Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 08:42
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 4
Some small awkwardness with the controls is evident with some of the more complex force moves, but picking up and choking a Wookie before flinging the hapless victim across the virtual stage is a lot of fun.
Industrial Light & Magic have collaborated on the production of cut scenes for the game, bringing some satisfying motion capture and cinema style lighting and camera angles to each frame. Using something called CloneCam actors have been mimicked to a masterful level for each crucial story telling scene.
Fast forwarding through some spoiler cut-scenes to the game proper, wherein the player takes control of the ‘Secret Apprentice’ we get to see the technology that LucasArts are showcasing in this release.
Firstly the DMM (Digital Molecular Matter) is shown off, different materials such as wood and huge metal blast doors react realistically to impact and blaster fire. The now ubiquitous use of the Havok physics engine comes into play along with the LucasArts licensed use of Euphoria artificial intelligence.
Driven by Euphoria, Storm Trooper opponents will grapple for a hand-hold with any suitable material as they are whisked into the air by a player delivered force attack. In this way DMM, Havok and Euphoria combine to give a realistic playing arena to explore.
It looks impressive, though the sound of a Storm Trooper going ‘Whoa!’ as he is dragged into the air is a little atmosphere destroying, and the everyday combat AI of opponents was not given too much chance to impress during the presentation.
There are God of War style button mashing boss battles, including a pretty impressive take-down of a monstrous Rancor.
