The Force Unleashed on Wii

Wii News | Lightsaber motions and duel modes courtesy of Australian studio.

Rumoured and hinted at by most, and tantalisingly dreamt of by others, Lucasarts today announced what may very well become the first third-party killer app for Nintendo's Wii - a Wii version of their upcoming multiplatform title Star Wars: The Force Unleashed with exclusive lightsaber Wii Remote functionality.

With development duties handed to Australian based Krome Studios, the Wii version promises to provide all would-be Skywalker's the chance to "feel" like a Jedi, by using the Wii Remote as a makeshift lightsaber and the Nunchuck for controlling force powers. On top of that, the Wii version of the game will also include a "Duel Mode" for players to take on their friends (or their fathers) in direct battle.

It still remains to be seen just how much of the controls will sum down to fiddly gesture-based waggle rather than true 1:1 lightsaber action. Whatever the case, Krome Studios definitely has something to make the Wii version of The Force Unleashed stand out from the high resolution next-gen graphics of competing console versions when they're released early 2008.

Related Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Content

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Preview
25 May, 2008 We go hands-on and test the motion-sensitive lightsaber controls.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Interview
22 May, 2008 We speak with the Lead Programmer on the Wii version, Trevor Powell.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed coming this September
04 Apr, 2008 If only Nintendo could follow such a well-planned release.

19 Comments

ObsoletE

4 years ago

sweet.

while i hope for 1:1 mapping, i'll settle for Lightsaber waggle too.

A13x

4 years ago

1:1 won't work so well, as when the lightsabers collide, nothing will stop the Wii remote in your hand, hence it will be moved and rotated to a different angle, than the on screen lightsaber, which has collided with another.

WilliamsF1

4 years ago

Quote

(or their fathers)

Some of the writing that gets done on the articles here is pretty humourise

3mt

4 years ago

they finally made a star wars wii game with the lightsaber motion

DrTim

4 years ago

A13x wrote

Not necessarily, it could be 1:1, and when the sabers collide they could bounce off and then freeze the control from the player for a split second or so (and shake so you know you hit the other saber), and then the player could then regain control.

I think if they fiddled around enough they could get something good workin.

Tom101007

4 years ago

it sounds promising but then again red steel sounded promising..., ill wait till there is a build available for testing before i decide, but this has huge potential

?oe?oe

4 years ago

At least the duel mode is made specifically for Wii. Great potential, but as Tom said, Red Steel sounded promising, but then again, this is Lightsabres! Vrrsh from the speaker, yay!

LeonJ

4 years ago

Very dissapointing news. They are cashing in on the Wiimote and fanboy cravings by scaling a next-gen title to the Wii. No doubt with horror result graphically and framerate wise. It may backfire if the reviews are dodgy.

I was hoping for a brand new title taking the Wii into it's own relm, which every developer should be doing.

I don't think a platform game can work with the wiimote with 1-to-1 mapping.

döppelgangbang

4 years ago

The chaps at Krome are big SW fans (which I learned first hand in the most boring presentation at this year's AGIdeas conference) so lets hope they can outwork their vision for the Wii better than a powerpoint presentation. Lets not kick the ewok though 'till we get to know it a little better!

GooberMan

4 years ago

You know, I've been trying since last year to get the team speaking like Wookies. How can you be a big Star Wars fan if you can't speak like a Wookie?

Annihilation

4 years ago

LeonJ wrote

Any game on the Wii will have scaled down graphics. At least this will keep the storyline that George Lucas has contributed to.

DrTim wrote

I would think a system like that will severely drop the speed of combat.

Either way, I have an Xbox 360 so bring on the sweet graphics

Puddingfork

4 years ago

I met the guy who is doing the script for this game a few months ago
Unless there is another Star Wars game being developed in Australia
I'm not going to hold my breath for this though

drinniol

4 years ago

They manage Rebel Strike on the GameCube - and despite it's failings, it looked fantastic. There's no reason to blame the Wii hardware if it looks bad (on its own merits, mind you. Anyone comparing it to the 360 or PS3 version is just trying too hard to diss the Wii).

LeonJ

4 years ago

^ Not blaming the Wii for the graphics, I'm pointing out it's mainly a port with a add-on motion sensing controls. Like almost all the 1st generation Wii games.

I was seriously hoping for a built-up-from-the-gound light-saber game.

drinniol

4 years ago

Good point. Still - I'd take a downscaled 360 game over an upscaled PS2 game anyday

Frozencry

4 years ago

Lightsaber combat = awesome.

Lack of CPU power for Euphoria = not awesome.

Dracusis

4 years ago

I know one of the artists working on the PS2 version of TFU at Krome, the 360/PS2 version is being done by Lucasarts, so if Krome are doing the Wii version they will most likely leverage the PS2 assets they've already created.

Which would make sense, but I'm not sure how well that will translate to the Wii. The PS2 version of TFU is, so I've heard, mostly done.

Jaws

4 years ago

I agree with LeonJ.. although its good news to have a lightsaber title on the Wii, I was excited at the prospect (published earlier) of an exclusive lightsaber game for the Wii. I hope that LucasArts will still cross that bridge.