Star Wars: The Force Unleashed; 09/16; 5 more missions and duel mode!

Lone_Prodigy

Lone_Prodigy

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The official site: http://www.lucasarts.com/games/theforceunleashed/

[quote name='Lucasarts']Star Wars: The Force Unleashed casts players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and promises to unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. The expansive story, created under direction from George Lucas, is set during the largely unexplored era between "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" and "Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope." In it, players assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. Unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice's four core Force powers - Force push, grip, repulse and lightning - throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos. The Secret Apprentice doesn't just Force push enemies into walls - he Force pushes enemies through walls. The Secret Apprentice doesn't just Force grip foes to throw them aside - he Force grips them in midair, zapping them with lightning, then dropping them to the ground to explode like a bomb. In addition to new adversaries created just for the game, such as fugitive Jedi and Force-sensitive Felucians, players also confront and associate with familiar faces from the Star Wars films, including Darth Vader. Visit locations such as Episode III's Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and the floral Felucia, the junk planet Raxus Prime, plus an Imperial TIE fighter construction facility. Decisions made by players throughout the game determine the path of the story, including multiple endings that will rock Star Wars continuity as they know it.[/quote]

IGN: 7.8 http://wii.ign.com/articles/910/910269p1.html
Gamespot: 6.0 http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/starwars2007/review.html
GameRankings 71% http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/939633.asp
MetaCritic 67% http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/starwarstheforceunleashed
 
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[quote name='bmulligan']Still can't help but wonder how much better Wiimote Plus would be with a game like this.[/QUOTE]

After playing the demo I doubt it would have been all that great with it, game is geared towards force powers, sure you can use a lightsaber but its much harder that way. If it was something like the Star Wars Arcade game which had a first person lightsaber view I think would benefit much , much more.
 
[quote name='coolsteel']After playing the demo I doubt it would have been all that great with it, game is geared towards force powers, sure you can use a lightsaber but its much harder that way. If it was something like the Star Wars Arcade game which had a first person lightsaber view I think would benefit much , much more.[/quote]
There was something in the new Game Informer about the developers being upset with Nintendo for leaving them in the dark.
 
For those looking for a lightsaber "sim", Star Wars The Clone Wars coming out late this year will be a waggle battle. Probably no WiiMotionPlus though.
 
[quote name='Lone_Prodigy']For those looking for a lightsaber "sim", Star Wars The Clone Wars coming out late this year will be a waggle battle. Probably no WiiMotionPlus though.[/QUOTE]

No, it won't have MotionPlus. This is why LucasArts is pissed at Nintendo. I don't blame them! They probably realize that their game will be just ok because of the limits thanks to the Wii, and this MotionPlus could have made the game A LOT better = more $$ Sales $$.
 
I had no idea about a Clone Wars game either. Can't say I'll be trilled to buy ANY more waggle games knowing Motion-Plus is on the horizon.
 
[quote name='bmulligan']I had no idea about a Clone Wars game either. Can't say I'll be trilled to buy ANY more waggle games knowing Motion-Plus is on the horizon.[/QUOTE]

This
 
[quote name='lilboo']I wonder how different this game will be compared to the 360/PS3 versions.. :whistle2:k[/QUOTE]
It's being developed by a team that didn't get fired right after finishing the code, so it might end up being better as a result...

--R.J.
 
[quote name='rjung']It's being developed by a team that didn't get fired right after finishing the code, so it might end up being better as a result...

--R.J.[/QUOTE]

I had to google what you meant, man talk about a congratulations party.
 
[quote name='coolsteel']I had to google what you meant, man talk about a congratulations party.[/quote]

Judging by some of the reviews (good, but not great) and the hype generated for this game (Lucas himself was involved) I'm not terribly surprised.

Star Wars games have always been a hit or miss license though. For every KotOR there's a horrible movie tie-in.
 
