The new action-packed Star Wars game promises to "unleash" a new take on events in that galaxy far, far away. In many ways it does. The story, equal parts epic and cheeseball, nicely bridges the gap between the Episode III and Episode IV films and gives us control over the Force that we thought was reserved only for Yoda and that decrepit Emperor.
In other ways it doesn't. The Force Unleashed works hard to supply a more cinematic experience. Up-and-coming actor Sam Witwer, who lends his voice and likeness to the Apprentice, delivers a command performance, but hackneyed game mechanics and buggy hiccups – characters getting stuck on walls, weird camera angles and in-game cinematics that cut out abruptly – keep the fantasy from being realized.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 1 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 2 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 3 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 4 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 5 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 6 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 7 of 8)
The Complete Saga takes players to the most beautiful LEGO galaxy ever assembled with high-definition graphics on the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. And with both consoles' online capabilities, families spread across the world can unite to rebuild a galaxy in pieces with cooperative two-player, drop-in/drop-out gameplay. Meanwhile, the unique Wii and Nintendo DS control schemes result in the most interactive LEGO Star Wars gaming experience yet. (Screenshot 8 of 8)
This new chapter in the Star Wars canon answers the question, "what if Darth Vader had a secret apprentice?" Vader scoops up a small child and teaches him the ways of the Dark Side to help him carry out his ultimate plans to rule the galaxy. Later, we meet the Apprentice as a young man, a subservient subject who has an Anakin-like struggle between good and evil. He still carries out Vader's orders like an obedient puppy, in the meantime forming a bond with his traveling crew -- a quirky robot sidekick and a comely female space pilot. It's almost like they're the Dark Side version of Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia, and they provide both comic relief and extra layers of texture to this story that -- like all the Star Wars films before it -- usually sticks to black and white morality.
The Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) and Euphoria technology driving the game is an impressive feat of engineering. As promised, the Apprentice can bend giant pieces of metal, split wood into a million little splinters and watch as enemies desperately cling to a railing, just before they're Force Pushed off a platform and fall into deep space.
However, without the game's developers standing over your shoulder at home, pointing out exactly where the DMM magic kicks in, there's still a feeling that The Force Unleashed relies on gameplay mechanics that don't always live up to the cool tech at work in the background. A few hours into the game, it's obvious that the game is following a distinctive "fight, fight, miniboss, fight, fight, boss" formula. Bosses of all levels also trigger an eye rolling mash-the-button-when-prompted minigame that has been overused by game makers both before and after it was popularized in God of War in 2005 (and introduced in 1999's Dreamcast classic Shenmue).
Mixing and matching lightsaber swipes and Force powers will keep you happily preoccupied through the first few levels, as you gain new powers and learn how to use them together. We felt like powerful Jedi while holding enemies in mid air and then hitting them with lightening before sending them sailing. It was equally liberating to push and fling enemies aside using Force Push and grabs while storming an enemy base.
The apprentice builds up his powers over time using a role-playing system that seems promising but in reality is too "lite" to really customize your character. After spending your Force points, you might be able to have more lightsaber skills or Force power skills, but you can pretty much Force grab and throw like Vader at the end of the game. The Force points, which help you level up come from defeating enemies or jumping through Force cubes floating around the environments. However, this is a very 'gamey' element that feels more like Mario than the movie-like experience that The Force Unleashed wants to deliver.
Despite these shortcomings, the game's filled with cameos that will please anyone with a basic knowledge of the Star Wars universe. Princess Leia makes an appearance in the game, as does Darth Maul and Senator Bail Organa (reprised by actor Jimmy Smits) and it's even good to see the crusty old Emperor up to his usual self-serving antics.
'After the credits roll, Force Unleashed isn't the end-all, be-all interactive Star Wars experience but it manages to showcase some interesting new game technology and is a mostly fun virtual slugfest that's worth killing a few hours to experience. It will at least inspire you to dust off those Star Wars DVDs and relive the magic all over again.
