Before vacating the floor, LucasArts Producer Dan Wasson provided a quick rundown on The Force Unleashed for the Wii. While LucasArts' own development teams are handling the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, Australian-based Krome Studios' is developing the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Wii games. Wasson nonetheless seemed at home on the console, slashing and stabbing his way through countless hordes of stormtroopers with ease.
Wasson provided a tour of the level inside the Jedi Temple – one of five missions unique to the Wii version. Players can perform the same attacks with their lightsaber and the force regardless of the version they buy, but the most obvious difference between the next-gen games and The Force Unleashed on the Wii is the graphics. The visual representations of force powers were quite impressive, and overall, the graphics on the Wii were fairly decent. Nonetheless, they weren't the most ground-breaking we have ever seen.
In duel mode, you play as a classic Star Wars character.
However, the main focus of The Force Unleashed on the Wii is the controls. Once Wasson finished his presentation we were free to test out the game's only multiplayer component, called 'duel mode'. Duel mode pits players against each other in lightsaber skirmishes. You can choose from over 20 different Star Wars characters, such as Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, and a number of familiar locations, such as the freezing chamber on Cloud City. Once Luke Mitchell had selected Darth Maul as his character, we were ready to hit the dunes of Tatooine for the ultimate PALGN showdown.
The best feature in duel mode, and the rest of the game for that matter, is using the Wii Remote to swing your lightsaber around and perform stab attacks. Players shouldn't get too immersed in the lightsaber combat though, as you can quickly get thrown off your feet with the pool of Force powers at your disposal. Powers such as lightening and force push can be unleashed at the press of a button, and movement of your character is controlled with the Nunchuk's analogue stick.
Lightsaber combat is important, but don't forget force powers.
The Force Unleashed's controls were very robust and easy to learn after a go or two. Gesture movements give the impression of wielding a lightsaber, but whether or not The Force Unleashed will prove to be the definitive Star Wars Wii game, it is difficult to say. Nonetheless, our duels were still very entertaining, and it even got intense a few times as our characters zapped each other with lightening and throw objects using the force.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the Nintendo Wii is shaping up as fun ride. Duel mode looks as though it will provide hours of entertainment, especially for those who want to come out on top every time. Though it may not prove to be the ultimate motion-sensitive lightsaber game, if you own a Wii console and are a die-hard or passing fan of Star Wars, The Force Unleashed will probably be a rewarding experience. For more information of the Wii version of The Force Unleashed, head over to our interview with the Lead Programmer, Trevor Powell. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be available on all current-generation consoles and handhelds on September 17.
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