This article is for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game for the PS3 and XBOX 360. Its original source was #178 issue of the Gameinformer magazine (www.gameinformer.com), located on page 64 and 65.
Playstation 3 / XBOX 360
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Style: 1-Player Action
Publisher: Lucasarts
Developer: Lucasarts
Release: Summer
*The Quick And Easy Path Rules!*
You might not know it from watching the original Star Wars trilogy, but the Force can be used for more than slowly moving things up and down. The prequels definitely expanded the Force’s applications, but viewers still never got a complete picture of its potential. That will change when The Force Unleashed finally hits later this year. As the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, this game is all about expanding gamers’ perception of the Force and how it allows a single warrior to take down an entire army – a goal the devolvement team seams to have a firm handle on. In the time that we spent playing as Darth Vader’s apprentice, we used the Force in ways in ways we had never even imagined.
The first mission you’ll undertake as the Apprentice (portrayed by Sam Witwer from Battlestar Galactica and The Mist) occurs in a TIE fighter construction facility. Because Lord Vader has ordered you to leave no witnesses, all inhabitants – including stormtroopers - must be eliminated. Fortunately, this environment serves as the perfect training ground to experiment with the Force’s newfound flexibility; there is a constant stream of mechanical components in various stages of assembly waiting to be used. When faced with a handful of armed guards, we simply reached toward the ceiling and sent an entire TIE fighter crashing into them. We then used the Force to throw the flaming @#$%pit into another group of enemies (giving us payoff camera view of the destruction) and jumped into the fray with our red lightsaber swinging.
All of the individual Force powers will be mapped to their own buttons on the controller, so players won’t need to mess around with selecting moves from a menu screen. The fluidity with which the powers are integrated into the combat is reminiscent of the cult hit Psi-Ops. A press of the right bumper might initiate a Force grab on a hapless rebel, while holding it down will start to choke him as he hovers in mid-air (leaving you free to fling the corpse into a gun turret). If you happen to get surrounded by aggressive Felucians, you can hold a button to charge up Force repulse, a power that throws enemies back to lower levels – and completely vaporizes them when powered up.
Being able to use these powers on the fly is impressive, but even better are the ways multiple abilities can be combined for different effects. Even a simple power like a Force grab can lead into some jaw-dropping situations. For example, imagine you are holding a druid aloft; you could skewer it with your lightsaber, send a nearby metal container flying into it, or channel Force lightning to turn it into an unstable bomb that will explode on impact. If you prefer melee combat, you could use Force push right after a dash to send foes reeling back, then charge you lightsaber with lightning to increase damage and reach.
Now picture all of these scenarios imbued with the previously announced Euphoria engine, which allows characters to interact naturally with the environment. Stormtroopers grab onto railings to keep from falling off ledges, duck to avoid debris, and hold onto each other’s ankles as you fling them across the room. Simply witnessing the carnage that results from your actions is a reward in and of itself.
With its new summer release date, gamers may have to wait a little longer than expected to start unleashing the Force, but the extra time looks like it is serving the game well. After playing just one level, we are ready to give into the Dark Side.
Each level will unlock a new look for the Apprentice, but you can unlock additional costumes in other ways.
Never bring a caulking gun to a lightsaber dual.
You can level up the Apprentice’s Force powers, focusing on your favorites.
Situations like this are not the time to use the “Force Delicious” power, which might not even exist.
Rancors are pretty tough when you cannot crush their skulls with metal doors.
*The Force is Everywhere*
There are also games called The Force Unleashed coming to the PS2, PSP, DS, and Wii, but they will not be using the same technology that allows the 360 and PS3 versions to simulate behavior and environmental properties. That does not mean they do not have their own perks; we got our hands on the Wii incarnation, which includes a one-on-one versus mode. Swinging the remote will attack with lightsaber based in one direction (though it does not track your movement exactly), and other motion controls will activate your array of powers. For example, jabbing the nunchuck forward while holding a trigger will activate a Force push. The particulars of the configuration are still being ironed out, but the Wii version is shaping up to connect you to the Force like never before.
I, myself, have reserved this game for the Wii and the DS. Information on the article for those two systems can be found at my other blog on the article by Nintendo.
Feb 3, 2008 12:37 PM | Report Abuse reply
I am looking forward to this game as much as anyone. However this belongs in the Video Game Section.
This is the role playing threads and this is where people act as their character for role playing purposes. Please take this to the proper section.
Feb 3, 2008 1:56 PM | Report Abuse reply
*Appears* Didn't we already have a thread like this?
Game looks sweet, getting it for PSP and Wii.
I agree with Eversio *Vanishes*
Feb 3, 2008 3:36 PM | Report Abuse reply
First this thread already existed here and 2nd this belongs in the game forum
Feb 4, 2008 7:20 AM | Report Abuse reply
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