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Lots Of The Force Unleashed Links Posted By Mike on September 23, 2008
Got a few links for you this weekend pertaining to the game we've all been waiting...and waiting for! See the links and experpts below. September 16th is less than a month away!
"The project began in 2004 when writer and Project Lead Haden Blackman was tasked with creating a new Star Wars game that would harness the power of next generation consoles and feature an original concept that would satisfy both gamers and George Lucas himself.
Pitching the idea of a game that allowed players to really let rip with the power of the Force, the team created an animated pre-visualization video that showed a Jedi laying waste to a squadron of Stormtroopers, before flinging one of them at a passing Tie-Fighter.
?We showed George this video and his reaction was: 'Go make that game!'? recalls Blackman. ?For us that was a really exciting moment, although I was terrified because at that point we didn't have any of the tools or technology to actually build it, which is what we spent the next few years doing.?'
"A game lives or dies based on solid gameplay, but its the graphics and sound that take it from good to great. And there's no doubt that the Force Unleashed is going to end up in the great column. Playing on the Xbox 360, the graphics are gorgeous. The game has a dark feel to it combined with the cinematic of the Star Wars universe. The sound is also dead on from the whirl of the lightsaber to the buzz of a Tie Fighter zipping past."
"After learning the controls, we entered a huge hangar full of TIE Fighters. For kicks, we lifted a piece of equipment and chucked it at one of the ships, causing it to explode. We also snagged a power-up that increased our damage. From there, we surveyed the area and saw that a small battle had broken out between Stormtroopers and rebels; a great opportunity to insert Vader's Apprentice into the mix. We jumped (double jump by pressing A twice, X for PS3) into the action and immediately started killing, slicing through rebels, throwing them across the hangar and stabbing them while they were down. At first, it seemed like the Stormtroopers didn't know what to make of him, but they quickly learned that although the Apprentice was carrying a red lightsaber, he wasn't on their side."
"It sounds like a recipe for yet another repetitive Star Wars romp but as soon as you realize that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is as much about making skilful use of your considerable repertoire of moves as it is about the simple mechanics of clearing enemies and then moving onto the next bunch, the game's true conceit becomes apparent."
"As this magazine?s videogame reviewer and a longtime Star Wars fan, I was so eager to get my hands on an early copy of The Force Unleashed that I considered storming the Presidio. Luckily, however, LucasArts was kind enough to deliver an exclusive preview (for Xbox 360) right to my door. And based on the four levels I was given (about 40% of the finished game), I?m confident that, throughout, The Force will unleash superb graphics and sound for your home theater. What?s more, the gameplay itself is revolutionary in its vivid verisimilitude and unprecedented A.I. ? all in a compelling plot that?s true to the spirit of the Star Wars films."
"The end of the demo was certainly a cool way to finish something. You go head to head with an AT-ST. It seems hard at first, but it?s actually a very easy task. To finish off the AT-ST, you have to punch in a set of button clicks. If you get it wrong, you have to approach the AT-ST and do it again until it?s right. I?m not particularly a fan of this Heavenly Sword / Spiderman 3 punching of buttons as they are displayed on the screen to do something, but what can I do? Some people will love this and others will hate it."
"Consider me sold on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Lucasarts seems to have struck gold and will be delivering a true next-gen Star Wars experience to players. The only question mark that remains is the actual narrative to The Force Unleashed. With it being the first Star Wars video game to be considered ?canon? with the films; it has some big shoes to fill. But if the story provides the epic coupled with the fun of the game-play, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed should be a must buy during this year?s blockbuster season of gaming."
UPDATE #3: A number of new TFU links today. There are just going to be more and more as we get closer to the release.
PocketGamer.co.uk offers up some new screenshots of the mobile versions of TFU. (iPhone & N-Gage) You can also find links here to a two-part interview with the developer's creative director, Henri Roth.
"After only 45 seconds of flailing Wookies around, listening to their terrified? whatever you call those noises that Wookies make, I was completely hooked."
