I love the Brian Daley dramas of the OT, and just listened to Smuggler's Gambit from Celebration 6, and really enjoyed that. So that got me wondering about Dark Empire, and wanted to see your guys opinions on it before spending the money. I've read the comics, so story isn't an issue. How's the voice acting? How's the music and sound effects? Is it almost up to par to the Brian Daley ones?
It's.... well, it's a Star Wars radio drama that wasn't done by Daley. In other words, the parts that I have listened to are more hamtastic than a swine farm. Though IIRC it's nothing compared to the TotJ or Dark Forces radio dramas.
I only own Dark Empire I, Tales of the Jedi and Labyrinth of Evil. The Dark Empire has more scenes than the comic book, I think it is a bit better. The Tales of the Jedi Audio Drama contains Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, The Saga of Nomi Sunrider and the Freedon Nadd Uprising, everything the comic books contain. Labyrinth of Evil is is OK, too, just a bit shortened. I use to get Dark Empire II and Dark Lords of the Sith. There is also a new Thrawn Trilogy radio version, actually three of twelve volumes have been released.
The Dark Empire audio dramas actually make Dark Empire kind of enjoyable, because they come without the strange artwork that series so loves. Whilst they really are not as great as the others (I blame that on the source material), they are an easy way to have Dark Empire told to you, without the risk of eye cancer.
Can't say how they compare to the Daley series but I like them a lot - not least due to the Emperor. Granted, he's no Ian McDiarmuid but who is save for the man himself?
I remember the Dark Empire Radio Drama. It was pretty good. Used to get it from a library that was close to me. Haven't been in it in years. I would like to hear it again and see what the others are like.
There are several German Star Wars radio dramas that are not aviable in Galactic Basic Standard: Labyrinth of Evil (Labyrinth des Bösen), Dark Lord (Dark Lord - Der Aufstieg des Darth Vader) and now the Thrawn trilogy.
I'm sold. Got Dark Empire 1 from iTunes. I'm really enjoying it so far! It was awesome hearing BDW back as Lando(though still wondering why he didn't return for ROTJ). Also feels weird having some else as 3PO(though that actor did pretty good sounding like Tony Daniels). I plan on eventually getting DE2 and the 2 Tales of the Jedi dramas soon. Hope iTunes makes the Thrawn trilogy available soon(also hoping Shadows of the Empire gets made eventually). Thanks for all the opinions so far!!!
There is no such thing as a Star Wars Radio Drama. One qualifying question: Were they ever originally broadcast on Radio? A more accurate title is Audio Drama.
Racist marketing again, some obscure human dialect gets audio book releases, but no Huttese to be found anywhere.
Well the OT ones, written by Bryan Daley, were broadcast on NPR in 1980, 1983, and 1995(for SW, TESB, and ROTJ respectively). So there is such a thing in that regard. But yes, audio dramas are more accurate for the other ones(Dark Empires, Tales of the Jedi, etc), but I like calling them radio dramas for tradition of the classic ones.