Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

[Dark_Lord]

GDC 08: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Impressions (Video) (Ripten.com)

 

[Havok83]

GDC '08: LucasArts prioritizing PS3, unleashing Force

They say that it was difficult getting everything from the 360 version to work on the PS3 version and starting with their next game, they'll be using PS3 as their baseline and then apply that to the 360.

GDC: Interview

finally someone gets it. Midway suggested this back last fall and it makes sense

 

[Storm22]

I hope nothing was changed/downgraded from the 360 version of the game to accomodate the PS3.

 

[uchiha_itachi]

Doubt it, the ps3's bluray disk has more room and stuff.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Doubt it, the ps3's bluray disk has more room and stuff.

Yea but its a biitch to dev for. So it wouldn't a shock to hear that a game going to the PS3 from the 360 has to be simplified in some way. Now with that said and to avoid a fanboy flame fest, I don't think there will be any "downgrading" on either system.

 

[uchiha_itachi]

this is why (as some one mentioned before ) , they should do it for blu ray first then port it to whatever they used for the 360.

thing is though even when there is downgrading its so small that no one cares apart from those fanboys who use tht as an excuse to say there console is better.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

yea, I agree

 

[Dark_Lord]

Wonder-Con: The Force Unleashed

 

[uchiha_itachi]

lol junk jedi

 

[CorpusBlack]

finally someone gets it. Midway suggested this back last fall and it makes sense

That's how it should be.

 

[Raiden]

Wonder-Con: The Force Unleashed

 

[Iron_Stark]

Wonder-Con: The Force Unleashed

So you can play Vader in the first level? Cool! Hopefully he's unlockable so you can play him throughout the game.

 

[Storm22]

That's a bit odd imo. Playing as Vader who'll presumably be more powerful than the apprentice and have maxed up powers and then playing as the apprentice who'll start off with more basic force powers.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

That's a bit odd imo. Playing as Vader who'll presumably be more powerful than the apprentice and have maxed up powers and then playing as the apprentice who'll start off with more basic force powers.

Well, look at it as a precursor as things to come.

 

[Storm22]

Force Unleashed Miniatures

A look at some miniatures from the game. Some pretty interesting looking characters in there!

 

[Dark_Lord]

A preview of the Wii version...

I recently got the chance to visit Krome Studios Melbourne and get some hands on playtime with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. It should be mentioned that the version Krome Studios are working on for the PS2, Wii and PSP is built from the ground up using a different engine to the LucasArts developed Xbox 360 and PS3 version. Although the single player is generally the same, it’s probably going to be a different enough experience to warrant mention.

With that out of the way, I should also mention the version I got to play was the one that excited me the most – the Wii version.

Ever since we all realised the capabilities of Nintendo’s latest console and controller, there has been the constant thought at the back of every true geeks mind – when do we get to play game that will let me use the wiimote like a lightsaber?

Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat here – this is not that game. In fact, after hearing WHY this is not that game, I doubt there will EVER be that kind of game. While the concept works great in my head, in practice the concept doesn’t translate quite as well to a gaming experience. What happens when your lightsaber connects on screen but your swinging motion keeps going? How frustratingly difficult would deflecting be? Technical limitations aside (although they are there as well), I like my Star Wars games to be fun, and the idea of a lightsaber simulation game doesn’t sound as appealing when I actually think about the practical logistics behind it.

Ok, Ok, so I might be trying to convince myself as much as I’m trying to convince you here, but with good reason. What we have here is a solid Star Wars game that is not only fun, but looks to have a seriously cool single player story line, and some very fluid integration of the Wii motion controls.

The first taste I got of the game was actually a mode exclusive to the Wii and PSP versions of the game – Battle Mode. There hasn’t been a Star Wars fighting game since Star Wars: Masters of Terδs Kδsi on the Playstation (a game which I loved and thought was highly underrated), so I was stoaked about the inclusion. There seems to be a good selection of about 8 levels or so, the one we chose was in what looked like a Star Destroyer hanger.

It was here I got to grips with the unique Wii controls. The wiimote motions control the swing of your lightsaber – horizontal movement makes a horizontal swing, vertical movement make a vertical slash, and thrusting the wiimote forward will make your onscreen character do likewise. Although it took a bit of calibration to get the stabbing motion down, the rest of it felt great, with your movements represented on the screen almost instantaneously.

The nunchuck controls your force powers, and this is where the real fun part of the game is. Swinging the nunchuck does a standard Force push, while holding C will shoot bolts of lightning out of your hands. When an object (or character) is highlighted, you can press Z and pick them up, then use the joystick to move them around. From this position you can either hammer the nunchuck down to slam the object into the ground, or let go of Z to send it flying off in whatever direction you were moving it in.

For those hoping for some sort of 'Street Fighter' style combos, you’re out of luck, although there are some basic moves that can be strung together. Unfortunately stringing together combos with wiimote movements is pretty tricky to do, so the developers dropped it in favour of quick actions and promoting the use of force powers. You can however block any incoming attacks by holding the wiimote up horizontally, and eventually your character will power up, making their force powers stronger.