"Being based off a video game, the book is structured similarly. There are ?levels? to the story, where clear-cut missions take place. There are definitely a few surprises saved for the game itself, as the story jumps around a bit, being told from the point of view of two ancillary characters."
More on The Art and Making of The Force Unleashedat Kotaku:
"I've only had a chance to flip through the book so far, but what I've seen impresses. The book is divided up into six chapters that tackle the concept behind the game and early pitches, the story approval process, the characters in the game, the environments, the technology and a run through of all of the game's milestones and how it progressed from greenlight, to alpha to launch."
"Bring on more picture-connecting combo attacks in DS games. It makes the act of executing tricky combos a little simpler for those of us with poor reflexes are faltering memories. It lets a person like me ? who can?t always memorize that XXBY does this move and YYAB does that one ? experience the pleasure of chaining two good moves into a great one."
UPDATE #5: Nine days aways from the release and here are some more links to keep you excited.
WorthPlaying.com offers up their PS3/Xbox 360 Preview for The Force Unleashed:
"Earn enough Force Points, and Starkiller levels up. Leveling up in The Force Unleashed doesn't actually grant you new stats or abilities. Instead, you receive three Force Tokens, a Power Token, a Talent Token, and a Combo Token, which you can then spend to upgrade one of Starkiller's three skill trees. The Power tree is all about Starkiller's Force powers. In this tree, you can improve the effect of his powers or even gain new attributes. You can make lightning strike multiple enemies, gain the ability to charge up your Force Push, or so on. In the Talent tree, you upgrade Starkiller's basic stats. You can choose to spend tokens to increase his health, Force bar, defense or lightsaber damage. Finally, the Combo tree allows you to learn new combinations of Force powers. Until you invest in this, Starkiller can't wrap his blade in lightning or use the Lightsaber Flourish or even do something as simple as throw a lightsaber at a Force Gripped enemy, so this is an important tree in which to invest. Each token works for its respective tree, although the higher ranked the skill, the more tokens it will cost. A simple upgrade to Force Push only costs a single Force Token, while maxing out Lightning can cost a hefty six. The good news is that you can reset your established tokens, but it permanently costs a single token to do that, so you wouldn't want to do it more than once or twice."
"GVK: Blending action with a detailed plot can always be tricky, how have you attempted to create this element, and will scripted events be a part of the game?
HB: Our goal was to tell a compelling Star Wars story in The Force Unleashed, and scripted sequences play a part in that. There are numerous moments where you stumble across something ? perhaps an exchange between two stormtroopers ? that help tell the story, provide context, or just give you a bit of comic relief. We also use both in-game cinematics and cutscenes to move the plot forward, and there?s a fair amount of ?in your ear? dialogue that not only helps clarify mission objectives but also further develops some of the supporting cast. Finally, we have a robust in-game databank that provides Star Wars fans with nearly one hundred entries providing backstory, factoids, and other information on characters, locations, and hardware found in the game."
HDRoom.com gives us "Metacritic's First Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Reviews: Ouch!" (via ClubJade.net) A little more harsh than some of the previews and reviews we've been seeing.
Finally, for now, see the links below for some more concept art at the main site: (via ClubJade.net)
UPDATE #6:Vooks.net provides us with an in depth hands-on preview of TFU on the Wii as well as an interview with lead programmer of Krome Studios Melbourne, Trevor Powell. Click here and see an excerpt from the interview below.
"Vooks: What were some of the main challenges trying duplicate the effects of the euphoria engine over to the Wii version?
Powell: We at Krome already had a lot of our own technology and we had developed our own in-house physics solution so that we could bring the force unleashed to the Wii. We tried to get as much power out of the physics engine as we could by combining our own Collision system with. Combination of scripted events plus real-time simulations and animations we?ve done it in a way where hope that the line between. Most of the time when you knock a character down, if it?s right there in front of your that?s gonna be fully ragdoll simulated using our physics system but say if you knock down a big group of characters some will be animated using pre-set animations and some will use ragdoll, but we do it such a way where you don?t know where that line is, we try to keep that line blurred. We tried to use ?Smoke & Mirrors? and a good combination of scripted events and real-time physics to try and provide that whole experience throughout the game."
