It’s strange that we have been playing Star Wars games for decades, yet it has taken this long for players to finally step in and feel like they are in control of The Force. Serving both as a brand chapter in the Star Wars canon and a piece of entertainment software, The Force Unleashed has a lot to deliver on. While the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 get the privilege of hiding behind fancy new technology, Krome Studios don’t have anything fancy to hide behind for their efforts on the Nintendo Wii.

The common factor between all versions of The Force Unleashed is the story, detailing the events tying the ‘new’ and ‘old’ trilogies together through the eyes of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Strangely the story itself successfully ties the two trilogies together, not just through plot points, but by combining the quality of the original trilogies writing with the stiff delivery and robotic acting of the prequels. Star Wars fans will take it for what it is and thoroughly enjoy it, but everyone else will see this is not quite the cinematic experience it could have been.

And that’s where the similarities end between the Wii and its HD enabled brethren. Instead the Wii game is running off an enhanced PS2 build with some extra goodies, much like other third party game released on the system. Lightsaber combat is handled by Wiimote waggle and unleashing the force via the nunchuck. While nothing here is calling for 1:1 commands, basic movements for these controls were a smart move on the developer’s part for more accurate control responses. Despite not having DMM and Euphoria tech at their disposal, Krome have made clever use of scripted events and standard ragdoll physics to succeed in giving players the feeling that they are true Jedi masters. It’s an impressive feat for the old technology, but it does not excuse the typical 3D action game issues present in The Force Unleashed like shaky camera controls and feelings of repetition in the combat.

As an enhanced PS2 game the visuals are obviously not a strong point for The Force Unleashed on Wii. Character models are passable from a distance, but environments and larger set pieces barely keep up with last generation Star Wars titles, such as the Rogue Squadron series. Where polygons fail the game, art direction tries to make up for it with varied levels showcasing many different aspects of the Star Wars universe. And since it wouldn’t be a Star Wars game without John Williams receiving royalties for his previous efforts; players will feel right at home with the classic them, along with some new tunes to hum at their next SciFi convention. Voice actors do a passable job most of the time, and the inclusion of Jimmy Smits adds to the authenticity. However Matt Sloan feels like little more than a poor man’s James Earl Jones behind the mask of Vader which comes off as disappointing.

When all is said and done the single player portion of the game comes in a roughly 6-7 hours of playtime on the first run. There are plenty of hidden goodies to collect in the levels ranging from concept art to new outfits and lightsaber components, meaning those obsessive compulsives will have reason to play through the game more than once. As a neat exclusive, Wii owners will get to take on their friends in duel mode to see who the true Jedi master is. These play out much like the Jedi boss battles found in the single player campaign, only without the spawning enemies and cinematic waggle finishing moves. Duel mode is a nice addition, but with the only option for play being 2 players locally it is limited in enjoyment.

If you have even the slightest interest in the Star Wars universe, The Force Unleashed is an immediate must buy. Fans will appreciate the new story and will overlook the games faults and enjoy their time playing. Anyone without a previous understanding of the Force may not understand what the hell is going on, but should consider at least a rental to see what all the fuss is about.

Platform reviewed: Wii

Presentation
Gameplay
Value
Overall