[quote name='lilboo']No, it won't have MotionPlus. This is why LucasArts is pissed at Nintendo. I don't blame them! They probably realize that their game will be just ok because of the limits thanks to the Wii, and this MotionPlus could have made the game A LOT better = more $$ Sales $$.[/quote]

even if Nintendo had told them, Clone Wars would've done just as poorly as it's going to [with many people waiting for Motion Plus to come out to buy a lightsaber game]. There's no way they would've pushed Clone Wars back half a year after the movie was released.
 
[quote name='gaxur']even if Nintendo had told them, Clone Wars would've done just as poorly as it's going to [with many people waiting for Motion Plus to come out to buy a lightsaber game]. There's no way they would've pushed Clone Wars back half a year after the movie was released.[/QUOTE]

I do agree with that, but now I could bring up the argument "The MotionPlus should have came built in the remote originally" OR "The MotionPlus should have been available from launch"

I just don't get Nintendo, :lol:
 
[quote name='gaxur']even if Nintendo had told them, Clone Wars would've done just as poorly as it's going to [with many people waiting for Motion Plus to come out to buy a lightsaber game].[/QUOTE]

1.) I think it's safe to assume that a lot of the Wii's casual audience doesn't know about and doesn't care about Motion Plus, or won't until it ships with the new Wii Sports game.

2.) Even if people did know about it, who's to say it'd hurt sales? People buy the same game over and over. Two obvious examples: Rogue Squadron for the GameCube was very similar to its N64 predecessor (albeit much prettier), and made Player's Choice, and people buy Madden every year even though the game's mechanics don't change much. Just change the game's setting - problem solved.
 
[quote name='lilboo']I do agree with that, but now I could bring up the argument "The MotionPlus should have came built in the remote originally" OR "The MotionPlus should have been available from launch"[/quote]

Yes, but you might as well argue that the NES should've had SNES quality graphics, so they wouldn't have to release another console. Technology doesn't work like that.

[quote name='Gothic Walrus']1.) I think it's safe to assume that a lot of the Wii's casual audience doesn't know about and doesn't care about Motion Plus, or won't until it ships with the new Wii Sports game.[/quote]

I don't think the casual audience is going to be big on this so much as the pre-pubescent 'omg-star-wars-is-awesome' group and their equally uninformed parents buying it. Like, uh, every other Star Wars game I suppose? I didn't mean that it would definitely bomb, just that I doubt it would do much better if they had known about WMP.

You make a good point about people buying the same game over and over, however I don't think that would apply so much if, say, you release football game, and then say "oh, but next year you'll be able to [do some football related thing. I honestly don't know the sport at all]!". Methinks people would be more likely to wait for the next year, but I suppose it depends on how devoted they are to the object of their fanaticism.
 
Two things of note:

1. 1:1 controls are not a panacea that automagically makes games better. In fact, no technology automagically makes a game better (the much-hyped Euphoria and DMM didn't do much for the PS360 versions of SW:TFU, for example). It's always up to the developers to make a fun game with the technology available, and IMO getting fixated on Motion+ is a way to set yourself up for future disappointment.

2. If the latest IGN Nintendo podcast is accurate, the Wii version of SW:TFU will be more fun than the XBox 360 version. Watch those reviews...

--R.J.
 
[quote name='rjung']Two things of note:

1. 1:1 controls are not a panacea that automagically makes games better. In fact, no technology automagically makes a game better (the much-hyped Euphoria and DMM didn't do much for the PS360 versions of SW:TFU, for example). It's always up to the developers to make a fun game with the technology available, and IMO getting fixated on Motion+ is a way to set yourself up for future disappointment.

2. If the latest IGN Nintendo podcast is accurate, the Wii version of SW:TFU will be more fun than the XBox 360 version. Watch those reviews...

--R.J.[/QUOTE]

To me, the Wii version has looked more interesting from the start. I think that the main reason the PS3 and 360 versions exist is to help build this up as a big "multimedia project," like they did with Shadows of the Empire - obviously, you'll sell more games if you produce a version for all three consoles.
 
For all 3 consoles, and the other 2 r a build? That makes no sense.

Each version will have differences, and its on all as multiplatform because its a larger game, not because it revolves around the Wii version.

