by Peaking Legoman
Why is it that movie tie-ins consistently fail to live up to their potential? Is it so much to ask for just ONE decent and respectable videogame that is based on an existing movie license? When I started playing The Force Unleashed I was hoping that it would be different to every other movie tie-in game ever made. Most games that are based on an existing film license use the interactive medium of video games as a platform to craft another experience based in the universe of the film. In other words, the story and universe comes first and the game second. While I initially had hopes that The Force Unleashed was unique in as much as it used the existing universe of a movie as a starting point to create a compelling gaming experience (the opposite of most movie games), at the end of the day it’s no different than any other movie-based game out there.
Hit the jump for the rest of the review.
TFU is essentially a 3rd person action game with some light RPG elements at play in the form of a levelling system for your skills and force powers. Your primary tools of destruction are the mandatory Light Saber for melee combat, and access to ‘The Force’ for typical magic-type attacks. The Light Saber combat is generally quite enjoyable with a healthy selection of combos at your disposal that utilise different force powers in conjuction with your saber attacks. The problem is that after a while (maybe 2 or 3 levels) the action becomes a little stale and repetitive. The Saber is admittedly cool, and throwing enemies about with The Force is initially fun, but after doing the same thing 500 times it loses its itinial lustre. On top of that there seems to be a small delay with the melee controls leading to a feeling of unresponsiveness. While this isn’t too much of a problem in general gameplay it can prove quite frustrating in boss fights.
That being said, one area where this game really shines is in the visuals. The Force Unleashed has been in development for quite a while and it’s easy to see where much of the effort was spent. The game looks great. The character models are detailed with some really impressive texturing, and the same goes for the environments. It’s clear that lots of work has been done creating a convincing world that looks like part of the Star Wars universe. One level that stands out is the junk planet, with huge amounts of detail present in both the playable area and the non-playable junk piles stretching out over the level. In addition you have debris constantly flying through the air and scavengers on flying skiffs that eventually land and become enemies. This attention to detail is present throughout the game and if you have a HDTV you’re in for a real visual treat with TFU.
Another really important feature of TFU is its use of the impressive Euphoria engine for physics. When the game was first shown a few years back it was the physics that had most people talking, and although GTA4 beat them to the punch as the first game to incorporate Euphoria, it can be argued that TFU does a better job of showing off the new engine to the world. Watching Storm Troopers go realistically flying into a tree after using ‘force push’, or using ‘force grip’ to lift three Wookies into the air and seeing them flailing about as you throw them off a ledge – only to have one grab the railing on the way over and swing for a few seconds before falling to his death. It’s moments like this that really add a great deal to the game, and if nothing else proves to the gaming world that the next big thing in physics has arrived, and it can only get better from here.
However, when analysing a movie-based game it’s important to strip away all the elements and look at the gameplay as if it were an original IP without the borrowed creative capital of the film. If The Force Unleashed was just another action game with a dude running around with a sword instead of a Light Saber – and magic instead of force powers – what you would have is quite a mundane and generic experience that lacks the depth of other games in the genre. I realise that’s a little unfair as any game is the sum total of all of it’s parts, however that doesn’t necessarily mean each part has equal value. The narrative and universe are clearly essential in crafting a compelling world, but videogames are an interactive medium and gameplay should always come first.
So where does this leave The Force Unleashed? Well, it depends on your interest – or lack there of – in the Star Wars franchise. Fans of the movies will likely enjoy the opportunity to revisit the universe, and will no doubt be captivated by new story elements that take place between the 3rd and 4th films. However, if you just came looking for a game you may be disappointed. The repetitive gameplay and generic execution leaves this game in good company: with every other movie game that has come before it.
Gameplay – 6/10
Visuals – 8.5/10
Sound – 8.5/10
Longevity – 6/10
Overall – 6/10
*Note: Although Dimorphic has already reviewed The Force Unleashed I feel that it is valid to post an opinion from someone who is not a fan of Star Wars. This is for those of you out there who are like me, in as much as you want to know how fun the game is if you are not interested about Star Wars and are just looking for a game to play.
I’ve only played the demo so I whatever I say about the game must be taken from with a grain of salt. That said, from the demo I got the impression that even with increasingly powerful force powers, the game seemed to be a bit dull.
I understand the recognisable characters and environments would add extra appeal to a Star Wars fan (which I consider myself to be, to an extent), but in terms of gameplay, boss battles seemed lacking, the lightsaber seemed not awesome enough, and stormtroopers seemed to be insignificant and provide very little challenge.
When I first heard about this game, I imagined something along the lines of a HD Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, a game where you could sever limbs, use various force powers, and unarmed stormtroopers would actually surrender or scramble for another gun. Sadly, this appears not to be.
BLASPHEMY!!