Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 17 September 2008 06:32
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
Vroomm, vum, vroom! Filling the gap story wise between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV:A New Hope comes the latest cross platform LucasArts crafted Star Wars game. Its good to be bad in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Hanging out with our good buddy Darth, players take control of his secret apprentice, aiming to rise to the top of the Dark-Side heap.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
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Developer
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LucasArts
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Publisher
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LucasArts
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Rating
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M
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PSP, PS2, PS3, DS, Wii, Mobile, Reviewed on Xbox 360
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Right from the start, as the familiar notes of John Williams’ memorable theme music cascades from the TV speakers, you realise another Star Wars immersion is ahead. The opening level of the game, playing as Darth Vader, is an interesting introductory way to show off the environments and the game-play. Though seeing Darth Vader jump like a flea (just like
Soul Calibur iV ) is somewhat immersion destroying.
Visually, LucasArts have nailed the 15 environments in the game. There are, of course the obligatory space station corridor levels which could easily be very samey – as they have in similar games before. But when they include giant set pieces like the tie-fighter factory they unmistakeable Star Warsyness takes these locations up as notch.
Then there are the planet side locals, from dense forests, to the noxious junkyards of Raxus Prime. The fungus filled planet of Felucia to the invaded and devastated Wookiee world of Kashyyk the backdrops are varied and magnificent. The player and enemy models likewise are high quality and look fantastic on screen.
There are many firsts with this release. To begin with this is LucasArts first next generation console foray. It also makes first commercial use of two new LucasArts technologies. Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) mimics the real world effects of different substances, so wood cracks, glass shatters and so on.
Euphoria is the system that gives the computer controlled characters supposedly intelligent reactions to their surroundings. So, Stormtroopers will flail around looking for balance on the edge of a precipice, duck for cover or grab for a railing or ally when falling.
This technology works pretty well, and in conjunction with the Havok physics engine, provides a nice chaotic world to battle in. Though there are some issues that this chaos brings during game-play that we will touch on later.
