Developer - LucasArts (PS3, 360) – Krome Studios (Wii, PS2, PSP) – n-Space (NDS) – Universomo (Mobile Phone, N-Gage)
Publisher - LucasArts – THQ Wireless
Available On - XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, NDS, iPhone, iTouch, N-Gage
Reviewed On - XBOX 360

Please note this review is for the PS3 and 360 versions developed by LucasArts. Alternate versions on other consoles are coming from different developers that could provide a significantly different experience.

The Force Unleashed is the first Star Wars game in a long time to bring enough ingenuitive promise in both technical prowess and illustrative narration to stand out among all the others. Star Wars games are continually following one after another so with Lucasarts focusing a lot of attention on the technical capabilities of The Force Unleashed (TFU) and the incorporated engines, it all shows to great merit. The Force Unleashed while based on Lucasarts’ own proprietary software utilises several external components such as NaturalMotion’s Euphoria AI system (last seen in Grand Theft Auto IV), the Digital Molecular Matter engine from Pixelux for destructive environment capabilities, while body physics are excessively emphasised via the Havok physics engine.

A lot of big names that mean little to many, Lucasarts have definitely put a lot of time and effort into ensuring The Force Unleashed comes off a polished, vibrant and powerful experience that’s met to a great degree. The Force Unleashed is indeed a sophisticated experience with many effects of the engine providing continual entertainment throughout a potentially repetitive third person adventure. A fleshy story filled with typical Star Wars narrative and immersive characters certainly complements the technically refined experience of TFU while players learn and adapt to utilise The Force under the name of a whole new Star Wars character, The Apprentice.

Seriously, introducing a new character to the Star Wars universe at this point is like introducing a new character to the Bible. It’s become quite a touchy subject matter quite open to rigorous defense if executed poorly. The Force Unleashed takes good care to not alter or dabble with any significant plots in the Star Wars universe while the story of The Apprentice is handled quite tactfully as an appropriate sideline to bridge events between episodes III and IV of the films. While the narrative and plot stick to a solid consistency expected of a Star Wars installment, the direction and progression of several scenes in The Force Unleashed are questionable as odd bridges to fill in what finishes off as just a passable level of around 7-8 hours game time for a third person action adventure.

With thick story complementing a technically impressive engine, the opening scene of playing as a fully powered Darth Vader serves as a fitting introduction exemplifying the destructive capabilities to unlock. The Apprentice doesn’t start out all that hot as each enemy crushed and plot progressed earns experience in an unlock system very akin to God Of War. The array of force abilities do too require unlocking and upgrading before the force can be truly unleashed but with the variety available players will need to pick certain abilities and statistics to work on and play with.

Force Powers include but aren’t limited to your common household Force Grips, Lightning Shields, a Force Push and Repulse as well as Lightsaber Throw coupled with several combos and stat upgrades known as Force Talents, it gives a lot to play with. Couple all this with interchangeable Lightsaber colour crystals and power crystals as well as costumes to ensure that each Apprentice played isn’t quite the same. It also keeps combat versatile and situational as some enemies are best defended with certain powers, combos, or even the “Sith Flourish Combos” enacted by entering basic saber attack commands at the right time.

The Force powers are the real drive behind the power of The Apprentice and especially the power of the game. Each force power has significant effects on enemies and the battlefield thanks to the variety of aforementioned engines behind the game. Force pushing objects and doors is handled realistically only hindered by initial difficulty with The Apprentice caused by low starting stats. Grabbing items and enemies is a real joy with the often convincing AI taking cover under objects and diving out, reacting to when their shelter is ripped asunder by a mighty force grip. Pick up an enemy Storm Trooper and dangle him above another, often they’ll grab hands in desperation ultimately increasing the ease of launching both. The environment is incredibly reactive to all the chaos afoot and littered with items to zap, smash, push, pull or throw at your enemies and often feature potential hazards such as pits or electrical fields also seen as a target for launching enemies.

The chaos is often made most convincing by the huge production values laid down by LucasArts. In game audio effects aside, the 90 minute orchestral soundtrack laid down by Skywalker Orchestra and Sound complement the voice acting, motion capturing and theater-like presentation of The Force Unleashed.

It’s when the small but obvious gripes pop up that TFU diminishes in value. The last few years of gaming has formed a general consensus for the seclusion of quick time events but when they’re done quite this poorly it’s another thing. Most sub-bosses will require standard fire fare with a supported health bar to indicate a boss’ near defeat. Unfortunately if you’re attacking long range there’s no indicator that this sub-boss cannot actually be defeated at all, despite having no health and taking continuous attacks most sub-bosses require The Apprentice to be close enough to the boss to initiate the quick time event. Not to mention that one particular boss just stood there taking my continuous attacks with no response. The quick time events are also the last thing TFU needed to draw more similarities to God Of War as they do serve quite common features.

The Force Unleashed lacks the backtracking of God Of War and features a constant radar indicating the direction of your next objective to ensure there’s no getting lost. Also unlike God Of War, The Force Unleashed has a controllable camera but that doesn’t stop certain angles from becoming your ultimate foe. Some platforming sections are particularly nasty when they shouldn’t really be in there at all, as well as more redundant scenes such as the forced training sequence that pops up after a considerable amount of gameplay.

To mention scenes of necessary seclusion, the over hyped and repeated scene of The Apprentice bringing down an Imperial Star Destroyer ended up being the most frustrating and confusing scene in the game for myself, with ambiguous directions popping up requiring multiple attempts at one-off controls at a task with no inclination of progression. The game couldn’t be cut much shorter as it just fits in long enough for a full priced purchase. Once the story’s done there isn’t much else to do but play it again, harder, and hunt for trophies or achievements. For those most seasoned in the Star Wars universe you’ll probably know what the world will be like after the events of The Force Unleashed. It’s good that no main characters are messed with but this also means the story can only go so far but for what’s new is there, and done well.

With solid Star Wars narrative, great production and continually impressive gameplay The Force Unleashed is a recommended purchase for any fan of Star Wars or third person action games. The occasionally weak direction and odd archaic game faults while obviously apparent are rare and easily misplaced for a theatrical gaming experience like no other.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

83%

The Good -

* A convincing and faithful side story to Star Wars.
* Enough pretty sparks and unseen engine to fill a star ship.
* Huge sound and theatrical production.

The Bad -

* Shitty, shitty quick time events.
* Drawn out scenes can emphasise repetitive progression.
* Forced Wookiee deaths.