STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED

[Eradicator30]

http://media.ign.com/games/image/object/823/823667/SWTFU_Xbox360boxart_160w.jpghttp://media.ign.com/games/image/object/823/823668/SWTFU_PS3boxart_160w.jpghttp://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/image/object/885/885367/SWTFU-WIIboxart_160w.jpg

About This Game
This entry in the Star Wars saga casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice", unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In it, players will assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. As its name implies, The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force by taking full advantage of newly developed technologies that will be seen and experienced for the first time anywhere in videogaming.
ESRB Rating: T for Fantasy Violence
Genre: Action

Also Available On: PlayStation 3 (http://ps3.ign.com/objects/823/823668.html), Wii (http://wii.ign.com/objects/885/885367.html), Nintendo DS (http://ds.ign.com/objects/885/885368.html), PlayStation Portable (http://psp.ign.com/objects/885/885369.html), PlayStation 2 (http://ps2.ign.com/objects/885/885370.html), iPod (http://wireless.ign.com/objects/142/14267758.html), iPhone (http://wireless.ign.com/objects/142/14267759.html)
Release Date: September 16, 2008
MSRP: $59.99

General Features

During the period between Episodes III and IV, players hunt Jedi in the role of Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice.
Unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice's four core Force powers - Force push, grip, repulse and lightning - throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos.
Examples of unleashing the Force in ways never thought possible: The Secret Apprentice won't just Force push enemies into walls - he'll Force push enemies through walls. The Secret Apprentice won't just Force grip foes to throw them aside - he'll Force grip them in midair, zap them with lightning, then drop them to the ground to explode like a bomb.
In addition to new adversaries created just for the game, such as fugitive Jedi and Force-sensitive Felucians, players will also confront and associate with familiar faces from the Star Wars films, including Darth Vader.
Visit locations such as Episode III's Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and the floral Felucia, the junk planet Raxus Prime, plus an Imperial TIE fighter construction facility.
Decisions made by players throughout the game will determine the path of the story, including multiple endings that will rock Star Wars continuity as they know it.
The Force Unleashed is LucasArts' first internally developed title for next-generation consoles, and it represents the first in-game collaboration of talents and technology between LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, two companies now finally under one roof at the new Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio district.
The Force Unleashed debuts Digital Molecular Matter from Pixelux and euphoria behavioral simulation from NaturalMotion Ltd.
LucasArts is preparing an unprecedented promotional effort around the launch of The Force Unleashed, encompassing a full line of toys and game-based action figures from Hasbro, as well as a full publishing program from Dark Horse, Del Rey and Palace Press.

jLxR7EByc4w

[The GWD]

I'm hard.

[Face]

it'll suck

[STDSkillz]

Demo to be released sometime before September.

Link (http://forums.lucasarts.com/thread.jspa?threadID=133574&start=15)

[The GWD]

it'll suck

There was a dude fighting a rancor in that vid. Fighting rancors = suckage?

It must suck to live in your world (http://forum.gorillamask.net/group.php?groupid=6).

[zero]

yea...it also must suck to be able to control just about every outcome within the world

[Eradicator30]

New awesome vids:

Trailer (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38410.html)

Mission Cinematic (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38395.html)

Massacre (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38400.html)

Massacre Part II (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38402.html)

Massacre Part III (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38404.html)

Massacre Part IV (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38406.html)

Massacre Part V (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38408.html)

[Fletch]

God damn I want this game. Star Wars games have always been hit or miss, but my hopes are high for this one.

[Change]

Demo out on the 21st.

[Le Goat]

D/L'd the demo this morning... I must say, I had a fucking blast. They weren't lying when they said EVERY FUCKING THING will be able to be effected by the force. I sat in the intiial corridors for a good 5 minutes throwing shit around and busting out the windows and watching shit fly out. The moves all seem fluid and dynamic. The ability to pick up a fucking TIE Fighter and throw it is amazing and various other things I forgot right now...

If the game is longer than 15 I just might have to buy this one.

[zero]

my pants are wet and sticky

[Black_Sun]

I am still hard from playing the demo today because of the sheer awesomeness of this game. I have played it at least 5 times, and every time I do, I a new combo, another cool attack. This game is going to be the best star wars game to date. Hands down.

[Will-Kill]

Either this comes out on PC or it will suck.

[zero]

i didnt even know the demo was out.


EDIT: downloading it right now!

[Ethix]

I love it. I can't wait to play the full game.

[Le Goat]

Me either...

Once you go into the TIE Fighter plant (just after the hanger guys) if you notice a little beam that goes over you and connects to the railing next to the edge of the walkway... break that beam from the handrails and push it out to were the TIE Fighters hit it as they fly by. It's lulz for a bit. That's one hell of a nice touch.

Also, I had no clue they were using the EUPHORIA Engine! Fucking hell I love it. Nearly every (if not all) death's unique.

[Fletch]

Me either...

Once you go into the TIE Fighter plant (just after the hanger guys) if you notice a little beam that goes over you and connects to the railing next to the edge of the walkway... break that beam from the handrails and push it out to were the TIE Fighters hit it as they fly buy. It's lulz for a bit. That's one hell of a nice touch.

