I was eight when Star Wars hit the cinema screens back in 1977. And if truth be told, the whole spectacle of its release passed me by, until that is it appeared on terrestrial TV some years later and my Dad taped it on his spankingly new VHS recorder. I then became rather hooked on the SCI-FI opera that it was.
Over the years many a Star Wars game has been released on a myriad of home computer and console systems. In the early years times were good with the likes of X-Wing and Tie Fighter on the PC. The last ten years or so though has seen a large number of Star Wars themed games being well below the standard expected by fans - Rogue Squadron on the Gamecube being the exception. Star Wars: Force Unleashed is therefore a welcome breath of fresh gaming air which hopefully means a return to form for Lucasarts.
It has been well publicised in the run up to launch of Force Unleashed that the games’ story bridges the gap between the Episode III and Episode IV movies. It would be churlish of me to let slip details of the story here in this review, suffice to sat the cut scenes throughout the game are excellent, the voice acting superb and the plot is both thrilling and enthralling.
Preview screenshots and videos revealed a detailed, colourful, atmospheric and somewhat shiny environment that captured the imagination of the fans and stirred up a flurry of excitement and expectation. With the promise of realistic physics and force powers from the go, gamers and fans alike got caught up with the anticipation and hype for the game.
On kicking off the game, first impressions are very good. You take the role of the mighty man in black himself, Mr Vader, stomping through the forestation of Kashyyyk, home of the wookies, on the look out for a rouge Jedi Knight. The level is a fine playing ground in which to unleash your “force” powers and witness the wookies bounce of trees, cliffs and each other before meeting their hairy maker.
It’s unfortunate that just as you get into your stride on this level, the adventure proper starts and you are reverted to lowly underpowered apprentice stripped of the fun, over the top powers you had only a moment before.
As Vader’s apprentice you are sent out on tasks that invariably involve you hunting down Jedi Knights. As you do so, you come face to face with a plethora of differing enemy that with a swish of your light saber realistically fall to the ground releasing energy that tops up your health bar. As you progress through the levels, points are garnered for kills which in turn levels up your character. Leveling up provides currency that can be exchanged for upgrades to apprentice skills such as maxing out your health bar or speeding up your Force recovery thus introducing a little strategy in your approach to the game.
