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Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS2/PSP)
The PS2 and PSP versions of The Force Unleashed are close siblings, and I recently enjoyed playing nearly-finished editions of both. Each follows the same bounty-hunting apprentice story and settings as the 360/PS3 game, although specific level design occasionally differs. Unlike 360/PS3 game, the PSP version gets two-player duel-mode fights against a local gamer, and it also includes five "historical missions" pulled from the movies. The PS2 version includes the full camera control of the 360/PS3, but not those extras.The PS2 and PSP games felt slightly scaled back from the 360/PS3, with fewer destructible objects or enemies in any one moment. But both maintained a fluid sense of battle, maintaining the visceral thrill of the Force powers. With the game's September 16 release, PS2 and PSP gamers will find a kinetic action title suited to their systems.%Gallery-26953%
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (DS)
The DS version of The Force Unleashed tries to cram all of the light-saber-rage from the consoles into a handheld package. You'll be disappointed if you directly compare the two. I recently tried a late version of the DS game, and I didn't think enough of the system's strengths and weaknesses affected the design. The DS game gives a 3D perspective of the action on the top screen with adequate visuals, but the chunky graphics steal some of the excitement. And since the camera can't be repositioned, you'll be regularly attacked by people just off-screen. Worse, player attacks are issued by tapping on icons, causing hunting-and-pecking through battles.Since The Force Unleashed is about going nuts with explosive superpowers, that sense of excitement got lost by scaling everything down to fit the DS. A wireless, four-player, local battle mode might make it a fun game to play with friends, but I wasn't able to test that feature. I hope the final game will grow on me after its September 16 release. But the time I had with this portable edition left me cautious.%Gallery-26952%
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Star_Wars_The_Force_Unleashed_Wii_Impressions_Unleashed'; For good and bad -- or should I say light and dark -- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for Wii is clearly a Wii game. Side-by-side with the PS3 and 360 versions, the Wii graphics disappoint, and the complexity and frequency of enemies feels scaled back. But the Wii motion controls are regularly interesting, mapping many of the game's controls into gestures. The simplest ones feel great, like punching the Nunchuk forward to do the Force-push.After recently playing late-development versions of all four game editions--360/PS3, Wii, DS, and PS2/PSP--I think the Wii game holds up as well as any of them. I had fun throwing enemies, shooting them with lightning, and hitting them with the lightsaber. And while the Wii holds its own, I'm mildly concerned that the final game could be repetitious, just cutting down waves of attackers. Hopefully the many different attacks, and Wii-specific two-player duel mode, will keep the game interesting.%Gallery-20587%
Unleashing the Force is getting easier
IGN took in a preview session of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and found that it hasn't been abandoned in favor of Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels, the new hotness in yet-to-be-released lightsaber games. In fact, work is still being put into the controls, to the game's benefit. The control scheme uses motion controls effectively, delivering the experience of slashing in a direction and seeing the big shiny sword on screen do the same thing. "It was easy to throw characters into one another, lift a baddy up into the air and then saber throw," said Mark Bozon. "The lock-on camera worked great for bosses, and even the 'tilt to the side' block with the Wiimote worked every time we wanted it to." Pointer integration has been added as well, allowing players to point and click around the environments.They were able to test the controls in several single-player levels (including a Jedi temple) as well as the Wii-exclusive one-on-one fighting mode. That mode is also the subject of a spate of new videos, one of which can be seen above. Knock him out the box, Luke, knock him out!
LucasArts cuts hit Force Unleashed team after all
LucasArts may be "proud of the work" that members of its internal Star Wars: The Force Unleashed team put forth on the upcoming title, but Joystiq has learned that it nevertheless laid off a number of key personnel on the title earlier this month during its company-wide downsizing.We spoke with one now ex-member of the team, who told us that the layoffs came just as work on the game was wrapping up. Our source, who wished not to be named, is one of several long-time members of the LucasArts talent pool let go, many of which had worked on titles including X-Wing, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango. Should The Force Unleashed live up to the hype surrounding it, and a sequel is ordered, the current team size is said to be insufficient to handle such an undertaking. Given the fact that LucasArts stressed a continued commitment to internal developement following the layoffs, it will just need to re-staff for such a project – in which case, it has already let some top talent go – unless it intends to outsource to an external developer.