Also, I had no clue they were using the EUPHORIA Engine! Fucking hell I love it. Nearly every (if not all) death's unique.

Haha, I did that same thing. If you can do that type of shit throughout the whole game I may be playing this for years.

[Kerjack]

The game is fun, but I'll play the whole thing for the story because it looks tits.

[svtdriver]

Definitely a game worth getting. I tried the demo, also. It made me and myself happy. Force lightning kicks ass, and throwing TIEs doesn't get much better. Then, splitting an AT-ST in two with a combo to crown it all off pretty much makes it worth it in my book.

[Eradicator30]

Godammit why was it so short...

[Change]

Demo was amazing!
I'm getting this for sure.

[Le Goat]

It was short cuz it comes out next month. On my bday... Woot.

[RedBEARD]

I played the demo last night and spooged myself like the rest of you guys apparently did...But the whole time I couldn't get over how similar this gameplay is to that of:

http://s.foto.radikal.ru/0704/a5/8550a6bf6a44.jpg

[ShitBreak]

So without going through all the responses, the demo is pretty bad ass? I downloaded it but have not played it.

Is it worth taking a chance on, even if I'm not the biggest star wars geek?

[hatepoppy]

shut the shit up and play it. way i hear it, it's GTA + Darth Vader. WHATDOYOUWANT!?

[RedBEARD]

Is it worth taking a chance on, even if I'm not the biggest star wars geek?If you like hack & slash combat games at all, you'll enjoy this. Hell, I don't see how you wouldn't enjoy this period if you're any kind of avid gamer.

[ShitBreak]

I CANT PLAY IT YET, I'M AT WORK!!!!

[hatepoppy]

I CANT PLAY IT YET, I'M AT WORK!!!!
loser.

[The GWD]

I finally downloaded the demo, and HOLY FUCK am I excited. It surpassed my expectations. Taking on the At-St, wielding that sort of awesome force power.

September 16th couldn't come soon enough.

[Change]

The trailer at the end of the demo almost gave me a joygasm.

[Le Goat]

I cant wait to control a fucking destroyer with my hands

[The GWD]

I can't tell you guys how much fun I've been having in this demo killing everybody, save for one guy. Force-picking him up, and tossing that motherfucker into everything.

Watch as he tries to grab onto shit, takes wild shots at me, bang him into the walls leaving dents...this rules. They really didn't half-ass this.

[Face]

so you're saying I should download this, is that what you're saying?

[The GWD]

Only if you enjoy pleasure.

[Face]

and if I don't?

[GreyFox1382]

I agree, this game fucking rules, just picking shit up and throwing it around is awesome. Seems like you can pick up nearly everything. I was able to destroy a tie fighter that was flying by by throwing an explosive crate at it.

[Face]

OMG!

[bpb]

I had this awesome move where I picked the guy up and threw my saber at him. It lodged in his stomach and you can see him trying to pull it out. Then I threw him to the side and I started dashing towards a trooper and as I got two steps away from him, the saber landed back in my hands and I hit him with sword slashes with the lightening effects. I wish I had a camera on it. It was something like out of the movies.

[zero]

this demo has surpassed any of my expectations i can't believe how freaking awesome the force powers are.

[Le Goat]

I can't tell you guys how much fun I've been having in this demo killing everybody, save for one guy. Force-picking him up, and tossing that motherfucker into everything.

Watch as he tries to grab onto shit, takes wild shots at me, bang him into the walls leaving dents...this rules. They really didn't half-ass this.

I enjoy picking a guy up and moving him toward another group of guys. If you get im close enough he grabs onto a guy and you can throw them both. Also if you get him close tnough to a crate he'll grab onto a crate and you can watch him struggle/slip off as you push him farther away. It's fucking awesome.


also, if you want, you can force grab a TIE fighter as it's flying by. It blows up though.

[RedBEARD]

I'm asking this because I haven't followed the development of this game whatsoever - but I'm assuming that your powers increase as you make your way through the game? As in you're able to sustain the shove/lightning/etc. for longer periods with increased experience?

[Philip Lombard]

Yeah. I leveled up during the demo. Fucking awesome.

[Le Goat]

I'm asking this because I haven't followed the development of this game whatsoever - but I'm assuming that your powers increase as you make your way through the game? As in you're able to sustain the shove/lightning/etc. for longer periods with increased experience?

Yes. If you watch the clip after the demo ends you notice the apprentice dragging down a destroyer with his force. Also, if I'm not mistaken, we get to play as Vader. Though I might be thinking of another game...

[zero]

Yes. If you watch the clip after the demo ends you notice the apprentice dragging down a destroyer with his force. Also, if I'm not mistaken, we get to play as Vader. Though I might be thinking of another game...


I know you have the option of either killing vader and siding the the alliance or siding with vader and siding with the republic but i dont know about playing as vader

[Mr. Brown]

Yes. If you watch the clip after the demo ends you notice the apprentice dragging down a destroyer with his force. Also, if I'm not mistaken, we get to play as Vader. Though I might be thinking of another game...
The first level of the game you play as Vader and go to the Wookie home planet. It's where you find the child that becomes Starkiller (the apprentice)

[Le Goat]

Yup, sounds right.