UPDATE #7: The main site offers up some more concept art from The Art and Making of The Force Unleashed. Click here for a look at a "Hazardous Area."
And then we have another preview from the Charleston City Paper. "Dropping Tie Fighters on people's unsuspecting heads. Bowling giant crates into crowds of enemies or flipping them into laser containment fields. Hurling lightning from your hands to turn everything into so much scorched toast. (It's worth noting that you could also do some of this stuff as a Jedi in Lego Star Wars too, but the difference in vibe is the difference between a Saturday morning cartoon and a John Woo flick.)."
"GB: We love the idea of PROXY, the Secret Apprentice?s holodroid sidekick. We understand that PROXY can change appearance to ?become? other characters. Can you tell us a bit more about this and how it will integrate in game play?
HB: We really struggled with PROXY initially as well. We didn?t want him to bee too similar to C-3PO, or the other extreme, the villainous droid HK-47 from Knights of the Old Republic. It was actually very hard to write his dialogue without slipping into one of those two characters? voices. Instead we focused on this rather na?ve and (mostly) friendly droid who just wants to please his master, but who doesn?t realize how dangerous he really is or how his central programming might be at odds with what his master really wants. In terms of gameplay, I don?t want to give away too much, but we use PROXY for a few surprise cameos throughout the game?"
"One thing that The Force Unleashed does do correctly is its story. Acknowledged by George Lucas as an official part of the Star Wars canon, The Force Unleashed tells a genuinely compelling and complex narrative that ties in well with the rest of the Star Wars universe. Some of the more hardcore fans will be skeptical about some of plot elements that radically alter the Star Wars lore and, admittedly, there are times when the story tries a little too hard to establish itself as a significant part of the canonical time line. Still, The Force Unleashed is definitely considerably better than some of the other stuff by George Lucas."
UPDATE #9: As we head into the TFU home-stretch, a number of new TFU links have popped up...
FemaleFirst.co.uk look to "Discover the secrets of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" and promote their Sept. 19th webchat with Nathalie Cox (Juno Eclipse).
There are a number of strategy and gameplay videos over at IGN including the new addition "Trick-Out your Saber in The Force Unleashed." (Thanks "Master Devwi")
Last but not least, for now, BorderWatch.com reviews TFU. (Gave it a 7 out of 10)
UPDATE #10: Had to change the name of the post to "Lots Of The Force Unleashed Links" as "Some" links just doesn't seem to apply any more...
The Herald Sun offers up a nice detailed TFU preview here featuing Hayden Balckman and a couple videos.
"There are legions of "Star Wars" fans, the 501st included, who might already be in line to buy The Force Unleashed. All you faithful "Star Wars" fans will be as delighted as I am with the game, although everyone will be disappointed in the lack of online multiplayer. You'll devour it in a frenzy, replaying it now and then like a "Star Wars" movie or a Harry Potter novel, but it won't be a game that you'll play for months on end like a multiplayer shooter.
Like a "Star Wars" film, the production values in The Force Unleashed are cutting-edge. The story is absorbing and important. But most importantly, playing the game is a sheer, visceral thrill. You don't know the power of the Dark Side ... until you try it."
Producer of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of TFU, Cameron Suey discusses the decision not to offer the game on the PC at VideoGamer.com. See Cameron's explanation below. (via ClubJade.net)
"In this case, it just really wasn't feasible. As much as I really understand everybody's concerns and I really understand that people want to play the game on their platform of choice, the truth of it is, the way this game is designed, based around these physics, that are simulation based and very procedural, it would take a very powerful PC to pull them off. This is definitely stretching the Xbox and the PS3 really to the farthest they can go.
