If you are wondering which game, it would be Obi-Wan, the mediocre original xbox game in which you controlled obi-wan through the first star wars movie.
It's an action game and feels like it, the gimmick is that the right stick controls your lightsaber, and whichever way to push the stick obi-wan swings. Other than that, you can use force which changes your attacks to more powerful version, some other throw away mechanics like a roll function, an acrobatic function, a lock on function, etc.
But being the game it generally is, and the enemies you fight, the game boils down to reflecting blasters from enemies and using the block function. Overall, it has cleverly built level (really cleverly built), but the combat isn't that intense, and any of the duels really boil down to hold block and hoping the enemy does a ridiculous recoil.
I just replayed it, since I had already beaten all the other games on my shelf, and my xbox 360 wasn't working, and generally acknowledged how mediocre it was other than the clever level design. Then I noticed something.
The lock on mechanic, which I never bothered using, is actually very well done. Sometimes it locks-off, but it doesn't generally affect the fight. Secondly, the roll can actually be used to dodge attacks, it doesn't have I-frames, but any attack can be dodged with it, and the model collision is excellent so you can effectively duck under and around other lightsabers and weapons.
The block function is still OP, because that is what you are meant to use to beat the game, waiting for the enemy to recoil flagrantly and randomly. But when I was fighting one of the enemies which you aren't supposed to defeat in normal dueling, of blocking and what-not and use force powers instead, I decided to duel him. Blocking didn't effectively work, so I tried dodging for the first time. Suddenly, this 2001 xbox title felt ridiculously similar to dark souls.
As I looked more into the combat system, I honestly found it to be even a little tighter than Dark Soul's combat system, and a little tenser as there are no i-frames, you can choose the direction of your attack, and the roll doesn't go very far.
Further, there is a stagger function, tied to some stamina that the game doesn't show you, because you aren't expected to care. Also, other NPC who you duel often use a kick which does no damage most have, and just staggers your character. But, the player doesn't have this ability, why? Because they don't need it to beat the game.
Really, this game had exactly what dark souls has now, it just didn't expect players to care, and instead presented a throw-away action game of slicing up droids, and ignored the strangely indepth dueling system it had. This is also shown in how they made the dodge/roll B, and your lightsaber right stick, there was no thought about it.
Basically, what is going on with this game? And I'm going to start using its throw-away split screen two player to duel my dark souls friends when they come over now.
I'm surprised.
It's an action game and feels like it, the gimmick is that the right stick controls your lightsaber, and whichever way to push the stick obi-wan swings. Other than that, you can use force which changes your attacks to more powerful version, some other throw away mechanics like a roll function, an acrobatic function, a lock on function, etc.
But being the game it generally is, and the enemies you fight, the game boils down to reflecting blasters from enemies and using the block function. Overall, it has cleverly built level (really cleverly built), but the combat isn't that intense, and any of the duels really boil down to hold block and hoping the enemy does a ridiculous recoil.
I just replayed it, since I had already beaten all the other games on my shelf, and my xbox 360 wasn't working, and generally acknowledged how mediocre it was other than the clever level design. Then I noticed something.
The lock on mechanic, which I never bothered using, is actually very well done. Sometimes it locks-off, but it doesn't generally affect the fight. Secondly, the roll can actually be used to dodge attacks, it doesn't have I-frames, but any attack can be dodged with it, and the model collision is excellent so you can effectively duck under and around other lightsabers and weapons.
The block function is still OP, because that is what you are meant to use to beat the game, waiting for the enemy to recoil flagrantly and randomly. But when I was fighting one of the enemies which you aren't supposed to defeat in normal dueling, of blocking and what-not and use force powers instead, I decided to duel him. Blocking didn't effectively work, so I tried dodging for the first time. Suddenly, this 2001 xbox title felt ridiculously similar to dark souls.
As I looked more into the combat system, I honestly found it to be even a little tighter than Dark Soul's combat system, and a little tenser as there are no i-frames, you can choose the direction of your attack, and the roll doesn't go very far.
Further, there is a stagger function, tied to some stamina that the game doesn't show you, because you aren't expected to care. Also, other NPC who you duel often use a kick which does no damage most have, and just staggers your character. But, the player doesn't have this ability, why? Because they don't need it to beat the game.
Really, this game had exactly what dark souls has now, it just didn't expect players to care, and instead presented a throw-away action game of slicing up droids, and ignored the strangely indepth dueling system it had. This is also shown in how they made the dodge/roll B, and your lightsaber right stick, there was no thought about it.
Basically, what is going on with this game? And I'm going to start using its throw-away split screen two player to duel my dark souls friends when they come over now.
I'm surprised.