[The GWD]

The first level of the game you play as Vader and go to the Wookie home planet.

Also known as Kashyyyk, nerd.

[zero]

I really hope that loading screen that shows up every time you go into the options menu isn't in the final cut.

[Face]

so I played the demo, I was satisfied... pretty fucking short though

[Mr. Brown]

Also known as Kashyyyk, nerd.
haha

I wish you could kills some damn ewoks and/or whatever Jar Jar's people were.

[Black_Sun]

I agree, this game fucking rules, just picking shit up and throwing it around is awesome. Seems like you can pick up nearly everything. I was able to destroy a tie fighter that was flying by by throwing an explosive crate at it.Troopers work too, plus they're more fun to toss around. I tossed a storm trooper into the cockpit of a TIE and watched them both explode and throw wreckage all over. I love this game. The demo is way too short, but I guess leaving you wanting more is the idea. I've already told my boss I'm cutting out right before lunch on the 16th so I can go pick up a copy and spend the afternoon drinking beer and playing it.

[Mr. Brown]

I really wish it was rated M so body part would go flying. I know it has to be sell able to a large audience but it would be so bad ass to see that. Also most times jedi are fighting it's against bots so you can se parts flying. This demo has you going against troopers and one AT.

[Jason]

Can't wait

[MDiver01]

exellent post!

[ShitBreak]

Ok, so how the fuck do you beat the AT? I didn't play for very long, but I kept getting killed by the AT. I wanna see the videos you guys are talking about at the end.

[Le Goat]

Ok, so how the fuck do you beat the AT? I didn't play for very long, but I kept getting killed by the AT. I wanna see the videos you guys are talking about at the end.

You can't be the fucking AT? Jesus CHrist man, it's a bit tough but come on...it's a fucking cakewalk on easy, so go play it. I only play it on Hard


Use the lightning to stun it and then jump attacks to strike it while stunned then dash out of the way, dodge, dash back in and lightning...repeat...

[ShitBreak]

Ah...i tried playing it the first time on hard. That was my problem.

[Face]

You can't be the fucking AT? Jesus CHrist man, it's a bit tough but come on...it's a fucking cakewalk on easy, so go play it. I only play it on Hard


Use the lightning to stun it and then jump attacks to strike it while stunned then dash out of the way, dodge, dash back in and lightning...repeat...
or toss shit at it, half dozen crates from a reasonable distance, then get up close for the kill and it goes down easy

[bpb]

I usually jump near it and hold down the attack button which makes a slamming attack that gets the AT to stutter for a bit, giving you enough time to jump up and do it again.

[The GWD]

or toss shit at it, half dozen crates from a reasonable distance, then get up close for the kill and it goes down easy

That's how I roll.

[Le Goat]

or toss shit at it, half dozen crates from a reasonable distance, then get up close for the kill and it goes down easy

Fucking pussy.

[Face]

Fucking pussy.
I killed it melee style once, fucking thing kept stepping on me

[The GWD]

Yeah. Pussy style is most effective.

[Black_Sun]

I always kill it with the melee style. I love the way it looks when you slice the sucker in half, and the 2 troopers fall out of it.

[Mr. Brown]

I toss troopers and crates at it. Lighting strike and melee. I can't wait to be so powerful that I can grab an AT and toss it at something else.

[Warden]

Well Demo sold me. That was fucking amazing. You really feel just so vastly more powerful than anything you are facing. The AT-ST at the end was kick ass. Little button combo work and you fuck that shit UP.

[Mr. Brown]

played the demo on PS3 and I am sold. Does this game have online mode?
No online for the ps3, but I believe the Wii version will have one. This doesn't need an online feature. It looks like it's going to be able to be a solid single player game.

[Warden]

Also shows that Lucasarts can make a great game again. If George "Fuck you Fanboys" Lucas would set his ego down and retire, the Star Wars universe could expand with some amazing stuff.

Course, that won't happen.

[Mr. Brown]

with this and a new Knights of the old Republic it could get on track again.

[The GWD]

No online for the ps3, but I believe the Wii version will have one. This doesn't need an online feature. It looks like it's going to be able to be a solid single player game.

Wait, no sort of online for PS3? How sure are you? Almost every game nowadays has some sort of online gameplay.

[Le Goat]

I'm sold if this pushes over 20hrs gameplay, but in all honesty, I can't decide between this and BIA:HH

[ShitBreak]

BIA:HH

Bears in Armor: Handjobs Hooray?

[Mr. Brown]

Wait, no sort of online for PS3? How sure are you? Almost every game nowadays has some sort of online gameplay.
Yeah I'm pretty sure. And as I said not every game has to have online. Bioshock, nope. And it was the ish.

[Black_Sun]

Also shows that Lucasarts can make a great game again. If George "Fuck you Fanboys" Lucas would set his ego down and retire, the Star Wars universe could expand with some amazing stuff.