"And yet high-end PCs definitely would be able to do it. Traditionally the way you get a game on multiple PCs is you have to scale the graphics down, right? Unfortunately physics, especially procedural physics, it's impossible to scale it and if you did scale it or turn it off or turn it down it would fundamentally change the way the gameplay works. It would just be too limited for us. It was a difficult decision to make but you can't scale the physics."
UPDATE #11:TFU is released tonight at midnight so naturally numerous reviews and articles (including TFN's and Rebelscum's review from Dan Curto) are flooding the good old interweb today...
PS3 / Xbox 360 review from The HD Room with an overall rating of 8.1 out of 10.
"Cheers: -An engaging story, for a videogame -Aside from targeting, fun to use The Force -Euphoria and DMM have bright futures -Nothing like the sights and sounds of Star Wars
Jeers: -Too linear, no multiplayer -Targeting sometimes a nightmare -QTE for bosses -No mind control"
"...the action ? brainless as it is ? is entertaining enough in short doses. And the story alone makes this a must for Star Wars fans. Not a classic then, but Force Unleashed is a solid action game that restores some of your faith in that galaxy far, far away."
"Pros: Unique touchscreen control scheme, decent graphics and the usual amazing Star Wars score and settings. Two multiplayer modes. Cons: Locked camera and direction control issues. Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 84/100; B; * * * out of five."
IGN's PS3 review gives The Force Unleashed a "Decent" rating of 7.3 out of 10.
"Does it deliver? Yes and no. It does enough things right, especially with regards to giving players the ability to wield the Force like we've never seen before, to make it a play-worthy effort for Star Wars fans everywhere, but it does so with a number of missteps that won't easily be overlooked."
Nintendo DS review from PocketGamer.co.uk notices some control issues:
"At least the combat system is fluid and functional, unlike the mechanics of movement. Flowing, responsive controls are a must for any action game, without which combat feels as disjointed as it does here. Either the D-pad of face buttons can be used to move about, which makes it comfortable to hold the stylus in one hand for combat and the other for movement. Unfortunately, the controls aren't at all responsive ? you feel like you have to press down hard on the D-pad in order to get the slightest of movement."
Review from the New York Daily News is positive though doesn't mention the console the review is for:
"High-tech gizmos aside, the game play for "Force Unleashed" was fairly intuitive. Even my young son could effectively manipulate the character through a series of lightsaber tricks and Force attacks. And as the title suggests, this game unleashes the Force in a way that is really fun. There's nothing more satisfying then lifting a jawa in the air and watching him flail about as you send him into a wall or through a window into space.
If I had anything negative to say about "Star Wars: Force Unleashed," it would be that it was a little limited. It's a strict, mission-based game that doesn't allow for much free play. Plus, you only get to play as Darth Vader in one, very short level that you can't revisit like the other missions in the game.
But I guess that's what sequels are for, and no one knows that better than George Lucas."
PS3 / Xbox 360 review from the Wired's Game Blog that's not so positive: (via ClubJade.net)
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed isn't a bad game, but it is a disappointing one. And it's all the more disappointing because you can see, mired in the boring levels and bad cameras, glimpses of fun ideas. Like how you can finish your lightsaber combos with a massive lightning-infused strike once you upgrade that power. Or how you can get Stormtroopers to cling to each other as you levitate them and send them flying off bridges. But these brief moments aren't enough to keep Unleashed out of the pit of mediocrity."
PS2 / PSP review from IGN gives those versions a "Good" rating of 7.5 out of 10:
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a valiant effort at rejuvenating the largely underwhelming Star Wars videogame franchise. Uninspired level design and some tedious enemy battles mar an experience that gives you power over the Force like we've never really seen before. While it's far from perfect, Star Wars fans will find that it's worth playing through simply for its story and the ability to use the Force in fairly awesome ways."