Lucasarts talks story in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Lucasarts is pretty serious about wanting you to like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Considering all we know about the title so far, it seems to combine just enough of the new with the old to get fans pumped. The latest attempt at getting you excited for the game is in the video above. It provides more information on the game's story and shows some plot spoilers. If you're looking to go into the game pure, then you may not want to watch.[Via X3F]
The Force Unleashed story video
First and foremost, if you're interested in not having anything at all spoiled regarding the story behind Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, don't watch the video. Just keep reading. If you're actually sane though and really couldn't care less just hit play already! To tell you the truth, our feelings regarding the game are still rather mixed (the gameplay portions of the video still look a bit uninspired) but this clip definitely convinced us that the story is more than just something to skip past. Considering we were already sold just based on the game's tech crap, we're much more excited for the game than we were before.
Third Star Wars character joins Soul Calibur IV cast
The Force is strong with the next installment in Namco's weapons-based fighting series. GameSpot reports that both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Soul Calibur IV will feature Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" from LucasArt's forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed as a playable character.Each console version of Soul Calibur IV will feature one exclusive Star Wars icon: Darth Vader in the PS3 release and Yoda on 360. We'll have first screens of Vader's apprentice in action Soul Calibur-style tomorrow.
LucasArts planning demo for The Force Unleashed
Speaking to VideoGamer, The Force Unleashed Xbox 360 and PS3 producer, Cameron Suey, has said that LucasArts is planning a demo of the highly anticipated stormtrooper torture sim, just in case there are some weirdos out there who aren't sold on playing as Darth Vader. "I'm not certain about the specifics, but we definitely want to get this game out into people's hands," said Suey. "There are people who are excited about it, who are going to play it right away, whether they play it (the demo) or not."Star Wars: The Force Unleashed hits, chokes and levitates just about every platform in the galaxy on September 16th in the United States, September 17th in Southeast Asia and Australia, and September 19th in Europe.
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed duel mode (Wii)
At the Nintendo Media Summit, LucasArts showed off the Wii-only duel mode in its multi-platform game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. These fights require two human players -- there's no AI option -- but otherwise feel almost like they could have shipped as a stand-alone game. I swung sabers against fellow writers and was impressed by the amount of depth in the matches. Each player picks one of 27 characters -- including about 11 costume-variations on the single-player apprentice -- and the fights take place in nine Star Wars locations. The characters include a young Luke, Darth Maul, General Grievous, and others that don't related to The Force story. And their moves are all about the same as in the single-player game, so Luke uses the lightning strike alongside the "dark" characters. The match locations impact the the fights, with players instantly losing a life if they fall into the sarlacc pit, Smash Bros.-style. Otherwise, Hoth, the Jedi temple, and other locations include objects to toss around at each other, giving each location subtle differences. These setting, and deep attacks, counter-attacks, and blocks should add a lot of ways to play these match-ups. This variety makes me anticipate its September 16 release. Plus there's a whole other single-player story to beat. %Gallery-20587%
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed gets multiplatform exclusives
As with any multiplatform release, fanboys will no doubt be arguing about why their respective system is most suitable for LucasArts' latest entry in their midichlorian-infused franchise: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. However, owners of last-gen systems, handhelds, and Wiis wont be left without their fair share of ammunition in the fracas, as this video shows the exclusive content these sometimes ill-respected systems will have access to. We're still a little apprehensive towards the DS control scheme, but everything else fills our wallets with fear -- we may have to buy a few copies of this gem. Fanboyism aside, on which console will you be effortlessly chucking stormtroopers through the air come September 16?
