Musketeer Highlights for November 2019
Musketeer Highlights for November 2019
It’s that time of the month again where we turn our spotlight onto those Musketeers that have gone above and beyond in helping the Sword Experience continue to reach countless sword enthusiasts across the globe! Our top Musketeer of the month is none other than David Chandler. David has worked with us as a Sword Partner twice now. Once in Carbondale and most recently at our Kentucky event.
David spearheaded our visit to Gilbertsville and was essential to the success of our event. As a Musketeer, he helped us secure a location for the event and was incredibly successful in spreading the word about the Sword Experience visit to Kentucky.
Thank you, David, and we look forward to working with you again.
Our honorable mention for this month is Jay Wall. Jay has been helping us look for locations for our upcoming events in Texas. He has also volunteered to help us on-site at the event. With his continued support, we are sure to have another successful trip to the Lone Star State.
Thank you, Jay, and see you soon.
We value each and every one of our Musketeers and appreciate your continued support. It is always difficult to decide who to honor each month due to your excellent work spreading the word about the Sword Experience. Keep it up and hopefully, the spotlight will shine on you next month.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The Star Wars franchise has been a staple in gaming since the earliest home consoles and Star Wars fans have been very particular about their games. On May 6th, 2013 Disney gave video game publisher Electronic Arts exclusive rights to make Star Wars video games for the next several years.
Since that time, EA has seemingly done little with the franchise. Fans have been waiting patiently for a triple-A publisher to release a fantastic single-player experience using the Star Wars world. Since 2013, EA has published Star Wars: Battlefront 1 and 2 that was developed by Dice, the company behind such first-person shooters as the Battlefield franchise.
Fans seemed to be disappointed in the Multiplayer heavy format of those games as well as the lack of a substantial single-player campaign. Many were worried about the fate of Star Wars video games in the hands of a publisher that seemed to be more interested in microtransactions and loot boxes than creating games that expanded upon the Star Wars universe. Enter Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Fallen Order is EA’s newest Star Wars game and was developed by Respawn Entertainment. Respawn is most famous for developing the much-beloved first-person shooters Titanfall 1 and 2 as well as the hugely popular free to play Battle Royale game Apex Legends.
Fallen Order is set five years after the events of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The story centers around Cal Kestis, a young Jedi padawan being hunted by the Galactic Empire after the execution of Order 66. As the story progresses, Cal attempts to finish his Jedi training while struggling to restore the now-defunct Jedi Order.
The game is a third-person action-adventure game with gameplay reminiscent of the Dark Souls series mixed with the Uncharted series sense of platforming and movement. You have many tools at your disposal such as force powers that can knock enemies off of ledges and of course the iconic lightsaber.
You’ll travel to several planets on your journey picking up new skills and items to enhance your powers as you play. You can even upgrade your lightsaber and change its color. You’ll face various storm troopers and animal creatures to hack and slash your way through.
As far as Dark Souls inspired games are concerned this one falls on the more forgiving side allowing you to play through at your own pace and playstyle.
The story itself is the true selling point of the game. While it is undeniably fun to play as a Jedi, Respawn has done an incredible job adding to the Star Wars story. As with Titanfall 2, Respawn has created a story that starts off small and self-contained but slowly reveals a grander plot line with vast implications for the future of the galaxy.
There has been great care taken in creating a world that fits well into the overall Star Wars universe. By placing the story after the events of Revenge of the Sith, there is an immediate sense of urgency for the player considering that the Jedi are on the verge of extinction. While Fallen Order may not reach the dramatic heights of games like Star Wars: The Old Republic, it certainly delivers an incredible cinematic experience that will stay with you afterward.
The game has been released on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It has garnered critical and commercial acclaim since its release. Hopefully, with the success of this game, EA will see the value of a single-player Star Wars franchise and will continue to bring us more stories set in the Star Wars universe.
Netflix Gems: The King
Netflix has recently released a new period drama detailing the life of King Henry V. The film follows Hal, played by Timothée Chalamet, a disenfranchised Prince that spends his days partying at the local tavern. Hal seems to have no desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, and his younger brother appears to be the next in line to the throne.
However, Hal quickly finds himself crowned King Henry V after the untimely passing of his brother followed quickly by the death of his father. King Henry sees himself as a more benevolent and peaceful King than his father with the intention of uniting England, but first, he must face hostilities from both inside and outside the castle walls.
The King delivers an excellent display of cinematography, fight choreography, and strong acting performances from its cast. Chalamet and Edgerton are engaging to watch as they plot out the best course of action in their war against France. Edgerton truly shines as a battle-weary soldier that understands the true cost of battle.
The fight scenes range from one on one armored combat, to castle sieges, to ground warfare. These scenes are masterfully handled and beautifully shot. One battle, in particular, brings memories of the infamous “Battle of the Bastards” scene from Game of Thrones.
Outside of the epic battle scenes is a larger sense of political intrigue. King Henry must contend with vast conspiracies that threaten his every rule. He must put his faith in his closest council while contending with dissent from the clergy.
His war tactics seem brazen and appear costly, but it seems that fate and strategy may hold the keys to his legacy. Although his victories may come at an unexpected price as he becomes a victim of politics and greed. The King boasts a sharp script with characters that are well thought out and realized throughout the film.
This is not to say that the film is without faults. The King runs at two hours and twenty minutes long and could do with some slight trimming. Some scenes tend to drag on and there is a repetitive nature to some of the exchanges between Chalamet and his council. However, this is a minor grievance as the film tends to have a quick pace from scene to scene. The film also suffers a bit from an archetype villain. And while Robert Pattinson delivers an interesting performance, one can’t help but feel as though his character is a bit underdeveloped.
As far as Netflix films are concerned The King is certainly a cut above the rest and is why we’ve named it a Netflix gem. If you’re interested in historical dramas or have been searching for a movie that will grab your attention, then The King is truly worth your time.
