Growing up in the 1980s, the thing I wanted more than anything else in the world was my own lightsaber. The power, precision and effortless grace of a Jedi. Of course I had to make do with a blade of imagination and voicing the distinctive hum. Nevertheless, I was out there battling the forces of the Galactic Empire.
About 20 years later, my generation was given the opportunity to relive part of its childhood with the release of the long awaited (and hugely disappointing) Phantom Menace. Though the movie was dismal, the lightsaber duels brought about a nostalgia and just for a moment I was back in time. Furthermore, kids don’t know how lucky they are these days – we didn’t have double lightsabers.
With the Star Wars machine jumping into hyperspace once more, the inevitable toy and game tie-ins ensued. No longer held back by the graphic capabilities of the 48K Spectrum, gaming promised you the chance to become part of the Star Wars universe. However, playing the Jedi while destroying your thumbs on an X-box lacked finesse. Perhaps after 20 years or so, I expected something more.
I am glad though that my experiences with lightsabers as a child were more vivid; that I got to do it myself without the aid of video games. Video games can in some ways stretch the boundaries, but only real imagination makes the impossible become possible.
Meanwhile, here’s how not to use a lightsaber.
works for me