The Force Unleashed ... unleashed on September 16
After the strain induced by writing such a complex and infinitely witty headline, we think it would be best to stay on target for the rest of the post and merely deliver the facts. LucasArts has announced that its physics-based jedi sim, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, will arrive on September 16th in the United States, September 17th in Southeast Asia and Australia, and September 19th in Europe. That's the plan and, given our anticipation for the title, we can only pray the publisher doesn't alter it any further. Developed internally for the Xbox 360 and PS3, The Force Unleashed has players becoming Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and, as the title vaguely alludes to, unleashing the force. Other "equally enthralling" versions of the game releasing on the same date include the Krome Studios-developed Wii, PS2 and PSP titles, as well as a DS game from n-Space. You'll be able to spot exclusive footage on SpikeTV this month, but rather than subjecting you to watching it for hours on end, we've posted a schedule of the game's appearances after the break. %Gallery-1662%
The three physics engines of The Force Unleashed
If you don't feel like watching an awesome, six-and-a-half minute long tech demo of the physics engines featured in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, allow us to briefly summarize the above video -- things are going to move around very fancily in this game. With the Havok engine controlling the movement of objects, the DMM engine regulating what objects are made from what substances, and the Euphoria engine deciding how enemies react to their environment, the game appears to push the boundaries of physics in gaming. Now we just have to wait until its summer release date to find out whether or not the rest of the game is absolute schlock.
More Force Artwork Unleashed
LucasArts released six pieces of new concept art of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Artist renditions of Force Push and Force Electricity Lightning are displayed in very colorful manners and all in all if they can bring the scope and feel of these into the actual game, it will be very promising for Star Wars fans. They also illustrate some of the bosses and Jedi that you will be up against, as well as the environments. Are any of these desktop wallpaper worthy to you?[Via QJ.net]
Force Unleashed to get novel and comic series
Star Wars fans who have been watching our coverage of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be pleased to hear that the game will be getting both a novelization as well as a graphic novel series. It will be written by Sean Williams, who is a New York Times bestseller and has published eighteen novels, including the Force Heretic series, and co-writing The New Jedi Order series. This will give readers additional insight into the storyline taking place between Episodes III and IV than that found in the game. Also, due to the multiple endings possible in Force Unleashed, the novel will be shedding light on the true canonical ending. So, after playing through the game, are you going to hit your local library to read the book?[Via QJ.net]
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed art and videos
Game Daily has 13 concept art images for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed as well as details to add on top of what we reported earlier. Since the subtitle "The Force Unleashed", your destructive character will have at least these four powers at his disposal: Force Lightning, Grip, Repulse and Push. The decisions made throughout the game will have an impact on the ending, which takes a few pages out of KOTOR's book, but that's a good thing. Enviroments will vary from Raxus Prime to a TIE-Fighter construction site, and even Chewbacca's neck of the woods, Kashyyyk. As for the game's engines, we've got some videos for you to have a look at after the break.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the website unleashed also
LucasArts has launched the website for their newly announced Star Wars title, The Force Unleashed. Developed for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Nintendo DS and PSP platforms, the game presents the first active collaboration between LucasArts developers and the film special effects team at Industrial Light & Magic. Putting players into the hooded cloak of Darth Vader's "secret apprentice," the game's events unfold in-between the last rubbish Star Wars movie and the first good one. Judging by the artwork on display, the action will likely feature countless stormtroopers being tossed about like paper dolls and at least one livid jedi throwing a force tantrum. Looks like Tosche Station was out of power converters. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is currently slated for release this November. Check after the break for a video demonstrating some of the technology used in the game. %Gallery-1662%
Next Star Wars game details Unleashed
The latest issue of Game Informer brought forth information on the latest Star Wars game. Titled Star Wars: Force Unleashed, it is set to help bridge the 19 year gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. You get to play as Darth Vader's apprentice, as he wants to overthrow the Emperor and rule the galaxy with you at his side. At the same time, there is a galaxy wide hunt to exterminate the remaining Jedi from existence. Force Unleashed also boasts LucasArts' Eurphoria engine, capable of real-time environmental damage. For instance, when using Force powers on steel, it will dent appropriately. Another example includes a tree either splintering or breaking in two, dependent on the type of impact. You may be concerned that given the title is taking place between the two trilogies that your actions aren't going to have a huge impact, as the events are set in stone. That's not the case, as LucasArts is saying that there will be multiple endings that can really shake up the Star Wars Universe. At least you have a shot of taking down Palpatine before the first Death Star is fully operational. Does this pique your interest, or does any (finished) Star Wars game without the word "Knights" and "Republic" in the title get ignored?[Via QJ.net]