"Put together by LucasArts and Industrial Light and Magic, the idea was to make gamers finally feel like they?re in a Star Wars movie. And by combining amazing graphics, cool cut scenes and a story that you want to unravel, with fast-paced, combo-heavy, all-out-action combat, they have achieved their mission objective. A lot of other Star Wars games have been cool (to me) simply because they were Star Wars games. The Force Unleashed?s just a cool game. It can be a little hack-and-slash (unless you memorise a few of the million combos available), and it is a little easy, but I loved every second of it."
If your a cheat code gamer, TFU cheats for all systems are already popping up at CheatCC.com.
Our friends at the Galactic Empire Network have details of a live TFU webchat happening Friday, September 19th which is the UK release date. (Thanks Shephen!)
Finally there's a rather MAJOR UNOCKABLE SPOILER that you can check out here at the UGO Games Blog. (Thanks Kareem!)
UPDATE #12: How about a video review from Gametrailers.com? (Thanks "Yiddleja"!)
UPDATE #13: You want TFU links? Then we got your TFU links to reviews, previews and more as the game is out today!!!
Xbox 360 review from VideoGamer.com gives the "Gameplay" a 7 (out of 10), the "Graphics" an 8, the "Sound" a 9 and an overall rating of 7.
"Being Darth Vader's apprentice isn't an easy job and neither is making one of the most hyped Star Wars games of recent memory. On the whole LucasArts has done an admirable job and succeeded in making a highly entertaining action romp that gamers (Star Wars fans or not) will enjoy. It's far from the finished article though, with too many niggles and flaws to compete with the best the genre has to offer. If you like the idea of messing with some storm troopers to the extent that it verges on Force-fuelled torture we recommend you give The Force Unleashed a look."
Wii review at IGN with an overall "Good" rating of 7.8:
Force Unleashed makes up for some of its visuals with certain elements that end up looking really nice (Felucia on the whole is a pretty colorful, vibrant area), but it really comes down to the lack of detail in visuals and in presentation - camera and AI - working in tandem. It can be a blast to play, and using the nunchuk and Wii-mote for force powers is unrivaled when compared to any other control scheme, but the gameplay isn't strong enough on its own to make up for the overall rushed feeling in the game. LucasArts and Krome tried to make the experience unique on every platform by adding in the duel mode on Wii, and while it?s a nice touch, we can't help but think of how the PSP version (again, also made by Krome) was privy to not only a vs. mode of its own, but an additional challenge and survival mode as well. Whether you're looking at the lack of modes, the clunky presentation, or the PS2-like visuals, there's just so much in Force Unleashed that you wish was better, but ultimately ends up being just passable. The combat is great, the game is extremely entertaining at times (if you're a Star Wars fan, you'd do well to pick it up, or at least rent it), but it's never truly great in any stretch of the imagination. We look forward to what Krome and LucasArts could do with future Wii titles, especially considering the awesome potential of Wii MotionPlus, but as far as Force Unleashed is concerned, the game is a fun but flawed action game, and nothing more. If you're looking for this type of game on Wii, give it a rental. If you're a big Star Wars fan, you'll enjoy it. If you want a polished, well-rounded effort overall, you won't find it here."
Xbox 360 review from Boomtown.net is not as enamored with the game as some reviewers with a rating of 5 out of 10:
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a crushing disappointment. The game is a short button-mashing slog through narrow linear level after level with the reward being an exciting and thrilling story."
Xbox 360 review from TeamXbox.com gives an overall score of 7.7 out of 10:
"The disappointment from playing Force Unleashed comes from some really high expectations, ones that the game sets up itself in the early going. The storyline is so good, the graphics simply amazing, the whole thing just so classic Star Wars that it almost hurts when I think about how much the game pissed me off. If you just have to play it because you?re into Star Wars, go ahead. You?ll surely appreciate the delights Lucas has left for you, and you?ll wish they made this into a CGI movie instead of The Clone Wars. But if you like third-person action adventure games, you?re not going to be putting Star Wars: The Force Unleashed into your personal Hall of Fame anytime soon."
"When the game caters to its strengths, it soars; when it deviates, it flounders. Regardless, it's still a more than worthy entry in a long line of licensed Star Wars games, and a good action game in its own right."