Reader Comments (20)
lol, what is wrong with you people that thought this was going to be like kotor. How in the hell did you get that impression?
MontyBoy, they aren't reviewing the Star Wars universe here. They are explaining the failed gaming mechanics and redundancy of the game. If they refer to him as Starkiller, would you be more or less likely compelled to buy the game based on their actual review?? Because I wouldn't be. I still know that, whether they call him the Apprentice, Starkiller, or Spaceman Spiff for all I care, the game has some bugs that should have been ironed out that will negatively impact my gaming experience. There review merits plenty of credibility, because they didn't just say "OMG FORCE LIGHTNING AND STARKILLER = EPIC WINRAR!!!1," as clearly you would have.
They refer to Starkiller, who is the character you play as for those of you that don't know, as "Apprentice" in this article. He's referred to as "Apprentice" by Vader, because Vader is a tool and likes treating him like trash. Everyone else either doesn't call him by anything other than "He", "Boy", etc., or calls him Starkiller. They don't even know the primary characters name, but somehow believe their review merits any credibility whatsoever? What a joke.
I like the game alot. Love the fighting aspect as you control how you fight. I was expecting it to be like KoToR game play. All you do here, is go in and destroy anything that moves. Its a good game, but I would have liked it alot more if it were like KOTOR.
why cant anyone spell lightning?
"Bosses of all levels also trigger an eye rolling mash-the-button-when-prompted mi***ame that has been overused by game makers both before and after it was popularized in God of War in 2005 (and introduced in 1999's Dreamcast classic Shenmue)." Yes, yes, yes, ****ing yes. Despite some flaws in the review, this part is 100% true. I hate how this button crap has to be in every action game now. Thank god Team Ninja stayed away from this bullcrap with NG2. Every goddamn game doesn't need this. No, it doesn't make the player feel more "immersed" in the fight - especially when one missed button causes a failed sequence and a boss to heal himself to 15% - 25% of his life.
Well ive experienced a few bugs, one where the tentacle monster near the 3rd boss (or was it?) where i got completely stuck and couldnt move. but thats understandable. And one where i feel through the floor somehow, but again no issue since savepoints are close together. So far im loving the game, and it delivers what is said. I feel like a jedi, not a boring guy with a sword who can make people fall over a little. In old star wars games jedi were always too lacking, the force was never used as creatively, and was always lacking. I always thought "why cant i just force push myself into them" or this and that. This pretty much sets the deal. The customization is ok, you can choose a costume, lightsaber color and crystal etc. What more do you want? a different face? it would ruin the story. Plus the levling is so you can get used to using the techniques, imagine trying to learn how to use and apply every skill at once, it would take to long. So far this game i think is far better than god of war, so comparing it is unfair, as the enviroments feel more open to me, though they are still linear. Also the god of war momments are so bad, they are there so you can kill the bigger or cooler enimies in that way, it would lame to kill a jedi with one last slash or a push...its much cooler to slam them around and zap them etc. its an interactive movie. If the buttons werent there, people would complain that you have no control in those parts. to sum it up i dont agree with this review.
Seriously all the game sites are giving it the exact same rating. I think that maybe one website actually reviewed the game, based on what was in the demo, and everyone else just copied it. I picked this game up on day one and loved it from the second it started up, I'am half way through the game and have never experienced a bug. None of this getting stuck on walls, or cinematics cutting short, this guy is full of it and should be fired for ripping off another websites review. If your a starwars fan, you will love this game. If your just a gamer, you will love this game. Buy it, or wait for it to come out to rent. But youd be an idiot if you passed this up based on some jackass's review.
ok first you all need lives and second of all this game is totally cool andi recomend it to anyone who plays video games so yea and yea and no offense about that life comment i justmeant that u guys actually go on aim all the time but wutever anyone who thinks this game is bad go suck ****s
this guy needs to go jump off a cliff, while growing a pair in the process