Without knowing too much about the single player part of the game, I want a copy of it for this mode alone. Right up there with Wii Sports and Rockstar presents Table Tennis, this looks to be one of those really easy to pick up and play multiplayer games and I can’t wait to play it with the help of mates and alcohol – never was there a better combination of factors to help test the merits of the multiplayer mode in a game.

I was eventually shown a single player mission, with the level taking place on Courosant. After a nice rendered cut scene the game began, and I couldn’t help but feel like the graphics resembled Knights of the Old Republic. Certainly not a criticism, just strange considering the difference in the ‘types’ of games. Seeing the moves previously perfected in battle mode used in a more open environment on multiple enemies was heaps of fun, and although I’m sure eventually I would probably get tired of picking up storm troopers and force flinging them into each other, the appeal didn’t wear off while I was there.

Speaking of the single player, I should probably mention a bit about the storyline, but I didn’t really get shown much of it and to be honest - I didn’t ask many questions. You’re a bad ass Dark Jedi, Darth Vaders apprentice, and in the level I saw you progress to a point where you had to defeat another Sith Lord in battle to earn Lord Vaders approval.

Seriously though, you’re a Dark Jedi – what more do you want to know? I always prefer to be the bad guy in the Star Wars universe – god knows I preferred the evil ending in Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight.

The boss battle I saw was against a guy called Darth Desolous, and was most probably the same species as the one Bruce Spence played in Episode 3 (look it up, he’s an Aussie acting legend). Each boss will have some sort of mechanic you use to defeat them, after which you will receive a new power. In this case, it was the ability to throw your lightsaber.

And that’s all I was able to see, but it was definitely enough. It’s a tough decision for a lot of people out there – AJ was telling me all about the amazing advanced physics and graphics of the 360 and PS3 versions, and yet the battle mode in the Wii version has won me over. Either way, it looks like a solid title for Star Wars fans – myself included.

http://www.australiangamer.com/preview/370/star_wars_the_force_unleashed.html

 

[Storm22]

Cool. Bit jealous of the exclusive Wii Battle Mode but hope they make up for it with cool exclusive features on the 360.

Great to hear of the Coruscant level, I'd say that will look stunning on next gen systems! I like that you get to fight another Sith too, Darth Desolous - nice!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Cool. Bit jealous of the exclusive Wii Battle Mode but hope they make up for it with cool exclusive features on the 360.

Eh, i wouldn't worry too much about. Seeing as how this is being labeled as the next chapter in the SW saga, id much rather have the more cinematic experience. Being able to actually see Euphoria and DMM in motion will be worth the lack of a vs mode.

 

[Storm22]

True, it'll no doubt look much better on the 360/PS3. I hope we get some sort of online feature too though.

 

[Dark_Lord]

Multiplayer has been confirmed for the 360/PS3 version and it's going to be online too. They just haven't revealed any details yet. They're calling the Wii duel mode, an exclusive mode, because, I think, it sounds more like a fighting game.

The 360/PS3 version will probably get multiplayer similar to that of the Jedi Knight games...I hope.

As for Coruscant. I think that might be one of the 5 exclusive Wii levels. I'm not sure though.

 

[Storm22]

Coruscant shouldn't be an exclusive level imo. It's pretty central to the Star Wars universe and to this story I'd say. They could have some other randomn planet as an exclusive but not coruscant.

 

[Dark_Lord]

Well, the Jedi Temple is exclusive to the Wii so that's why I'm thinking Coruscant will be exclusive.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Multiplayer has been confirmed for the 360/PS3 version and it's going to be online too. .

SOLD!

Although i was pretty much already sold.

 

[Nightmare]

Sweet, i hope we get to play as jedi on multiplayer. Just give me a lightsaber and get out of the way!

 

[Dark_Lord]

There's a preview in the official PlayStation Magazine.

• Force Jump - X
• Force Push - O
• Lightsaber - Square
• Force Grip - R2
• Game uses 3 physics engines (Euphoria engine, Havok engine, and DMM engine).
• Timed button presses do more damage than button mashing.
• Takes place between Episode 3 and 4.
• Huge plot twists for the entire series.
• Camera follows enemy bodies when spectacular moves are done.
• Force powers take more force the stronger they are but are usable with any amount for desperate attacks.
• You can grab flying TIE fighters and toss them into stormtroopers.
• Blocking lasers is automatic, but pressing L2 increases chance of blocking and reflecting.
• After completing missions you get points to upgrade powers and unlock new combos and skills.
• Force talents are separate and are used to upgrade health, energy, deflection chance, and lightsaber damage.
• Exploration is encouraged by finding holocrons. Sith holocrons, grant powerups, and Jedi holocrons unlock new costumes, lightsaber hilts, and crystals.
• Enemies can grab onto things like railings to stop your force grip.

http://looking4gamenews.blogspot.com/2008/03/star-wars-force-unleashed-information.html