Course, that won't happen.George Lucas had final say on a lot that went into this game. From what I read he was a major part in production.
Wait, no sort of online for PS3? How sure are you? Almost every game nowadays has some sort of online gameplay.The Wii version is getting online because it has a special duel mode that the other versions don't have. This game is supposed to be somewhat open-ended so it doesn't really need online play to give it replay value.

[Fletch]

Does anyone know if you start out with all these powers or if they are earned throughout the game? If you have to start with only like 1 power it's gonna suck for a while.

[Mr. Brown]

You start with some basic and you level up. As long as your not being stingy with it your gonna have all the powers when you need them.

[Le Goat]

If you need more proof that video games are reaching the same league as movies these days, just take a look at Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the upcoming action game from LucasArts. The Force Unleashed will get almost the same full treatment as a movie, given that it will be supported by a wide variety of ancillary products, including a novel, action figures, a miniatures line, a comic book, and more. However, at the heart of all this is a game that will let you play as Darth Vader's secret apprentice, a budding and powerful young Sith tasked with hunting down the last of the Jedi knights. LucasArts finally unveiled the gameplay to us recently, and this is looking like one of the most exciting--and easily the most beautiful--Star Wars games ever.
The Force Unleashed will fill in a lost chapter in the Star Wars saga: basically, what happens between Episode III and Episode IV? This is a period when the Jedi were scattered and hunted down, the Galactic Empire consolidated its hold on the galaxy, and apparently Darth Vader was secretly grooming an apprentice to help him one day overthrow the Emperor. You'll play as that apprentice and go on missions for Lord Vader, but your existence must be kept a secret, so this will give you an opportunity to battle rebels, Jedis, and any unlucky Imperials who happen to get a glimpse of you. The developers consulted heavily with George Lucas on the story and characters, to the point that what happens in The Force Unleashed is now considered Star Wars canon.
If the goal of The Force Unleashed is to make you feel like an incredibly lethal killing machine, then it looks as if the designers have accomplished that. The first level shown to us has the apprentice running through a TIE Fighter assembly station, which a rogue Jedi has taken over. The apprentice let loose with a variety of powerful Force powers and lightsaber moves to dispatch the enemy. Force push doesn't just knock an enemy back; it can hurl a group of enemies through the air, as if they've been hit by an explosion.
Then there's Force grip, which lets you grab someone or something and dangle it in the air. This is a great demonstration for the game's Euphoria technology, which is available only in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game. Euphoria basically gives all enemies self-preservation instincts, so they'll act and behave as if they want to stay alive. If you dangle someone in the air, they'll try to grab something--anything--for dear life. This isn't a scripted movement, but it's all completely procedural and dynamic. Moving on to more powers, there's good old Force lightning, but instead of simply being able to zap bad guys, you can also infuse your lightsaber with lightning to make it more powerful. Later on in the game, you can use lightning and Force grip to create living bombs. Just pick up an enemy using grip, charge him with lightning, and then hurl him at a target to create an explosion.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/024/reviews/933156_20080125_embed001.jpg (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews#) You are Darth Vader's secret apprentice. Have fun with that. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews#)

One of the ideas in the game is to let you be as creative as possible when it comes to combat. You're not just slashing at enemies and toying with them using your Force powers. There's a fair amount of environmental interaction in the game. Most levels will have a mechanism of some sort that will provide you with a steady supply of objects that you can manipulate. For instance, in the TIE Fighter factory, fresh TIE Fighters come off of the assembly line. You can then use your Force powers to grab them and hurl them in someone's faces; or, even cooler, use grip to hurl someone into the path of an oncoming TIE Fighter. On a junkyard world, magnetic lanes keep a steady supply of junk flying overhead. On that same level, you might need to use lightning to power up engine turbines, which will then fly off and smash into objects. Execute a cool kill and the game will switch to a payoff camera that gives you a cinematic view of the action.
There will also be environmental destruction, thanks to the game's Digital Molecular Materials system. Basically, this means that objects will behave like you'd expect. If you use Force powers to bash in a metal door, the metal bends procedurally. (One neat thing is that you can bash a door open, go through it, and then use Force powers to bash it closed, thus preventing enemies from following you.) If you use those same powers against organic material, such as giant alien mushrooms, they'll bend but won't break, creating a cool swaying motion. Meanwhile, glass will shatter, whereas wood will splinter, and so on.



The next stop on our demonstration was the planet Felucia, which was briefly seen in Episode III. This is the alien world full of giant purple mushrooms, as well as inhabitants that are Force aware. This means that they're not only resistant to Force powers, but some of them may also have powers of their own. Then there are the giant rancors, the two-legged monsters of Star Wars, one of which was seen in Return of the Jedi. Battling the rancor will require you to use those lightning bombs previously mentioned, but if you whittle away at its health enough, you can perform one of many vicious kill moves, which range from jumping atop its head and stabbing down through its skull with your saber to just hurling your saber through its eye. (When it opens its mouth to scream, you can see the blade jutting into its throat.)