In other countries this game is said to have an 82/100 because the story was too short. Only a 6 hour adventure (average).
 
[quote name='TDBlue']In other countries this game is said to have an 82/100 because the story was too short. Only a 6 hour adventure (average).[/QUOTE]

I've also heard a claim of a 10 hour finishing time for the 360 version.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']This could be cool. I would love the wii to really excell with this game as far as multiconsole sales.[/quote]

You may very well get your wish... or the DS may... given the sheer number of consoles out there. Also, the cheaper price for an already short story could be another major factor.
 
5 more missions for the wii mode as opposed to the ps2/psp?

Why would they need to add more missions to the wii version? Or did they add missions to the ps2 mode? Someone clarify please.


wasn't there supposed to be an online starwars game? What happened to that?

EDIT: article says 5 more missions compared to the 360 version. But what's the difference if the game lasts almost half as long? 5 hrs to a supposed 10 hours?
 
Krome Studios made the Wii/PS2 versions. I guess with less time spent on Euphoria/DMM they decided to add extra levels.

Someone got the game early: lots of info on it and spoilers galore.

C - lightning
Z - force lift
B - Jump
A - Activate Light Saber

Swing Wii-Mote (up down left right) - Saber strikes
Hold A and tilt Wii-Mote sideways - Block
Hold Z and turn nunchuck upside down - Force Choke
B twice - Double Jump

Control Stick - Move around
Hold up - First Person look around
Left, Right - Rotate Camera around Starkiller
Down - Focus on one enemy

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=939633&topic=45388731
 
[quote name='Lone_Prodigy']Krome Studios made the Wii/PS2 versions. I guess with less time spent on Euphoria/DMM they decided to add extra levels.

Someone got the game early: lots of info on it and spoilers galore.

C - lightning
Z - force lift
B - Jump
A - Activate Light Saber

Swing Wii-Mote (up down left right) - Saber strikes
Hold A and tilt Wii-Mote sideways - Block
Hold Z and turn nunchuck upside down - Force Choke
B twice - Double Jump

Control Stick - Move around
Hold up - First Person look around
Left, Right - Rotate Camera around Starkiller
Down - Focus on one enemy

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=939633&topic=45388731[/QUOTE]



A few pages in on gamefaqs , the differences between the level layout for the Wii and Ps3 were pretty surprising, ps3 got bigger levels but wii got more fluid control but less enemies . What a trade off.

Edit: Screw that, Ps3 or 360 version for me, ps3 version got a 3 stage boss fight while the wii was just one. Shyguy Shea keeps mentioning that the Wii levels are more straight forward and smaller in scale.
 
from IGN

And as much as we hate to come down on Wii games for graphical issues (especially when the obvious response would be "This is Wii, not 360"), Force Unleashed simply needs to be called out where issues arise, and visuals are one of them. Yes the game is going to look worse than the HD counterparts, but even more frustrating is that it doesn't end up holding its own against other recent Wii titles, or that it's still rivaled in certain areas (space battles, primarily) by Factor 5's Star Wars efforts on GameCube now seven years ago. The game uses some nice motion blur, depth of field blur, and some impressive lighting effects, but it also suffers from a generally low poly feel, and that's due in a big way to the fact that the game also released on PSP and PS2. In-game cinemas show off some pretty sketchy models at times, with cloaks and costumes often clipping and glitching out with other characters, and the more controlled environments (such as the space scenes) plagued with basic, plainly textured models. There's a huge amount of aliasing, space sequences seem devoid of style or substance, and ships and terrain are often made up of flat colors or extremely simple texture maps. In the opening level of the game, Darth Vader's personal shuttle lands on Kashyyyk, seemingly landing over a single color lake inhabited by gray AT-AT walkers with no texture maps to be seen, with the battle raging below with terribly simple explosion animations and laser blasts. It isn't pretty.
 
[quote name='Lone_Prodigy']Gamespot gave it 6.0. Great story and physics engine, but too short and the camera is bad.[/QUOTE]

Damn it. I was hoping for a second coming of the Jedi Knight franchise, but the reviews make it look like that won't be the case. :cry:

Since I keep hearing that the game is linear and that it's short, I can't justify it at full price. Once it drops, definitely - I've been interested since it was announced - but not for $50.
 
