouded (if you're trying to play a canon Ciri).

Later in the game there is another possible hint at Ciri's preference.  Prior to heading to Skellige for the final set of missions, Geralt finds himself working with a bevy of sorceresses, Avallac'h, and Ciri to come up with a plan to try to defeat the Wild Hunt.  In Novigrad he agrees to meet up with Ciri to help her tie up some loose ends.  One of those tasks involves heading to the Golden Sturgeon to deliver a gift to someone.  That someone turns out to be a freckled barmaid named Bea who helped Ciri track down Dandelion.  The meeting itself doesn't involve any hints at the actual relationship between Ciri and Bea, but Geralt does feel the need to comment "she seems nice," in a way that hints that he can clearly see that the two had some sort of connection.

So, for me, the option I choose for Ciri is "I prefer women."  The signs seem to point in that direction.  Sorry Skjall (poor Skjall!  He really is a nice guy).