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/024/reviews/933156_20080125_embed002.jpg (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews&page=2#) Your Force powers are potent and varied. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews&page=2#)

The final level that we were shown was Raxis Prime, the junkyard world. The entire opening of the level is pretty dramatic once you realize that you're standing atop a crashed Star Destroyer; if you look down off of the ledge, you'll see the distinctive, buckyball-shaped shield generators on the bridge superstructure. The goal on Raxis Prime is to take out a Jedi Master named Kazdan (which is not a reference to Empire Strikes Back screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan). The trick is that Kazdan has created Force golems, which are basically Force-animated constructions that are highly resistant to your powers. The battle with Kazdan himself will be a challenge.
Although it sounds as if you're going to be a complete and total badass throughout the game, the designers say that the theme of The Force Unleashed is that of redemption. Does that mean the secret apprentice will discover the error of his ways and change sides? We'll see. It'll be interesting to see how it all pans out, and how his relationships with the other characters in the game change. For instance, there's Juno Eclipse, an Imperial pilot who serves as the apprentice's pilot aboard the Rogue Shadow. She's also the love interest. The apprentice is voiced by Sam Witwer, who was seen in The Mist, Dexter, and Battlestar Galactica (in which he played the pilot Crashdown). Eclipse is voiced by English actress Nathalie Cox.
The Force Unleashed will ship for the PS3 and Xbox 360, but other versions are also planned for the Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS, and PS2. Though the underlying stories will be the same across all platforms, there will be differences between most of them, as well as unique content designed for the platform. The PSP version will feature historical battles from the movies, whereas the Wii version will have some levels that aren't in the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions. In the Wii version, we saw a Jedi temple level, but more importantly, LucasArts demonstrated how the Wii Remote is used for lightsaber attacks while the Nunchuk is used for Force powers. The designers also showed off duel mode, which is a head-to-head battle where two players can pummel one another using Force powers. Duel mode will have nine arenas and plenty of unlockable characters, and the goal is to kill your opponent three out of five times. It can make for a fairly wild battle, considering that players can kick in temporary invulnerability, or use a Force unleashed boost to double their Force powers. A timer runs down throughout the entire affair, and if it ends, the game goes into sudden-death overtime.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2008/024/reviews/933156_20080125_embed003.jpg (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews&page=2#) The Force Unleashed gets unleashed this summer. (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/news.html?sid=6185151&mode=previews&page=2#)

All the versions of the game we saw look spectacular. The Wii version obviously doesn't look anywhere as good as the PS3 or Xbox 360 games, but compared to other games on the platform, it still looks busy and fluid. LucasArts showed off the Xbox 360 game during the demonstration, and it's easily one of the best-looking 360 games that we've seen. The colors and visuals are just bright and sharp and eye-catching, and the level of detail is extremely high.
Unfortunately, LucasArts wouldn't discuss multiplayer for the 360 or PS3, but there's still plenty of time before the game arrives, so we expect more updates in the near future. The Force Unleashed will ship for all platforms simultaneously sometime this summer, and this is definitely one game that you should keep an eye on.

[Will-Kill]

God dam it, when is the PC version out?

[Le Goat]

The funny thing about the character is I fucking recognized him. I was absolutely shocked at how detailed and faithfully rendered his face was to the actor voicing him. The kids a great actor on the show's I've seen him on, especially BSG. I cant wait

[Mr. Brown]

I need to know how long the game is gonna be. I don't want to be able to blow through it in like a one week rental.

[Le Goat]

I need to know how long the game is gonna be. I don't want to be able to blow through it in like a one week rental.

Bioshock took me only 16 hours or so but it was the best 16hrs i've played, ever.

I don't think this will be anything near Bioshock, but the supposedly 'open ended' (or at least, semi-open ended) environment should open a few more hours up

[Mr. Brown]

Well I'm back in school this semester and working like 50 hour weeks so game time is limited. I don't want to be able to blow through it i n like one weekend. I know it's got replay, but with so much shit coming out I'm a one play through and I'm moving on.

[Le Goat]

I have a feeling it will be a multiple ending type of game.

[Mr. Brown]

Yeah I hope so. I just want the story to really feel like it's part of Saga

[footsies]

I'm worried about the Wii version - most other games have not measured up.

Here is a cool link about the dude that manages all of the star wars storylines.

http://www.wired.com/entertainment/hollywood/magazine/16-09/ff_starwarscanon

[hatepoppy]

SPAM. GTFO.

[InterningIsiah]

I played the Demo and was sold when I sliced the AT-ST in Half. This will be a purchase for me after I'm done with Madden and Fifa

[Clownbaby]

I've played the demo about 15 times since i downloaded it. I hope it's not really short and a waste of 60 bucks

[Black_Sun]

I'm about 3/4 of the way though the novelization of the game. (yes, they wrote a book about it) But if the book is any indication, this game is going to kick some major ass.

