Star Wars: The Force Unleashed bridges the gap between Episodes III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. For the less Star Wars-versed among us, TFU takes place after Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader but before Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star. Players assume the role of Vader's secret apprentice, known in the game as Starkiller. The offspring of a Jedi killed by the Darth Vader, Starkiller is raised from childhood to do the bidding of the Dark Lord of the Sith. The apprentice is accompanied on his travels by PROXY, a robot whose primary mission is to ambush his master, and Juno Eclipse, the beautiful and talented pilot of The Rogue Shadow. Over the course of the game, players will discover how the Rebel Alliance was formed, with several well-known Star Wars characters making appearances. You will also see various new and old Star Wars locations, including the inside of the Death Star and the junk world Raxus Prime.
The Force Unleashed's story is engrossing and entertaining, and there are genuine moments of humour, joy and sadness. TFU's narrative is told through cut-scenes between levels. Each segment is excellent in both visual and audio presentation, and simply by watching, you become attached to the characters and experience their same struggles with morality. Indeed, fans may be forgiven for thinking they were watching one of earlier Star Wars films instead of playing a game.
With the Force as your ally, anything is possible.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed isn't the first game to equip players with an energy blade and the Emperor's infamous blue lightning. Previous titles such as Jedi Knight and Knights of the Old Republic have taught us how safely ignite a lightsaber and propel an enemy off a ledge with the Force. However, TFU is supposedly the first game to show us what the Force is really capable off. To some extend, TFU succeeds on this point. There are the obligatory Force manoeuvres, such as pull, push, choke and lightning, but it is in the scale of these powers where the game really shows its potential. For example, the apprentice can haul different objects around the room, levitate several enemies in the air at once or send everyone flying backwards with a massive Force blast. Enemies can be also defeated by throwing them onto vaporising energy shields or electrical currents. Indeed, it's always fun to drop a screaming Stormtrooper off a balcony.
The Force gameplay is entertaining, and thankfully, the control scheme is robust enough to cater for all the powers at your disposal. However, while players won't tire of constantly using the Force, you may sometimes forget some of the different Force combos. Further, TFU doesn't require too much contemplation to beat. Force powers can be just as devastating on all types enemies (despite the occasional protective shield), and you will constantly find yourself resorting to the same tactics, especially during boss fights. Taking out enemies is generally a test of endurance, and while creativity in your approach can help, it certainly isn't obligatory.
Another issue with The Force Unleashed is the targeting system. The game automatically detects if you want to pick up an item or person by placing a blue border around the object (after the camera is aimed at it). While the targeting system works most of the time, the instances when it doesn't are extremely annoying – if the game fails to target the enemy properly, your Force power will be directed at nothing. On occasions, the game camera can also get caught behind your character, but this only occurred a few times during our initial play-through.
In addition to your massive arsenal of Force powers, players can also rely on their trusty lightsaber to defeat hordes of Imperial soldiers. Basic attacks are performed by tapping the X button in the Xbox 360 version, while advanced manoeuvres are executed using more elaborate button combinations. Powerful moves have a devastating effect on enemies, but attempting to pull them often becomes a ferocious button-mashing exercise. That said, mindlessly slashing away at the enemy with your lightsaber still generates the same sense of satisfaction.
The colour of your lightsaber may eventually be changed.
By completing primary and secondary objectives, players are given points to upgrade their Force powers, lightsaber moves and character attributes. Secondary objectives range from destroying TIE Fighters to earning a certain amount of Force points. A number of small square boxes, called Holocrons, are also hidden throughout each level. Depending on the type of Holocron you find, you will either be rewarded with a temporary boost in power or something more permanent, such as a lightsaber crystal or costume. Force powers are quite devastating at higher levels, and upgrading your character and lightsaber can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Hence, there is real incentive to spend time exploring each stage.
Enemies in The Force Unleashed are a cut above the level of intelligence displayed in previous Star Wars games. Stormtroopers can actually shoot straight (no, we aren't joking), and clusters of enemy units can be very overpowering when they group together. There are various types of Imperials, mercenaries and robots to cut your teeth on in TFU, but players may find the task of dispatching foe after foe repetitive. However, unlike many other games, each conflict feels as though it has a purpose, and there is no endless re-spawning of enemies.
Whenever you defeat a boss character in The Force Unleashed, a quick-time event plays out, whereby you have to quickly press a specific sequence of buttons. Players are reward with a montage of animations if they successfully complete the task. However, you are usually so focused on what button is being displayed on the screen that you sometimes miss the end of the fight. Thankfully, players are allowed to repeat the process until you get it right. A particular quick-time event towards the end of the game is quite different, requiring players to move each thumbstick in a specific direction. While we won't reveal exactly what enemy the apprentice is battling, it can be said that this quick-time event is one of the best we have ever encountered. Indeed, the sequence is even one of the highlights of the entire game.
While all of the worlds in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed have a unique look, levels are very linear in design. A few Force puzzles are thrown in to mix things up, but they aren't very too complicated to solve. Further, by keeping an eye on the mini-map, you'll seldom get lost. Each of TFU's levels retain an 'epic feel' (especially the journey through the Death Star) and stay true to the Star Wars property. Nonetheless, a little more variety in the path-finding would have been welcome.
The Force Unleashed authentically captures the feel of the Star Wars movies.
Since The Force Unleashed was first announced, LucasArts has been touting the revolutionary benefits of two new technologies included in the game – Euphoria and DMM (short for Digital Molecular Matter). Euphoria is designed to make artificial intelligence react dynamically and realistically. In TFU, Euphoria may be seen at work when a Stormtrooper levitated in the air grabs for something to hold on to. The result of Euphoria is that while the game has somewhat of a more natural feel, it is not the revolution we were hoping for. The second creation, Digital Molecular Matter, is responsible for effects such as splintering wood and shattering glass. Watching how realistically metal is bent when the apprentice punches open a door is extremely impressive. However, though DMM gives TFU a realistic edge, like Euphoria, it still has limitations and does not fully live up to the hype.
Graphically, The Force Unleashed delivers. The backgrounds bring the environments to life and aid in conveying the cinematic nature of the game. Textures are rendered expertly, character and environment modelling is first-class, and the polished animations make you feel like an acrobatic Jedi. Art direction should also be commended, as the overall look of TFU is fantastic.
Sound is another of the game's strong assets. Lightsaber and blaster noises are conveyed as they are in the Star Wars movies, and explosions and other audio effects create a sense of urgency. Voice acting is solid, and while the replacement cast for the classic Star Wars characters don't sound as polished, the original voice cast – including Sam Witwer, who players Starkiller in both voice and appearance – is superb. The soundtrack, which consists of John Williams' original Star Wars music, adds the final touch to the game. The theme created especially for The Force Unleashed is also worth mentioning, as it too is a pleasure on the ears.
The Force Unleashed is an excellent supplement to the vast library of Star Wars games. The game authentically captures the look and feel of the Star Wars movies, with an intriguing story, polished visuals and excellent audio. Though not too deep or robust, Lightsaber and Force-based gameplay is still vastly entertaining. New technologies like DMM and Euphoria are not as ground-breaking as previously thought, and the secret apprentice's adventure seems a little short at around ten hours. Nonetheless, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will satisfy fans of George Lucas' saga and anyone who has ever dreamed of duelling with a lightsaber.
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