I didn't write a year in review post for 2014. I tried to several times. But, each time, the rough draft was repetitive and dull. And, really, that's what 2014 was. Party features were used too frequently, puffles got too much attention, "epic" quests turned out to be anything but, and the entire game felt like it was aiming for a younger, less experienced audience. But, you've heard all these things before. Through my twelve party reviews last year and multiple other articles, I've made pretty clear that 2014 was not a good year.
So, perhaps understandably, I wasn't expecting a lot from this party. With the same people working on the same party template for another time, the flipping of a calender page to a fresh year wasn't going to change anything, right?
I am delighted to say that I was wrong.
It seems as though the team actually has learned from its mistakes in 2014. If you truly think about it, ever since August's Frozen event established this new party structure, each party *for the most part* has steadily improved. The school party in September varied the items that needed to be found and made them slightly harder compared to the snowflakes. The Halloween Party tried to make a more linear plot and also incorporated several techniques for tasks. Countering my point, the Pirate Party took a step backward with its boring fight-a-day concept, so, we'll move along. However, Merry Walrus had zany, somewhat varied tasks and a truly likeable new mascot.
The Rebels event continues this trend. Along with carrying over most of the improvements from the past four months, this party also improved in two key areas: hype and details. More on those as we continue.
So, now, yes, I'll finally start talking about the actual party.
Let's start with music. Most of what is heard throughout the party is copyrighted music from the actual show and original movies. All of it is pretty great and adds to the authenticity of the experience, but it would have been nice to hear a few original tracks. However, I won't really count that against them.
Meanwhile, the costumes and other items at this party were just like they were at all the other (non Disney Channel- related) takeovers: top notch interpretations. You can moan all you want about sponsored parties, but I'd take new penguin-ified character costumes and referential objects over a newly released selection of skater-retro fashions that the cool kids wear anyday. The costumes at this party encompass lots of characters - even very minor ones - and they are all perfect representations of their show counterparts.
In fact, the whole hype improvement thing I was talking about comes in here. Back in August, all of the Frozen costumes of the main characters were released two weeks ahead of the party in Penguin Style, leaving only B-level, unimportant items for the party itself. With this party, however the main, important items were saved for last and the minor characters were released as a buildup to them in Style. This was very well done.
Meanwhile, quests were fine. While somewhat repetitive and still too easy, you did actually have to search for objects and there was at least some variety. There's still some work to be done, but this blows snowflake hunting out of the water.
On a related note, we come to the party's weakest link: story. This was the only element I would argue took a step back at this party....though it seemed to start just fine.
First, the Empire came to the island to...um...takeover and the Ghost followed to fight them off. OK, now that's simple setup but also good enough. Then, the first two quests had us defacing Empire propaganda and giving food back to the needy. Well, maybe that's a bit predictable, but fine. And then, things just got messy.
The third quest had us break down defense towers and the fourth had us getting batteries for the party's all but nonexistent Chopper so that the Ghost could leave the island. But, wait....weren't you guys here to fight? Why are you leaving before the job is all done? And, then, Kenan is just suddenly captured and we are transported to this random room to save him. How does this really connect to anything? Yes, this is petty over-analyzation but I still feel there was too much disconnect with the plot; it just felt like a mashup of situations.
However, on a more positive note, I can say that the rooms at this party were interesting and well designed . Sure, there were no interior decorations (just that switched out party music in rooms like the Coffee Shop and Clothes Shop that was just sad and misplaced without decorations), but the details in said rooms made up for it.
And that brings me to my last point: the details made this party. A major one was something that was almost entirely overlooked: veterans with lightsabers could duel and challenge the Inquisitor on Day One (which by the way, was a little too familiar due to the Pirate Party, but still was decent) while newer members had to wait until the last day of new content to get a lightsaber and participate. This type of seniority has never really been done before in this way and I feel it is pretty cool.
But, beyond that, this party was filled with intelligent Easter Eggs in a game that seems to play to younger children more and more these days. There was a hidden room. There was a hidden message to decode, which hasn't happened in years. There were of course elements from the show present from around the island that even this casual Rebels fan could appreciate. However, there were also callbacks to the original films, such as Rebo Nights and the amazing pun that was Javva the Hutt.
But this party really won me over with a detail that didn't even need to be there at all.
In Issue 483 of the Club Penguin Times - which was released on the party's launch date - the top story is an article discussing wanted rebels. This article was written by Alton Kastle - a name so specific that I figured it had to mean something. Upon googling the name, I found a small page on the Star Wars Wikia devoted to the character. It turns out Kastle is an obscure reporter for the Holonet from the expanded universe. He has appeared in a handful of comics and has been heard briefly in two episodes of Rebels. This tiny, tiny detail really displays how much time and care was put into this party, a big departure from recent parties that seemed to indicate the team was just doing the bare minimum.
And, so, the Star Wars Rebels Takeover became the first great party since, ironically, the very first Wars party.
However, in a moment, you will see that this party is not a 10/10. No, this is a great party but it still has troubles. So, how can Club Penguin get to that golden level? By keeping up the momentum. It's far simpler than you might think. Remove the time limits, make the quests even longer and complex, and create a compelling story and we're there.
In November, I didn't feel that the team could ever do this because of the trajectory they were going in. It was laughable. But, now, the goal is truly in reach. Now, there is a new hope.
*crowd starts throwing tomatoes*
Score: 8/10
My dad's friend has informed me that there is a shortage of tomatoes, so we have had to replace them with kittens temporarily.
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