Release Date:
NA September 16, 2008
AUS September 17, 2008
EU September 19, 2008
(Available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, DS, N-Gage, PSP, iPhone, and probably my toaster)
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Gameplay*
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The game is intended to be "easy to pick up and play"; the development team included "horrible" gamers to help ensure the game's accessibility. Players can "play it easy" and "run and gun" through the game -- but players who take a stealthy, more tactical approach "will be rewarded". To help keep the game accessible, the main character auto-blocks with his lightsaber some weapons fire; manually deflecting fire can become advantageous in battles. Developers treated the main character's lightsaber like another Force power, and wanted to ensure "something visceral and cool" happened with each button-push.
The game has a combo system for stringing lightsaber attacks and for combining lightsaber attacks with Force powers. The game includes enemies that are easy to overcome; game difficulty arises from presenting these enemies in "overwhelming" numbers that can wear down the player's character.
The enemies, which number over 50, have various strengths and weaknesses; developers faced the difficulty of effectively placing them throughout the game's varied environments. Additionally, enemies learn from the player's character's attacks; using the same attack on different characters can sometimes lead to the player's character doing less damage. Experience points earned by killing enemies and finding artifacts can be used to increase Starkiller's powers and traits.
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Platform Specifics*
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The game's developers wanted each platform to offer players a distinct, "unleashed" experience. Some gameplay elements were not ported to all platforms because of each platform's differing features -- for example, the Wii's "social experience" led to the design of that version's two-player duel mode.
Although the story and characters are consistent across all platforms, specific details vary between them -- for example, the opening level on Kashyyyk is a daytime attack on the Xbox 360, while the Wii, PSP and PS2 depictions happen at night with different levels. The Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions -- all developed by Krome Studios -- allow the player's character to participate in Jedi trials, encountering the spirits of long-dead Jedi. The Wii version uses the Wii Remote to simulate the ability to wield a lightsaber, while the Nunchuk attachment will simulate Force power use.
In addition to duel mode, the Wii version also includes five levels not included in the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions. The PlayStation Portable version features an exclusive "historic mode" that allows players to reenact five battles and events from the Star Wars films as well as multiplayer for up to four players.
The Nintendo DS version, developed by n-Space, allows players to use the stylus to input a chain of lightsaber effects combined with Force powers. THQ's Universomo studio developed mobile phone, iPhone, and N-Gage versions of The Force Unleashed that is "very different" from other platforms', but still tells a story about Darth Vader's secret apprentice. These games feature a "CellWeaver" gesture system: each enemy has a symbol above its head that corresponds to a "gesture" or button combination that controls the player's character's attack.
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Reviews
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"Sadly, we're not treated to any real unleashing of the Force in this latest entry to the Star Wars saga, which delves deeper into previously unexplored post-Episode III and pre-Episode IV plot territory. In fact, a more appropriate name would've been Star Wars: The Force Mildly Contained -- rarely does the Force truly feel like the ultimate weapon, something that separates you (Darth Vader's not-so-secret apprentice) from the rabble of stormtroopers, Rodians, and Felucians.
Some exceptions do occur early on in The Force Unleashed, though, particularly the first level, which sees you -- as Darth Vader -- rampage through a Wookiee village, tossing the hulking, furry beasts off bridges and into various structures...and watching them bounce around like tall, hairy pinballs. Even the Apprentice's introductory level shares some of the same destructive thrills, as the abundance of crates and sheer drops make for exciting ways to rid your path of stormtroopers and station guards. But as the game progresses, these thrills dissipate substantially, as the Force merely becomes a catchall for weakening enemies before taking them down in more conventional ways (well, as far as "conventional" goes in the Star Wars universe).
...
Star Wars geeks will undoubtedly enjoy the story to some extent...as long as they can excuse some manipulation of canon to accommodate it. Certain plot points just don't make much sense in terms of the timeline -- for example, how long the Jedi actually stick around after Episode III -- but as George Lucas has shown, it doesn't seem like the timeline developed by the three original movies holds much weight, anyhow. Even the most hardcore Star Wars fans will be disappointed in what could've been an opportunity to highlight the true power of the Force."
--excerpts from 1UP's "C" Review
More reviews can be found and discussed in the official reviews thread:
AgentOtaku said:
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Media
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GameTrailers page, including video review and various videos
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Other
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Boxart:
Does this game support Trophies? Nope!
Install on PS3? You bet your butt: 2.65 GB worth!
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Also
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Size matters not, lol.
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*shamelessly ripped from Wikipedia
..even if the game is like 50% like the demo, still know I'm going to like it.