[quote name='Lone_Prodigy']Gamespot gave it 6.0. Great story and physics engine, but too short and the camera is bad.[/QUOTE]
Gamespot always dings Wii games extra-hard, IMO. Metacritic has it rated slightly higher than the XBox 360 version (73/100 vs. 70/100), and some folks are preferring the Wii version for the motion controls.

I'm still torn on whether to get this or Madden; I kinda want to play TFU to get the story and indulge my geeky fanboy curiousity, but $50 for a six-hour game doesn't seem to keep with the spirit of CAG. ;)

--R.J.
 
[quote name='Lone_Prodigy']In Canada EB/GS will give you back full trade credit if you return it within one week of release. Looks like I'll be making use of this.[/QUOTE]

Does this hold true for the US? Does anyone know?
 
Found a copy on Craigslist for $35. I might have to grab it... I could trade it in for almost that price if I got done with it quickly.
 
Rental for me, that quick I could slam this out this weekend.... before the planned yard/car work, and before teh 6 year anniversary...
 
If I got a version of this, it would be the Wii/PS2/PSP version. It plays better than the shiny new gen version.
 
I played the duel mode today with my brother.

Regarding the graphics: some parts it looks fine, other times it looks bad. There are some nice effects (smoke, explosions, lightsaber flourishes blur the background) but overall it looks a little unpolished. This is on 480p by the way. Didn't notice any lag, though.

The camera isn't bad, though sometimes it can get stuck after zooming in on a character becoming Unleashed. If you play Brawl (zoom-in-and-out) it's similar.

Gameplay: no locking on, so you turn and hope you're facing the right direction when you attack. You can throw stuff at each other, and it's cool when you toss something, only to have your opponent stop it in mid-air and toss it back. Sometimes you can get stuck while around objects and duelling over a bottomless pit is weird: sometimes you fall in for no reason and other times you fly to the other edge. The power-ups and Unleashed feature (temporary unlimited and maxed-out Force) is a nice touch. I wish the characters would talk though.

Overall, it's pretty fun and it would've been a decent addition to the PS3/360 versions. It does add some replay value though it's not as deep: you can only adjust time and stock (1-5). I hadn't played the campaign so we only had 3 characters (Starkiller, Vader, and Kota) to choose from.
 
My review of Force Unleashed for the Wii:
When you boil it down, the game is essentially a mindless, old-school Final Fight brawling game, done in 3D and with a Star Wars skin stuck to it. It's fun visceral violence, but not particularly deep, and the gameplay is fundamentally "go from point A to point B and smash a lot of stuff (and people) along the way." The game proportedly takes only 5 or 6 hours to complete, and I think the short length might actually be a positive; Force Unleashed is fun in moderate-sized bursts of 45 minutes to an hour, but I can't imagine trudging through 20 or 30 hours of it.
Click to expand...
The Wii controls work well for the most part. My only grouse is that the A button is a little overloaded, so sometimes you inadvertently do one move (like Force dash, tap A while moving) instead of another (like block, hold A with remote held sideways). Swinging the remote for lightsaber attacks works well, and you can get flashy combos going with a good swing rhythm.

One annoyance worth pointing out is the in-game camera, which auto-centers behind you if you stop for a second. That's fine for moving around, but in the heat of battle I quickly wished for a "snap camera behind me NOW" button. Blocking does the same thing, but it's not as efficient.
Click to expand...
Still, in the end, this is mindless fun, and is a decent buy if you keep your expectations properly aligned. The $50 asking price is a bit high, though; unless you're a die-hard Star Wars geek or really want to experience the mythos-bending events in the game, it's best to wait for a price drop.
Click to expand...

--R.J.
 
Nice review, RJ. I agree with you completely. Rented this from Gamefly and will probably beat it so I won't be buying. I'm enjoying the story even though I'm not too big into Star Wars.
 
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