Of all the overdue reviews I've ever posted, this one is probably the latest. Sorry. My schedule is out of control. Well, actually, it's perfectly normal, which is precisely the problem. Anyways, I'm gonna try something new for these two. I'm gonna start with a more technical and critical review which I find very boring and am horrible at, but for these two I actually have some pseudo-criticism to give. And then I'll launch in to the fun, fangirly emotional review. Yay! Enjoy!

Republic Commando: Order 66
Well first off it was much, much more focused than True Colors and Revelation. A lot of people complained that both of those books had to much Mando'a and sentimental ramblings, not enough plot or action. Well, I think when she went to write O66 Karen listened to the fans. It was a lot more plot driven and while it still wasn't as action packed as Trip Zip or Hard Contact, it exceeded my personal expectations. Another thing that really stood out to me were the four main female characters Etain, Besany, Parja and Laseema. I'd never realized before this just how amazing Karen was at writing strong female characters without making them cliché, and that's a hard thing to do. Really the only complaint I have is that the ending just kind of...ended. For some series drop offs work. For instance, as much as I didn't like it, I thought the drop off ending of Legacy actually worked rather well. *dodges rotten vegetables and other projectiles* However, the way the RepCom series was written, and considering it didn't lead in to another series, I thought it could have ended better.
As far as how I felt about the book, well that's a whole 'nother story:
First things first: Etain. ( ) That was unnecessary. My pals and I had been predicting doom for Etain since before True Colors, but we had all expected her death to be more directly related to Order 66 considering that's the name of the book and all. We all predicted some big emotional climax where one of the Commandos, maybe Niner or one of the Deltas where faced with the choice between obeying orders and letting Etain live. That's nowhere near what happened. I don't know. Maybe I just thought she deserved a more glamorous death, like for instance Starkiller. (But we'll get to that later)
On a happier note: Weddings all around!! Whoo! There must have been what, four weddings in that book? And the best part was, by the fourth one, I guess it was Dar and Etain's, it didn't seem redundant or ridiculous or anything less than wonderful! And FI! The minute I saw him talking comprehensibly, I threw the book into the air and screamed "FI'S BAAAAAAACK!!!!!" Which gave my sister a heart attack, and once she figured out what I had said, she was there screaming with me. It was a very, um, loud day at our house the day Fi came back. Vau was a total beast, Ruusaan's my best friend, Jusik was hot as always. It was a very good book.

The Force Unleashed
*puts stern critic-y face back on* Time to be serious again. On of the coolest things about the game, besides crazy-vamped Force powers and a super hot main character, was that I could see a little inspiration from every major Star Wars game prior to this one. In the surroundings and the mood I could see a lot of Republic Commando. In the attacks and leveling up and the multiple endings I could see KOTOR I and II. In the combat system I could see BF I and II. I could even find a little bit of LEGO Star Wars in it when I really looked. In addition to raising the bar on gaming and letting you beat the snot out of people with the Force, it really -whether it was intended to or not- helped pull together a lot of the Star Wars saga. A game set in the OT with a prequel feel and a host of prequel characters? Why didn't someone think of this ages ago?
Just so you get an idea of how amazing this game was, I think I came close to hyper-ventilating for about an hour once I started playing it. There is no word for what LucasArts has accomplished in this game. What Star Wars did thirty years ago to the movie industry, it just did again to the gaming industry. The funny thing is, that the initial shock of the realism wore off almost right away. After about five minutes, my brain got used to it because that's how games should have looked all along. The levels were great, (although some were a little short and I now ask God every day why the Death Star couldn't have missed Alderaan and hit Raxus Prime instead,) and the characters unforgettable. The ending? Do you really want to hear what I have to say about the ending? Okay, I warned you...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! WHY MUST THE HOT DIE YOUNG!?!?! NOT. FAIR. EMPEROR. And my mom wonders why I always say the Empire ruined my life. I think my next blog is going to be a list of reasons I hate the Empire. Anyways, like Etain, I knew it was coming. That doesn't mean I have to like it!! Galen Marek/Secret Apprentice/ Starkiller was such a great character and it didn't seem right for him to die just days after turning from the Dark Side. And to leave Juno all alone before their relationship even got anywhere! He could have had an incredible life, and there were ways of making him disappear from the EU without killing him or doing anything to cruel. Also I was hoping to see some mention of Ferus in there, what with Bail and Jedi survivors playing such a huge role...Just kidding. I can dream, can't I?! Hey at least Galen got one heck of a glamorous death, unlike Etain! *shakes fist at Karen the Character Slayer* I also have a conspiracy theory about Shaak Ti. I think since she wasn't dead when she fell into the Sarlaac and since the Sarlaac was her pal and all, I think she just chilled in the Sarlaac for awhile until the Empire left. What can I say? Shaak Ti's so cool, you can kill her as many times and in as many conflicting sources as you like, and she still won't truly be dead!

Now I'm starting Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter and then plan to read Coruscant Nights I: Street of Shadows. That ought to take me up to the thirty-first when Millennium Falcon comes out! Yeah baby! Zekk's coming back! At least he better be, if someone wants to keep his face the way it is. *glares threateningly at James Luceno* In the mean time, more of the same. Band, school, homecoming coming up. Fun. Actually, it' won't be too bad. I'm going with my closest Star-Warsiest friends, so it should be fun. It always is with them. First two Clone Wars episodes on Friday! What can I say, they exceeded my expectations, just like the movie! Give me more! Lots of new art on my DA site, and plenty more on the way! I know a lot of people here like my sprites, well there's plenty of new ones for you and I'm working on some TFU ones that should be up if soon if life gives me a break. Once Band dies down, I'd really like to get on here more often. I really love this site, and just typing this blog made me realize how much I miss you guys! I love you all! *hugs* See you (hopefully) soon!

MTFBWY
IGGMY
CDS<-- I wish I could make gigantic posters of this and plaster them around my school. The apathy there is crushing!