Glen Atwell
Shaun InguanzoStar Wars: The 'Flaws' Unleashed REVIEW
September 17th 2008 04:01
Console:
Xbox 360
Article:
Review
Score (out of 10):
6
Author:
Shaun Inguanzo
Online Multiplayer:
No
Category: No Category
Almost more disappointing than the prequel films
AS A Star Wars fanatic I nearly wet myself when a copy of The Force Unleashed arrived on my desk last week.
A week later, I'm glad I didn't pee my pants because quite frankly, the game isn't worth the embarrassment.
Fundamentally, The Force Unleashed fails to offer anything new in terms of gameplay.
It's the same old hack and slash approach we've seen countless times before, except this time you can attack people with Force powers, too.
Credit to LucasArts for nailing the Force powers, because they are the highlight of the show.
But you'll play through the game feeling to much attention was devoted to perfecting Force powers, and not enough time was spent on gameplay.
You know these levels, even if you haven't played them. It's as though the Force is talking to you from boot-up.
"Long and repetitive, young apprentice," a guiding voice calls, warning you of what lies ahead.
"The Dark Side of this game is incredibly powerful. It makes you want to buy it, because it undoubtedly looks cool and feels great to play for the first ten minutes.
"But then it turns on you, like all Sith turn on their masters."
You play as Darth Vader's apprentice, but for someone so in tune with the Force, he seems to have a hard time beating down defenseless enemies.
Run-of-the-mill Storm Troopers who'd normally take one slash to kill in the films can take several powerful slashes before they die.
When they come before a lightsaber these buggers should melt like butter.
Then there's the frustrating level design and pathetic checkpoint save system.
Checkpoints are for games from the 90s, when cartridge or memory card space was tight.
In this age of 100 GB hard drives - with the minimum being 20GB in the 360, there's no reason why gamers should not be able to save at the point they are actually in.
Instead, you'll die and be taken back to a point you cleared five minutes earlier - rather easily, too - to then finally make it to the point you died at, and forget the hell how you died, so that it happens again.
Stupid, stupid system. Controller rage may set in at this point.
Level design, or evidence of, is lacking.
Random waves of enemies infiltrate the screen in primitive manoeuvres not seen since arcade classic Galaga.
Using the Force powers, you can even kill dumb enemies you're able to see, from a distance, before you 'trigger' their in-game response so that they 'see' you.
Other level highlights include falling off cliffs unnecessarily, thanks to a crappy, clueless camera; getting stuck on invisible walls; visual texture tearing; and Force powers that don't always work unless triggered from a specific spot.
I hate to be negative about the game, because it does show a lot of promise for a sequel.
But aside from the Force powers, and thrill of flinging bodies around empty hangars, through glass windows and into space, or throwing crates at people, there's nothing new or refreshing to be found here.
Casual gamers and Star Wars fans will probably love it.
It's worth a quick bash if you can find it for rent, but without multiplayer, it's hard to justify to anyone else a purchase based on its short single player campaign and poor replay value.
The Dark Side really is bad
AS A Star Wars fanatic I nearly wet myself when a copy of The Force Unleashed arrived on my desk last week.
A week later, I'm glad I didn't pee my pants because quite frankly, the game isn't worth the embarrassment.
Fundamentally, The Force Unleashed fails to offer anything new in terms of gameplay.
It's the same old hack and slash approach we've seen countless times before, except this time you can attack people with Force powers, too.
Credit to LucasArts for nailing the Force powers, because they are the highlight of the show.
But you'll play through the game feeling to much attention was devoted to perfecting Force powers, and not enough time was spent on gameplay.
You know these levels, even if you haven't played them. It's as though the Force is talking to you from boot-up.
"Long and repetitive, young apprentice," a guiding voice calls, warning you of what lies ahead.
"The Dark Side of this game is incredibly powerful. It makes you want to buy it, because it undoubtedly looks cool and feels great to play for the first ten minutes.
"But then it turns on you, like all Sith turn on their masters."
You play as Darth Vader's apprentice, but for someone so in tune with the Force, he seems to have a hard time beating down defenseless enemies.
Run-of-the-mill Storm Troopers who'd normally take one slash to kill in the films can take several powerful slashes before they die.
When they come before a lightsaber these buggers should melt like butter.
Then there's the frustrating level design and pathetic checkpoint save system.
Checkpoints are for games from the 90s, when cartridge or memory card space was tight.
In this age of 100 GB hard drives - with the minimum being 20GB in the 360, there's no reason why gamers should not be able to save at the point they are actually in.
Instead, you'll die and be taken back to a point you cleared five minutes earlier - rather easily, too - to then finally make it to the point you died at, and forget the hell how you died, so that it happens again.
Stupid, stupid system. Controller rage may set in at this point.
Level design, or evidence of, is lacking.
Random waves of enemies infiltrate the screen in primitive manoeuvres not seen since arcade classic Galaga.
Using the Force powers, you can even kill dumb enemies you're able to see, from a distance, before you 'trigger' their in-game response so that they 'see' you.
Other level highlights include falling off cliffs unnecessarily, thanks to a crappy, clueless camera; getting stuck on invisible walls; visual texture tearing; and Force powers that don't always work unless triggered from a specific spot.
I hate to be negative about the game, because it does show a lot of promise for a sequel.
But aside from the Force powers, and thrill of flinging bodies around empty hangars, through glass windows and into space, or throwing crates at people, there's nothing new or refreshing to be found here.
Casual gamers and Star Wars fans will probably love it.
It's worth a quick bash if you can find it for rent, but without multiplayer, it's hard to justify to anyone else a purchase based on its short single player campaign and poor replay value.
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Comment by jon
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Comment by Shaun Inguanzo
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Still pick it up and play it mate - just make sure you buy it from a shop where you can return it.
The game's had mixed reviews but frankly I don't see how it is anything above average.
It's nothing on the now-ageing Jedi Knight II games in terms of substance, although the Force powers are better done.
If you're a Star Wars fan you'll still have to play it, in my opinion - just don't get your hopes up.
Cheers
Shaun
Comment by Ann 2
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Comment by Anonymous
Sounds like it doesn't. Oh well.