Full Review for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed by PhilXZ

Introduction

Lightsabers, blasters, the Force, Jedi, Sith. All these come to mind when we hear Star Wars. The movie franchise created by George Lucas has grown into a massive story collection loved by many. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is Lucas Arts' newest installment to the Star Wars Saga.

Being the first Star Wars game for the Wii, aside from LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, we can expect many things from it. Set between Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, and Episode IV, A New Hope, the story follows Darth Vader's secret apprentice, codenamed Starkiller. This game will make you feel like a real Sith.

Graphics

Graphics-wise the game is well built, but not perfect. The game still carries many functions from Knights of the Old Republic 2. The level of graphics isn't as high in detail as for example Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but just about right for good gameplay and gaming enjoyment.

The cut scenes could use work. If you mind frozen faces and cold staring eyes, then you'll be bothered, because that's what you'll get. The facial movement and expressions aren't on a good level. Except for the eyebrows and mouth, nothing on Starkiller's face moves with great amount or detail. It will seem strange at first but you'll get used to it after watching two or three cut scenes.

As far as in-game graphics go, nothing is extremely good; an average, ordinary graphics setting that you see in most games. The only things extremely detailed are the explosions and effects of clashing lightsabers an Force powers.

Sound

The buzzing of lightsabers, whooshing sounds of the Force, and booms and bangs of guns and explosions are all there.

The Force Unleashed has a great amount of sound detail in it. When you destroy metal, you'll hear metal being destroyed. When you clash swords, you'll hear the clash. You'll even hear the contact sounds of lightsaber against lightsaber and blast bolt against blaster bolt. Basically, when you hit something that is supposed to be hit you'll hear sound in the collision.

When you use your Force Powers, you'll be able to hear that whoosh or an explosion. The Force Lighting technique only gives off a bit of a 'Zzzzzz'; not anything strong like in the movies.

Too bad you can't hear any collision when you push your opponents into a wall. When performing Force Slam you'll hear a boom but no man-to-ground collision sound effects.

And for relief, yes, we'll always hear that famous Darth Vader Theme when we see the Sith Lord. Everything is pure old Star Wars music that you'll remember from the movies. I mean what's a Star Wars game without the original music?

Gameplay

Gameplay, not so good. The story is original and to the point, but Story Mode is short. So be ready to finish the game within 6 hours.

Force Unleashed doesn't have that free-roam option that many of it's predecessors had. It's a strict mission mode game, where you are given a planet, complete a missions, cutscene, next mission. Within the Rouge Shadow, Starkiller's personal ship, you can zoom around to select various options. You can view your Force Powers and buy/upgrade them by using Force Points that you gather by completing your missions. You can upgrade you lightsaber with color crystal, power crystals, and hilts that you find in missions. You an enter cheat codes, view history of encountered characters and planets, and check out studio artwork that you'll get by gathering Jedi Holocrons throughout the story's missions. You can also put on various costumes or be a different character like Han Solo (Yes, Han will wield a lightsaber) or Asajj Ventress, all that can be unlocked by playing the game. Playing the game has it's rewards.

Once beating the game you can only restart the entire story with all your achievements and extras unlocked. There's no going back to Rouge Shadow and zooming through choice areas. The only purpose to restarting is to collect any missing items. It's a real pain, but if your a die-hard SW fan go collect those remaining Holocrons, crystals and hilts, and costumes that you missed.

Among Story Mode there are also two other modes, Duel and Tutorial. In Tutorial Mode, you can practice Force Powers and Game Basics to improve your Jedi Skills for the story and against friends.

Duel Mode is kind of a party mode. It allows you to play against one friend where one round can be up to 1-5 KO's to win. Time Limit is either 3 minutes or Unlimited. You can play Starkiller in his different outfits and various in-game Jedi/Sith and some others from the movies.

Too bad you can play 1P vs. CPU. Yeah that's right, no computer to fight against. If you're alone, you'll be forced to either learn some stuff in the Tutorial Mode or replay/continue Story Mode. A big disappointment in which Lucas Arts messed up big time. There are also no Wi-Fi capabilities which, if included, could really enhance gaming experience.

The ability to have a close adaption to the actual lightsaber was granted though. Player can swing the WiiMote in different directions and the character would follow the combo in the game. The, in this case, 'WiiSaber' fulfills a long awaited anticipation of many Star Wars fans. But be ready for a lot of wrist-action! That's the safest way. You can swing your arm around if you want for enhanced real-life-to-game experience, but be prepared to wake up with a cramp in your arm the next morning, and this comes from experience!

The Nunchuck being your Force-Hand, it controls all the Force Powers by the press of a button or a simple movement. But beware, just a simple nudge forward with your Nunchuck and you could release an unwanted Force Push.

The gameplay isn't the best and could honestly use some imporvement, with the best addition being the 'WiiSaber' technique and even that isn't very great.

Lastability

You'll finish the game under 6 hours like I mentioned before, so it's no long-lasting fun. After unlocking everything, it becomes a simple two-player Party game in Duel Mode and even that joy won't last long. Long story short: One you get tired of the game it will sit around for a long time without being used!

Overall

Overall the game is a mix of averages. Sound and Graphics are the only things that make a good cut here. Gameplay barely makes it and Lastability is a big thumbs down. Even though the game became the quickest-selling Star Wars game yet, it's still a disappointment. Lucas Arts followed up with a bad game compared to some of it's great predecessors like KOTOR and Battlefront.

Unless you love Star Wars a lot, you won't find this game enjoyable for long. Let's hope the next game won't be such a disappointment!

Final Score: 72%