Xbox 360 review from IGN gives a "Decent" rating of 7.3:
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a valiant effort at rejuvenating the largely underwhelming Star Wars videogame franchise. Some of the technology here is a little too far ahead of its time, though that could prove to be promising for future installments. Uninspired level design and some tedious enemy battles mar an experience that gives you power over the Force like we've never really seen before. While it's far from perfect, Star Wars fans will find that it's worth playing through simply for its story and the ability to use the Force in fairly awesome ways."
Wii review at GameDaily.com offers up a rating of 7 out of 10:
"If you're a Star Wars fan or just looking to torture enemies in creative ways, The Force Unleashed is definitely for you. It could've used improvements in presentation and more boss fight interaction, but it's still a worthwhile game. Enjoy those Force powers while they last."
Xbox 360 review at GameDaily.com mirrors the 7 out of 10 rating above for the Wii:
After the credits roll, Force Unleashed isn't the end-all, be-all interactive Star Wars experience but it manages to showcase some interesting new game technology and is a mostly fun virtual slugfest that's worth killing a few hours to experience. It will at least inspire you to dust off those Star Wars DVDs and relive the magic all over again."
"Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a valiant effort at rejuvenating the largely underwhelming Star Wars videogame franchise. Uninspired level design and some tedious enemy battles mar an experience that gives you power over the Force like we've never really seen before. While it's far from perfect, Star Wars fans will find that it's worth playing through simply for its story and the ability to use the Force in fairly awesome ways."
PS3 / Xbox 360 review at Chud.com give a rating of 7 out of 10:
"I know this review sounds really down on the game, but it's more because I was hoping for so much more with this one. It is incredibly fun (if not so original, see Psi-Ops for more on that) but only in spurts, and the horrible level design does nothing to help hide that you really don't have any freedom in the game. It would have been something else to see the physics and powers of this game used in a wide open world with missions you could carry out at your own pace, instead of ushering you down corridor after corridor.
Still, worth a rental for Star Wars fans if only to see the story."
"I guess the bottom line for me, with all the game's small but cumulative blemishes, is that it's difficult for many of the wrong reasons, as well as too brief to earn the sixty bucks LucasArts is asking if you're looking at the 360 or PS3 versions. I hesitate to say wait for early adopters to flood the used market, but unless you're really into the Star Wars thing, it's not quite the breakout game experience LucasArts trumpeted, and which its parallel product blitz suggests it should have been."
MTV.com Blog says that The Force Unleashed "Doesn?t Play Like Its Demo."
CNET News has a couple pics from the Best Buy launch party.
Kesins.com celebrates the release of The Force Unleashed with their Star Wars Day.
Last, but certainly not least, (anyone else exhausted?) Quint at AICN talks with the Secret Apprentice, Sam Witwer. SPOILER ALERT: Beware that plot points are discussed in the interview. (via EUCantina.net)
UPDATE #14: Hope everyone who picked it up is enjoying The Force Unleashed!
"Overall, SWFU is a great concept and does belong in your Xbox 360 collection, especially if you are a Star Wars fan. It smells, tastes, feels like a genuine thing. So, run out and pick it up."
'"TFU" is entertaining for most of its eight-hour length; it's just not the revolutionary title that will win over "Star Wars" skeptics. Two-and-a-half stars out of four."
Kotaku breaks down what they loved or hated about the game:
"The Force Unleashed is most definitely a flawed game, but with the help of some amazing acting, a deep plot and rampant force kills is sure to please most Star Wars fans."
Review from iTWire gives The Force Unleashed "7 locked down actuators out of 10":
"In many ways, The Force Unleashed is a forerunner for the DMM and euphoria equipped titles to come. Some fans will see the game sequences as a way to fill the gaps between story telling cinematics, others will enjoy the game as a whole and simply be thankful that the Stormtroopers in this Star Wars outing provide a challenge that to this point in video game history have seen them as lamest enemy ever."
