Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (rated M; available on Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Nintendo Wii and DS and now on the
) Star Wars: The is already the fastest-selling Star Wars video game of all time.
In less than its first week, LucasArts was crowing that more than 1.5 million customers around the world had bought a copy, making it also the fastest-selling LucasArts game in its 26-year history.
Earlier, the demo broke download records with over 2.3m for the 360 and PS3. It's the company's first internally-developed title for the next-gen consoles - a collaboration with sister company Industrial Light & Magic.
But is it the best ever Star Wars game?
It sparkles impressively with its widescreen, high-def graphics (especially on my 360 copy) and Havok Physics. Physical objects react realistically using Digital Molecular Motion (DMM) - for example the forces of gravity on a rolling boulder and plants and trees moving when you walk through them.
The physics engine is certainly very realistic and capable of impressing the most cynical reviewer. NPC's can be picked up and will act in more human ways ensuring the game does not play the same every time, this is thanks to a new behavioural simulation engine dubbed "euphoria". Though there isn't much of that evident whilst your opponents are held in limbo by your extraordinary force powers.
In the Star Wars timeline, the game sits somewhere between the third and fourth episodes. You start on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk, making your way through planet after planet of gorgeous detail. You play the bad guy, Darth Vader's secret apprentice, dispatched by the Sith Lord to hunt down the last of the Jedi, which survived the post-Clone Wars purge.
On exotic planets, you fight rebels and Imperial forces. The lightsaber is fun, especially once you unlock new moves, and master a few powerful combo's, but bring out the Stormtroopers because zapping enemies using the Force has never been better.
On gameplay, there are some hitches. Level design could have been a tad better. Unfortunately, you get the feeling early on that you can't just roam where you want to, even though the levels are vast. Open-ended levels are becoming commonplace in many games.
There are some technical glitches. Targeting can be imprecise, and the odd camera angles frustrating during boss fights. Some of the battles can become a bit repetitive but a good place to work on your combo attacks. It's a short game lasting about eight hours and you probably won't want to play it a second time.
So your average overseas review so far gives it a 7 out of 10 despite massive features developed for the new generation of consoles.
The core of the problem is probably deeper than any of those frustrations with the police of the game. Star Wars fans, who grew up with the early classic movies, are hankering for the good old days. It is hard to swallow the realisation that even with the might of LucasArt's newest technologies, the golden empire will never strike back.
A
Los Angeles Times
story probably
summed up the feelings of many fans
: "Most of the things that make up the Star Wars universe these days - movies, TV shows, toys and video games - are lacking the magic that made the original trilogy of films so incredible. Gone are the spectacle and awe. Instead, we get halfhearted disappointments (such as the current
Clone Wars
animated movie)...Unleashed isn't a miserable game. It's great fun to use the telekinesis of the Force to create a big mess. It's just disappointing that this couldn't be the one product that finally sets the Star Wars universe right."
To be fair, there have not been any really revolutionary Star Wars games but we have played them because we love the historic Star Wars theme. And sci-fi gamers have new universes to explore with titles like Mass Effect and Bioshock which further divides interest.
If you're a Star Wars fanatic, with all the collectables you'll be compelled to buy this - as millions already have. Just don't expect to be totally blown away.
The big question remaining: Will Unleashed bring a historic look into the Dark Side and Force a move to the big screen?
MadGamer rating: 7.5 / 10
Visa and Mastercard push back.