Got what it takes to be a Dark Jedi? Thanks to a trio of technological breakthroughs, the next big Star Wars game is truly a force to be reckoned with.
We watched this all come together (or more appropriately, come apart) over the course of a full gameplay demo. First we witnessed the Dark Jedi tearing up a Tie Fighter construction facility, at one point even using the imperial war machines themselves as massive projectile weapons. On the organic planet of Felucia, we fought off force-sensitive creatures by turning our lightsaber into a lightning rod, eventually defeating a huge albino Rancor using a God of War-like finishing move. We blasted through junk golems and even took down rogue Jedi Kazdan Paratus on the junk planet of Raxis Prime, witnessing new features like force and lightsaber "locking" during the ending boss battle. Very impressive stuff.
However, we should point out that only the 360 and PS3 versions are getting the technological trio treatment. The Wii, PSP and PS2 versions are being developed by Krome studios, while the DS is handled by Nspace. To make up for the lack of Euphoria and DMM, the Krome games will feature exclusive levels and the Wii version gets its very own 'Duel' mode, essentially a Jedi fighting game featuring nearly 30 characters from the Star Wars mythos.
There's been a great deal of speculation over exactly how the Wii version will operate; by virtue of the wireless Wiimote, fans have hoped that this would be a true lightsaber simulation. Well, it looks like you're have to put those Star Wars kid moves back in the closet, because that's not how the Wii works. You do use the remote and nunchuck to perform lightsaber swings, but it's not a one-to-one experience. You do not stand in front of your television and wield a lightsaber in first-person, hacking away at Wookies and blocking laser shots like a gifted swordsman. It's essentially the same game as the PS3 and 360 games, but utilizing common Wiimote gestures to swing the saber. Disheartening? Only if you had your heart set on a lightsaber simulation, because frankly, the Wii version looks and feels a lot like its more powerful brethren.
And that's saying a lot. Between its revolutionary marriage of cutting-edge technologies and its deliciously diabolical premise, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed seems destined to take the franchise in a seriously destructive new direction. Jedi training doesn't officially begin until the summer, but we'll certainly learn more about it in the coming months.
More from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
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Posted: 24 Jan 2008
- Release: 1 Apr 2008
- ESRB rating: T (Teen)
- Publisher: LucasArts
- Developer: (Not Specified)