"If "The Force Unleashed" has a downside, it's length. At just under 10 hours, it feels too short -- and maybe that's because you don't want a game this cool to end. You'd be on Yoda's bad side if you missed out on it."
"The graphics and physics are exceptional, so when you use Force Grip to throw and enemy through a space station?s window and out into the vortex of space, it looks as awesome as it sounds. Chuck in a genuinely well-scripted and well-acted story, complete with beautiful cutscenes, and you?ve got the most impressive Star Wars experience since Knights of the Old Republic on the old Xbox."
"The Force Unleashed isn?t the ultimate Star Wars game ? KOTOR is still king in my book. But, as advertised, it amplifies this mystical power in new ways to delivers exciting gameplay and unforgettable Star Wars moments. It?ll leave you wanting more, but take my word for it, it?s worth playing just to see Vader Force-throw wookiees."
"Technical details are topnotch save for a few glitches. The animated cinematics between levels are particularly gorgeous, while the score nicely mixes John Williams? ?Star Wars? themes with inspired new ones. Motion-capture performances provide for more emotional acting than videogame players are used to, though a few of the voiceover impressions, particularly that of Princess Leia, are off the mark."
"It wouldn?t be fair to spoil the game?s big revelation (except to say there actually is one), but expect to see some familiar faces, fight a Rancor and visit a certain famous space station before it opened its doors to the public. Fans of the films will also appreciate the spot-on presentation?from the opening crawl to the effective use of use John Williams' iconic score."
TECH.BLORGE highlights TFU on the Nokia N-Gage platform.
Xbox 360 review from Pocket-lint.co.uk gives a rating of 6 out of 10:
"It?s a shame that the whole 8 hours of gaming wasn?t quite as fun as the first few levels. Yes you can replay with all the powers you?ve earned (and maybe try for the alternate ending too) but that doesn?t stop the initial play through varying hugely in quality.
Star Wars fans will love it no matter what, but for action/adventure fans, you might be better waiting for the price to drop a touch."
"The end result is a game that is entertaining, both by virtue of its storyline and the third-person gameplay style. Star Wars fans will be kept extremely happy since it stays true to the original film series."
Crave Online gives The Force Unleashed an 8.5 out of 10:
"Like I said, games like Force Unleashed that last roughly eight hours without a multiplayer option sometimes just don?t seem all the enticing when you?re looking in your wallet and wondering if dropping $60 is worth it. It?s a decision you will have to make yourself but I?m glad I chose to pick this up. I?m having an absolute blast revisiting the game with my uber powerful Sith lord and being able to watch the amazing story over again. Think of this game as Ninja Gaiden, but instead of having nine weapons to upgrade and master, you have varying force powers and a story that actually makes sense and is quite compelling. Simply put; Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is fun as hell."
PS3 review at Digital Spy offers up a rating of 3 stars out of 5:
"The Force Unleashed has its fair share of problems, and doesn't capitalise enough on its strengths. Better level design that utilizes Force powers in more interesting ways, and having a proper combat system with challenging foes would have made for a more engrossing romp. Instead, it's just an average adventure with an attractive licence and fun physics assists to mess around with. Though enjoyable in places, and boasting an attractive universe to see, it can only be recommended to Star Wars fans that might easily be able to forgive its flaws."
"After playing the PlayStation 3 version 1st, then playing the PSP version, it took sometime to adjust, but after a while, it actually felt natural. I'll admit, having some of the face buttons serve double duty, (tap the Triangle button to Force push objects away from you violently; hold the Triangle button to Force levitate, move and throw objects) took quite some time to get used to; but after about an hour of experimenting with my newfound Dark Side powers, I began to get comfortable hurling lightning from my fingertips to roast one enemy, spinning around to levitate another and throw my light saber into him and retrieve it (of course,) and finally Force push a couple of unsuspecting chaps off of a walkway, presumably hundreds of feet to an untimely headache.
