Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

"An epic addition to the Star Wars saga"

Now before I begin, I'll share a bit of my gaming history with you...I've played Star Wars games since the N64(favorite on this system being Rouge Squadron and Shadows of the Empire) and well into the GC lifespan(Rouge Squadron 2 and Jedi Outcast were two of the best games I ever played) and now we come to the Wii addition of the Force Unleashed....Now I'll be blunt, SO much more could have been done with this game...it had so much potential but I bet that several fans and gamers alike were dissapointed overall...so some of you might be wondering as to why I gave this game a 9/10...Well let me break it down into a four(five if you want to be technical) categories:

Story: 10/10

The story is really one of the best Star Wars tales ever told...you as Vader's apprentice is really a great experience. The sheer depth and dark tone of this tale is what makes it stand out above most others. It also gives you a good picture of the true face of Darth Vader as he trains you(in methods that would have child service's knocking....if they dared...) to hunt down Jedi and eventually overthrow the emperor(kinda what he wanted to do with Luke..but thats another story). I wont spoiler anything for anyone who hasnt beaten the game or read the comic/novel, but it feels in plenty of gaps and opens up new possibilities for exploration in the time void in between episodes III and IV.

Sound: 10/10

What can I say? John William's classic score(original and prequel I might add)+the original scores add appropriately excellent emotion to each and every scene of this epic tale. Plus, the sound effects are on target(every swing of lightsaber, impact of force powers, explosions, etc.); the voice-overs are well-done which is more than many can say for most star wars games and while no can ever do as well of a Darth Vader voice as James Earl Jones..Matt Sloan does a pretty good job of coming as close a possible to the real thing....

Graphics: 6/10

Okay...now its time to be fair...the graphics of the Wii version of Force Unleashed are no where near as great as the 360/ps3 versions...And I'll go on a limb by saying that if LucasArts had handled this version along with the aforemented..the graphics would have been great but unfortunately for the average gamer.....they didnt and we get stuck with graphics that could be described as last-gen(at best). which is a rather bothersome aspect that disrupts the whole experience. Also, their are several areas that were either half-done or finished with a few glitches..and I'm sure many will agree with me when I say that ship detail could have been a lot better....Still, the character models were pretty decent enough with consistantcy when needed and euphoria of the force powers were done very well....also, I loved the glow of the lightsaber blade and while the Wii could have done so much better, calling the graphics last gen. isnt necessarily a bad thing..as many well-beloved games such as Kingdom Hearts I+II, Dragon Quest VIII, FF X+XII, God of War, and several others were last generation...so, I'm going to lay off a bit and move on to the Wii version's saving grace.....

Playability(how to play/how often you play): 10/10

The Wii does an exceptional job of handling the force unleashed's controls, allowing a better dive into the power of Starkiller...The lightsaber is primarily handled using the Wii remote while your force powers are largely based in your nuchuk...While the controls seem simplistic enough..how the attack happens depends on your input..It takes a while to get the hang of at first, but the controls are more than appropriate to this version. Because you know that everytime you throw someone off a cliff to their doom, every time you zap someone to death for dissing on Mace Windu, every time you impale a stormtrooper, everytime hold a trooper and drop them into a pit of lava, every time you push a guy up against another guy and then shoot a lightning ball at them....you were the one who ACTIVELY initiated it instead of just pushing a button(nothing against other consoles)...the perfect experience for anyone seeking a minor work-out for their hands or the imagine themselves as a jedi....hunter...The experience in itself is appealing enough for someone to be playing this game well into a month and dont be surprised to see someone still playing...say..around a year from now?

Overall: 9/10

All in all, this is a great game....could have been a LOT better in terms of graphics and environment, but the playability makes this one of those games that you either hate for a major inconsistency or love for having more ups than down...As far as renting or buying....thats up to you..its your money afterall....

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/13/08

Game Release: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (US, 09/16/08)