[Eradicator30]

Tycho has played through the game:

We're going to talk about The Force Unleashed now, so if you don't want to know things about that, you should leave. I might be able to save you some money, though.
I really liked The Force Unleashed in its largely theoretical demo form, but the finished product (at least, on the 360 and PS3) is significantly harder to love. Significantly, as in, I doubt very seriously that Gabriel will complete it. I have done so, culminating both of the game's moral vectors, largely to verify my prior assertion: that they were prepared to deliver a significant, substantial middle chapter. This has absolutely occurred. And if you can find someone else to play the game while you watch, you might be approaching the optimal scenario.
When you are in relatively large environments, amorally doling out grievous injuries with the help of an omnipresent Force, it really seems as though everything is going to be alright. As one cuts a swath through the universe, you gain "levels," which confer a kind of currency on three distinct tracks of development. The guy you played in the demo is some kind of Star Pimp - you have a long way to go before you reach those heights. Generally, you can do things how you want to and still succeed.
Things go less well at virtually any other time. Battles against "boss" characters often feel strangely disconnected from the rest of the game, outside of the skills and techniques you've developed. Strange sound bugs, long falls that don't kill the player but trap them forever outside of the game. Rude, abrupt cutscenes that ransack narrative pace. Pulling a Star Destroyer into a Space Station should have been one of this year's best moments - but the way they chose to model this in gameplay completely ruins it. An odd feedback mechanism combined with a frankly inscrutable user interface and zero help for the player turns the moment to ash.
Much as been made of their materials simulation and physics technologies, and depending on the material being simulated, the results can be extremely compelling. Other things, like Vader's cape let's say, in the first five minutes of play, just look wrong in a way that animation by hand could never achieve. The material this cape is made from - I'm hesitant to call it cloth - takes its orders from some bizarre parallel dimension, flexing and jiving in time to some secret music. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, it's more good than bad, but there are moments where we glimpse a radical interpretation of physical law.
I look on the time I invested with affection, but only in the final accounting - and even then, you and I would almost certainly weigh things differently. The art is far, far beyond anything they've done to date - the environments, the costumes, everything aches with heft and purpose. They've presented a story here that really, honestly makes you think about Star Wars. It is very rarely Star Wars of the jubilant, all-ages, "Jub Jub!" variety. If you've seen the Clone Wars movie, you know it to be a greasy tendril to snare young people. This is not. This doesn't feel like the sometimes controversial Expanded Universe. There are moments where it feels like new Star Wars, something I would never have thought possible.

[RedBEARD]

Is this guy writing a game review or an english term paper? Jesus Christ...

[Warden]

One of the only things about Penny Arcade that I dislike. He uses far to many fancy words to explain simple things.

[Black_Sun]

Honestly, after reading that I still don't know if he actually like the game or not.

[Stax]

Ohshi, I didn't realize the release date was this close!

[Black_Sun]

Ohshi, I didn't realize the release date was this close!
Every day I wake up I have a little orgasm thinking about how close we're getting. I think I'll just explode on tuesday.

[Stax]

Yea, I definitely got off GMF as soon as I posted that and drove down to the Gamestop here at Storrs to lay down a preorder.

[Archangel]

It's still a week off here, but my pre-order at Amazon is safe and secure.

[Eradicator30]

Starting to sound like a rental....

39955

IGN gave it a 7.3.

[MDiver01]

hmm sounds disappointing. IGN is a fairly good reviewer too. I had such high hopes for it.

[ShitBreak]

Yeah, i might check this out as a rental or something. The reviews are not very good, and only 6-8 hours of gameplay is fucking stupid.

[}{arlequin]

i have yet to start playing mass effect but i'm going to get this one, no matter how long or short the game is

[Ocelot]

I expected this game to blast us out of the water!

Tim5nU3DwIE

It still seems fun.. probably only because it's Star Wars, and you can almost never go wrong with star wars.

@}{arlequin (http://forum.gorillamask.net/member.php?u=63): Mass Effect was amazing, and I can't wait for the sequel.

[Archangel]

Well, hang on, how much hours did God of War have?


Edit: Still, I've put the pre-order on hold for now. If it's that short, I'll buy it in two months for half price on eBay or something.

[Fletch]

Damn, I was really waiting for this, not so much anymore. I'll buy anything Star Wars, but like some of you guys said maybe in a couple months at a lesser price. For $60 I expect a little longer game and more replay value.

[Change]

Fuck the reviews.
I'm still gonna buy it.

[Stax]

Fuck the reviews.
I'm still gonna buy it.

[PWalk]

I'm about 3-4 hours in and I have no complaints so far. I rented it and it's worth every penny of the $7 BBV charged me for it.

[Le Goat]

I'm about 3-4 hours in and I have no complaints so far. I rented it and it's worth every penny of the $7 BBV charged me for it.

um wut... it comes out tomorrow...

