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Top 10 ESH Stories

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My Backpacks Got Jets

Seriously, it does.

Don't believe me? Well then watch this video. It's not one of Douces' Jewels, but it'll do.



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The Saga Continues

It’s that time again, people. I’ve got another one of my internet jewels to show you and this one is awesome. So what is it this time? Well let’s just say it’s part two and involves light sabers.

If you can remember way back in December of last year, I found a video of two guys fighting with light sabers. These weren't just two kids flinging around sticks and making light sabers noises. These guys had choreographed fighting and special effects. For those of us who can’t remember anything before New Years Eve, here’s the link.

The same two guys are back with part two of their battle. In my opinion, this one is even better and longer than the first one. I’m calling this installment to Douce's Jewels, A New Generation Born, Pt. 2.

Enjoy!





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Light Sabers, Camera, and...Action!

What do you get when you cross hardcore Star Wars fans with a camera and some special effects? If you think you know the answer or have no idea whatsoever, then brace yourself. This is one of Douce’s Jewels that will make your jaw drop wide open.

If there’s one thing the internet has not been lacking in the past year or so, it’s Star Wars parody videos. They’ve ranged from kids pretending to be Jedi Knights while playing with sticks to parents dressing their asthmatic kids up in Darth Vadar costumes. We’ve laughed, cringed, and maybe even cried at some of the vids floating around but you ain’t seen nothing yet.

I’m pretty sure that ESH has some Star Wars fans even though the recent trilogies did leave something to be desired. The storyline may not have been what we were expecting but you have to admit that the special effects were top notch. Some of us couldn’t wait for it to end and some of us screamed for more. After watching this video, I immediately dusted off the old light saber, threw on the Jedi robes, and continued my fight against the dark side.

I’m calling this jewel Star Wars: A New Generation Born.

Enjoy!




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A Star Wars Game That Doesn't Suck

How absolutely novel an idea.

I recently got a copy of a demo for Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and I have to say, it's actually fun.

Now before you get all pissy with me understand the difference between "good" and "fun". The Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games were good [actually they were very, very, good], but I didn't have "fun" playing them. I thought the sound effects were great, the characters were perfectly designed, and I felt like I was playing Star Wars; just like the game was designed to make me feel. But I didn't have fun playing it which is why I lost interest in it very quickly.

I've tried both KOTOR games as well as the Jedi Academy game and again found myself displeased with the slow gameplay and pace of the story, so I moved on to a new game. With all the previous Star Wars games I had expressed leaving a bad taste in my mouth, I avoided the first Lego Star Wars game like it had rabies. From all the things I had read about various Star Wars games they were always falling short in some area that I just knew would piss me off. LucasArts tries hard, I know they do, but for me and millions of fans out there the games did not satisfy. If I am completely honest with you all, I would not have tried this demo if Evermore hadn't asked me my opinion on it last evening. Deciding his question deserved answering, I popped the PS2 demo disc in my console and waited for the game to load.

As the opening music and screen made their appearance I found my old skepticism creeping up on me, and even though I wanted to be able to bring an unbiased opinion to the game, I'd be lying to you if I didn't fess up to this before I continue on. I was ready to be let down again, and initially I was. I found the controls to be the most awful I had ever used. Even when I wasn't touching the controller the characters would slink around and continue to move on me making nuance movements nearly impossible. I was about to stop playing completely when I remembered that I was using a wireless controller that I hadn't used in months. A quick power cycling and the controls started handling properly. Trust me, this makes a WHOLE lot of difference.

Lego Star Wars II is just plain fun. It's kooky in its use of humor, for the true original trilogy nutball fanatic the game stays true to how we remember the movies. Han shot first, bitches! With the controller working properly I was able to jump, dodge and get my general inner Jedi on. The game lets you change between characters in your party. So you can be R2 for a moment in order to open some doors or interact with other computers or be Obi Wan to use some force skills on items. It all runs kinda seamlessly, one button for attack, one for jumping, one for character swapping, and the left side of the controller for movement... the way it should be. But it's the tongue in cheekiness [is that a word?] of the game that makes it enjoyable. This article would have been done hours ago but for the fact that I've been addicted to the demo for that long. By the time I finish this I will have added the XB360 version of the game to my Gamefly queue and as a result of my funtime pleasure having I am considering upgrading my account to the 3 game plan.

Sure you can tweak your Lego Star Wars avatar as you like with body pieces you acquire through gameplay and whatnot, but that's not where the fun of the game lies. I think it's because it's simple, doesn't take itself seriously, and stays true to what fans of the original movie franchise enjoy is what makes this game one of those, "damn, I can't put it down" type of games. It's not super next-gen, it's Lego people fer crying out loud, but you should do yourself a favor and add this one to your queue.

If for no other reason, get the game and share it with a Star Wars geek you know. Fun times will be had by all. Greedo Bombs...need I say more?




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