Cons:
Turns into hack'n slash
DLC was not available on all platforms
Physics engine varied from platform to platform
Not a very good force upgrade system
Starkillers grunts and moans
May the Fourth be with you! Mando here and this is State Restored. In today's load state we take a look back at Star Wars: The Force unleashed. Get your lightsaber ready as we hit lightspeed for this review. Press Y to load. Here. we. Go.
Synopsis:
Darth Vader's secret apprentice, known as Starkiller, is sent on a mission to hunt and kill the few remaining Jedi. But a cruel twist of fate, the manipulation of his master and the guidance of a Jedi leads him on a path that will forever change the galaxy. (Credit)
If you are going to make a Star Wars game it better be done right. As a fan of the film series I expect at least a nod or cameo of the characters I've come to love. Star Wars:TFU got at least this right. I haven't played a Star Wars game that was as immersive as this one. Star Wars:TFU sets you in the role of Starkiller (AKA Galen Marek) Darth Vader's secret apprentice. After the bad ass opening where you get to play as Vader himself you set out on your mission to destroy the remaining Jedi in the galaxy. Sith will be Sith though and you are betrayed, sending you on your true journey. Continue to walk the path of the Darkside or crossover to the Lightside.
Gameplay
Playing as a sith apprentice was fun to a point. Using abilities such as force lighting and saber throw really gave you the idea of what it was like to control a powerful Jedi. Also being able to upgrade these powers was a great touch. You could see how powerful Starkiller actually was as you unlocked new combos and force abilities (Force choke followed by saber throw was awesome). The problem here was...repetitiveness. The game simply becomes a typical hack 'n' slash even after gaining some of the cooler force abilities. They try to mix it up a bit and add some QTE's and finishers but it does get old after a while.
You do however visit some familiar places during your missions. Felucia, Coruscant, Cloud City, Kashyyyk (and in the Wii version you visit the Jedi temple as seen in episode 3) are all very well done. There is a lot of familiarity when you visit, mostly because you've seen the movies a time or two.
Graphics
If you've played the game on different consoles the graphics will differ. I owned the Wii and Xbox 360 versions and you could easily tell a difference. There also was a negative impact on gameplay as such. The physics engine for the Wii made some stormtroopers fly around the screen like a ragdoll sometimes even glitching them. Other versions made using the force push and repulse seem flawless.
Controls
The Wii version stood out amongst it's more powerful competitors with it's control scheme, giving the player more direct control of Starkiller and his abilities. Using the Wiimote as the lightsaber and the nunchuck to control force abilities really gave you those powers you really wanted as a kid.
Playing on the Xbox360 pushing buttons to control force powers was just as impressive, maybe more so. While you could control Starkillers force powers with the Wiimote using force lighting to start a tie fighter engine was pretty damn cool and only on the next gen consoles at the time could you do this.
DLC
I never got to purchase any DLC for this game but there was a version released called The Ultimate Sith Edition, where you play as Starkiller if he joined the Darkside. The tagline for the this version was "What if the Darkside won?" Starkiller is the Emperor's Sith assassin and is dispatched on a few missions where we see such canon characters as Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Luke Skywalker himself. Each mission see's a victory for the Darkside crushing the rebel alliance. There's some kind of pleasure in punting a jawa into the side of a sandcrawler. Good times.
Although a bit outdated this game is still fun to play. If you want a good Star Wars game to experience this is definitely one of them. Even after having to listen to Starkiller sound like smugglers are packing his prison purse everytime he takes damage.
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What are your thoughts? Do you love this game? Do you hate my opinion? Do you wish Han would've used ANY OTHER measurement than parsecs? Leave a comment at savedstateheros.blogspot.com, hit us up on twitter @savedstateheros, or send an email to saved
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Hang with me next time as we press Y to load another state.