[Le Goat]

GS gave it a 7.5 (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/starwars2007/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review)

A big chord and brass fanfare signal the opening of Force Unleashed--the same intro that sparks excitement in millions of fans the world over every time they hear it. If you're interested in this game because you're looking for familiar science-fiction pageantry and a classic good-versus-evil tale, you'll find it delivers both. In fact, The Force Unleashed represents a real step forward in storytelling for the famed franchise, delivering a story both more intimate and more powerful than the entirety of the second film trilogy. Sure, it offers its share of melodrama, but it's tempered by emotive voice acting and expressive character models, and together they provide the emotional heft long missing from the movies. The drama is further enriched by a vivid art design that breathes life into the franchise's long-sterile visual exterior.
Leading the narrative charge is Galen Marek, aka Starkiller, Darth Vader's secret apprentice. The Clone Wars have ended, and Vader orders you to hunt and destroy the last of the remaining Jedi. The story, as brief as it is (the game ends at around the eight-hour mark), contains multiple twists, features some friendly and not-so-friendly faces, and is both explosive and remarkably intimate. You'll interact with Vader, of course, but Starkiller spends most of his time with an android called PROXY and his female pilot, Juno Eclipse. Sharing the details of the trio's adventures would spoil too much, so suffice to say, you'll grow remarkably fond of Starkiller and his companions, and their moral conflicts carry a lot of weight.
If you're interested in The Force Unleashed for more than its story, you'll find that it's a mixture of pure fun and pure frustration. The fun wins out, mainly because when it runs on all cylinders, you truly feel like a powerful Dark Jedi, using a variety of force powers and lightsaber slashes to rain death upon rebel and imperial foes alike. You can thank the game's robust physics engine for those thrills. You can grab any number of objects and characters using your force grip power, and when combined with other skills like force lightning and force push, you can fling stormtroopers into Wookiees, crush Felucian tribal leaders under boulders, and smash AT-STs with scattered barrels. In open environments, these mechanics deliver--big time. Grabbing a Rodian from a distance, electrocuting it, and flinging it into a crowd of shock troopers; hearing your lightsaber hum and whir after you whip it toward an innocent Wookiee; or just drop-kicking a whining Jawa: These moments may very well cause you to yell with glee. This is a game that will make you grab your friends to show off your potent skills.
Unfortunately, developer LucasArts often fails to string these amazing moments together long enough to keep the momentum going. The impressive physics work quite well in huge, open areas like a TIE Fighter facility. The action gets problematic at almost any other time, however, and the hyperactive physics become almost as much of a liability as an asset. This becomes more apparent as Force Unleashed's targeting foibles come more clearly into focus. The targeting is loose, which makes it incredibly easy to grab something other than what you intended, and even easier to throw it at something other than into its actual mark. In the most claustrophobic areas, this might mean flinging an exploding barrel into yourself, throwing it into nothing at all, or targeting a completely immovable item--which then begs the question why the game let you target it with force grip in the first place. And as is the case with many third-person action game cameras, getting in a smaller space means claustrophobic camera angles that cause you to lose perspective of the bigger picture. This is more of a problem here than in most games, though, because Force Unleashed chooses a target not based on the direction the player is facing via the camera, but which direction Starkiller is facing. That's fine in large environments, when there is more camera maneuverability. Otherwise, it becomes a frustrating paradox of ideas: In confined areas, Force Unleashed requires greater player precision, but makes it more difficult to be precise.

[Archangel]

Damn, I was really waiting for this, not so much anymore. I'll buy anything Star Wars, but like some of you guys said maybe in a couple months at a lesser price. For $60 I expect a little longer game and more replay value.

$60? Lucky bastards. We'd have to shell out €70 here - that's what, $100?

[Claydon]

$60? Lucky bastards. We'd have to shell out €70 here - that's what, $100?

yah but in the EU all kinds of lame consumption taxes are attached to anything and EVERYTHING EU consumers buy.

[Archangel]

And yet, nobody here votes for some idiot because they're afraid of the other guy raising taxes by a few dollars.

[STDSkillz]

Picked up the game without a hitch tonight at Wal-Mart. Got through the first level, have had fun so far. Took a second for me to get used to the controls. I'm hoping I can beat it fairly fast so I can get back to the whole, you know, school thing.

[MDiver01]

school?

[Stax]

Just put it down after powering through the first three missions. Pretty fun, IMO, though I will agree with the reviews that the targeting is a bit annoying. But, at least thusfar, seems like there's loads of stuff to keep the combat fun.

[The GWD]

Anybody else playing this through? I want a few opinions before I shell out $60.

[Stax]

Anybody else playing this through? I want a few opinions before I shell out $60.

I'm going to play it smore tonight after Jeopardy.

[chipsahoy]

I've played it on the Wii

I played through 5 missions last night. I didn't find the targeting to be to difficult to master. The force moves you get (or that I got before I stopped) do make the combat quite fun.

My son loved it though the controls are a little difficult for him right now seeing how he's 6.

The story so far is pretty good.

so far I'd give it a 8.5/10.

[Black_Sun]

Yeah, i might check this out as a rental or something. The reviews are not very good, and only 6-8 hours of gameplay is fucking stupid.Most of the reviewers are fucking idiots. I sat and played for about 8 straight hours yesterday, I haven't finished the game yet. Actual playtime is quoted at 10-12 hours going straight though. I didn't just plow right through, I took my time, and tried to uncover as many secrets I could find. Most levels I barely got half the unlockables. I don't know what game most reviewers were playing, but I have no problems with targeting, and if you actually use the combos and do more than button mashing the getting pinned down by a group of enemies isn't much of a problem.