In short, I *really* enjoy this game especially on annoyingly delayed train rides to and from home."
PSP review at CNET gives a "very good" rating of 3.5 stars out of 5:
"Multiplayer adds further value, and though it isn't a make-it or break-it feature in this case, it's good fun, letting you slash up and fling around up to three other local participants, assuming that they all have copies of the game. There are variations on Deathmatch and King of the Hill--nothing groundbreaking, but a pleasant change of pace that further establishes this version of Force Unleashed as the most feature-rich of the bunch. So if you're in the mood to slash up Jawas or electrocute Darth Phobos, this is your chance. Although it's unfortunate that camera issues and other frustrations weaken the experience, you'll find that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a pleasant way to spend a few afternoons."
"But "Star Wars" fanatics will likely see past these shortcomings ? and the gorgeous graphics and impressive physics effects don't hurt much either. "The Force Unleashed" might not be an "A"-quality title, but it's certainly a fun dose of interactive entertainment in a galaxy far, far away."
"Overall, I would say that this game is a must-buy for any Star Wars fan who enjoys a good story. The plot makes you want to keep playing, even when the gameplay becomes frustrating. However, if you were looking for this game to deliver something along the lines of Knights of the Old Republic you may wish to do a little more research before committing."
Xbox 360 review at PALGN.com with a rating of 7.5:
"The Force Unleashed is an excellent supplement to the vast library of Star Wars games. The game authentically captures the look and feel of the Star Wars movies, with an intriguing story, polished visuals and excellent audio. Though not too deep or robust, Lightsaber and Force-based gameplay is still vastly entertaining. New technologies like DMM and Euphoria are not as ground-breaking as previously thought, and the secret apprentice's adventure seems a little short at around ten hours. Nonetheless, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will satisfy fans of George Lucas' saga and anyone who has ever dreamed of duelling with a lightsaber."
"The Force Unleashed had the ambition and the ideas to be a fantastic game. The ideas are original, compelling and fun, and the plot is marvellous. Unfortunately, the game never fleshes out the gameplay ideas, giving an experience that's a lot more shallow, boring, and frustrating than it could have been. Make no mistake, it's fitfully fantastic fun, but impossible to recommend outright."
"At a time when games cost $60 and the economy is in a tailspin, ?The Force Unleashed? might be one you pick up when it?s $40. It?s a little on the short side and doesn?t quite compete with really high-end titles like ?BioShock,? which offers a beefier single-player campaign and fewer bugs, or well-honed multiplayer fare like ?Call of Duty 4.? But the well-crafted story and the interaction of the Force with ?TFU?s? physics engine make this a must-play title for anyone interested in the ?Star Wars? universe."
"The PSP adds some longevity to the experience with multiplayer and a number of challenge modes. Up to four players can compete in versions of deathmatch and ?King of the Hill,? but the game only supports ad hoc play?no jumping online and doing battle with would-be Jedis across the globe. The challenge modes include Force Duels (essentially a Boss Rush mode against Jedi and Sith from all corners of the Star Wars universe), Order 66 (where you choose a character and then fend off wave after wave of enemies), and Historic Battles (recreations of famous scenes from the six films). In all honesty, these modes are more fun than the actual story mode. They strip out the tedium of moving through levels and allow you to play around a bit more with the Force powers at your command. Playing through iconic film scenes is especially a treat, as it?s sure to bring back fond memories of the best duels in each movie. It?s pretty sad that the supplemental material is the best part of The Force Unleashed on PSP. They?re not really enough to recommend the game, but they certainly make up for the length of story mode and some of the other shortcomings."
The LATimes.com Blog asks "Will 'Force Unleashed' be the next 'Star Wars' film?"
Rebelscum Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Patch Posted By Philip on November 25, 2014: Thanks to everybody that ordered patches. I sent a check for $1,600.00 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation on Monday. While it's not as much as I hoped for, it's still very much appreciated. They will remain for sale in the store for anybody that still wishes to purchase them. Details after the jump.
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