When I first heard about this game over a year ago I couldn't wait. The missing link between Episode three and four and you can pull down Star Destroyers; it was like George had been listening to my prayers reading my mind and tuning into dreams. You see I'm a Star Wars geek, my passwords, user names and my wallpaper are all Star Wars themed. Then there was more content released as we got closer to the release date, and then the demo (which I must have played 20 to 30 times never getting bored). The more I found out the more exited I got. So when it fell though my letter box I wrote for the rest of the day.
The game starts with a prologue of how you meet/work for Lord Vader. The best part of this is that you are Anakin for this level. It starts on Kashyyyk and Vader is hunting Jedi, and it is here after defeating the Jedi that Vader discovers the Jedi's son and decides to train him to be a Sith. For the rest of the game you are the apprentice Starkiller... (What is it with George Lucas and bad names?)
All the force powers you need are here, (apart from force choke which is only possible with Vader). There is Force Grip so you can telekinetically pick up and throw enemies or objects; Force Lighting, watch the rebels dance; Force Push, lets you throw out a massive energy wave that knocks over anything in its path; and Force Repulse which fires a bubble of energy 360 degrees, great for when your surrounded. The great thing is that you can mix Force powers up which gave me no end of joy. That doesn't mean that using your lightsaber is not fun, it is; slashing your way though your droids, stormtroopers and rebels while learning new combinations - I still can't get enough.
LucasArts has invested heavily to bring these powers to life. The DMM (Digital Molecular Matter) makes objects react as they would in the real world. For example, every time you Force Push open a door it will react differently because you are standing in a different position and thus use less power. The other breakthrough is Euphoria, this gives every A.I. a sense of survival, so they will run for cover or try to hold on to an object as you through them around using Force Grip or duck when you through objects at them. This only enhances the game playing as it makes you feel like your battling real people.
As much as I love this game it does have its faults you can only go where the game dictates, invisible walls stop you exploring the world around you. For example, while on Kashyyyk you see Wookies fighting AT-ST but you can't go and join in the fun. While you have the ability to pull down a Star Destroyer, you can't pick up a AT-ST and smash it up. Although your lightsaber leaves glowing scares on the walls these fade pretty quickly. Also, you can't use it to open doors like Qui-Gon Jinn did in The Phantom Menace.
The frame rate is also less than perfect, no where near as bad as something like Mass Effect, but this still effects the flow of the game. There was one occasion where fighting an end of level boss, he was still there, frozen on screen, and I could not hurt him.
We are also told this is Episode three and a half. This true to a point. The game has two outcomes: one follows the saga the other sadly does not. Although the story is close to the Star Wars universe, it rather disappointingly only lasts for around eight hours. It is also worth noting that this review is of the PS3 version of the game. On consoles which are not next gen these do not support DDM or Euphoria, the game is more linear.
All this aside it is a great game for Star Wars fans and non fans alike. There is enough to keep you happy. The harder the setting the more you have to sit back and think about what you are going to do. Each character has strengths and weaknesses that need to be worked out. The Force Unleashed really gives the impression of what it is like to be a Jedi or Sith and who can find fault with that?
Top Gaming moment: Choking Wookies