I'd give it at least an 8.5, maybe even a 9. My only complaint is that there's not as much destructables as I wanted. The DMM is underutilized.

[dantino]

It's definitely a rent in my book. Not worth sixty bucks.

[zero]

So far loving every minute of it and if you're an achievement lover this game would be a great buy. The game and story line are excellent if you actually take your time and do the training missions and go for all of the achievements and unlockables you can crank out at least 12 hrs easy.

[allyourbase]

I'm really interested in this one, and I would love to know more about the story. I can deal with the game play issues if the story makes it worthwhile.

[The GWD]

So I was gonna save my money and buy Brothers in Arms: HH, but I knew I'd regret it all my life if I didn't buy this one.

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed. It's fun, but there are definite flaws.

[minsolo25]

played a couple of hours on it, game is fun as hell. hoping my experience is longer than 6 hours on it. got a deal when i bought it.. toys r us was giving back a 20 dollar gift card with the purchase of this game. sale ended last saturday though.

[STDSkillz]

I just finished it. Took me about 9.5 hours, and that was with me dying a fucking lot. I guess I suck at video games these days, but I did play it on the second hardest level.

Anyway, I loved mostly everything. The story and the action were awesome. The targeting was fucking annoying sometimes, but as I got better with the controls, it wasn't as worrisome. The boss battles were amazing, wish they happened more often.

Maybe not quite worth $60, but I'm still glad I bought it. Fun, fun time.

[The GWD]

I like how the main dude's woman has a british accent. Is there a Great Britain in the Star Wars universe? A whole planet of British people. OMG, I bet they smell terrible. Hey-o!

Anyways.

I nearly popped a geekboner when PROXY became Darth Maul. But I'm on the fight with Vader right now and it's hard as fuck.

[Ethix]

I bought this game yesterday and it's pretty fun.

I've just entered the Sarlac pit and I hate it. I can't wait to finish this level.

[Ethix]

Good game overall. After playing through it, I can see why it wasn't rated higher, but it was still pretty fun. I liked the story even though it wasn't quite a Kotor style epic and I thought the gameplay was great.

I'd give it a solid 8.0 rating

[IdiotBrain]

great for PSP.

Don't have it for anything else.

[Da Raider]

Bought it on Friday and played it most of the weekend. Pretty damn good. My main issue is the game tries to turn you from the cool Sith side to the panzy "good" side. I wanted to kill rebels and after a handful of missions you start trying to kill the evil empire.

[STDSkillz]

Downloadable content in the near future:

LucasArts plans to release new characters and a new single player campaign set in the Jedi Temple as downloadable content for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed in coming months, Force Unleashed executive producer Haden Blackman told Kotaku.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/2008/09/custom_1222777209724_172.31.2.41-image2.jpg
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/2008/09/custom_1222777214448_172.31.2.41-image19.jpg

Link (http://kotaku.com/5056648/new-campaign-characters-coming-to-the-force-unleashed)

[Cal]

I nearly popped a geekboner when PROXY became Darth Maul. But I'm on the fight with Vader right now and it's hard as fuck.

This could be me, but wasn't he in part 1 and not part 4?

[Warden]

Bought it on Friday and played it most of the weekend. Pretty damn good. My main issue is the game tries to turn you from the cool Sith side to the panzy "good" side. I wanted to kill rebels and after a handful of missions you start trying to kill the evil empire.

Cause the Empire fucks you.

Also, I see me some Luke Skywalker in them screen shots

[The GWD]

Holy fuck.

I didn't realize this game had a multiple fucking ending. In the area when you run towards the emperor to stop shocking the shit outta Kota, jump off the railing and you play out an alternate ending where you finish off Vader. May not make much sense to the grand scheme of things...but it's still pretty fuckin' cool.

[Face]

killing the star destroyer has to be one of the most frustrating video game moments I've had in my entire life

fucking tie fighters

[STDSkillz]

Yeah, they definitely should have only brought out one or two sets of tie fighters, and then let you pull the fucking thing down. I think I went through five or six sets of those dumb things before I could pull the destroyer down.

[Face]

only 5 or 6? jesus, I went through at least a dozen, took me over an hour to take them out fast enough to keep ahead of the star destroyer... ruined what should have been the coolest moment in the whole fucking game

[Face]

fuck the emperor, seriously

[Da Raider]

I got back to the Death Star and have to align the circles for the large green ray or some shit. I couldn't figure it out and I haven't played in nearly two weeks. Any suggestions for the passing that level?

[STDSkillz]

Just grab the rings with the Force and push/pull them until they lock in place. It's not too bad. And don't get burned by teh lazerz!!

[Ethix]

And make sure you're standing on the platform when you do it. You won't be able to align it if you're standing down on the bottom level. Also, once it's aligned, a bridge extends that you have to jump across.

[Change]

only 5 or 6? jesus, I went through at least a dozen, took me over an hour to take them out fast enough to keep ahead of the star destroyer... ruined what should have been the coolest moment in the whole fucking game

Damn it took me 2 fucking hours.
they really fucked that part up, i got zero joy from that part.