A first look at Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Activision reveals a first look at Star Wars: The Force Unleashed to IGN and we’re happy to share the meaty details to be had, after having been fed snippets about this latest Star Wars title. As we all know by now, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed time line happens between Star Wars Episode III and IV, with Darth Vader now training an apprentice he plots to use to destroy the Emperor. The player takes on the role of this said apprentice.

The project leader of The Force Unleashed, Hayden Blackman claims that the team has to work closely with George Lucas, to keep up with the image of the game as “the next big thing”. To keep up with the theme of The Force Unleashed, Blackman explains:

The experience is all about ‘The Force unleashed’. What does this mean? It’s not just about using Force Push to knock over a Stormtrooper or a couple of droids. It’s about hitting that Stormtrooper like he’s been hit by a cannonball – sending him backwards and thrashing through columns and breaking glass and denting metal.

More about Star Wars: Force Unleashed after the jump!

 

Activision reveals a first look at Star Wars: The Force Unleashed to IGN and we’re happy to share the meaty details to be had, after having been fed snippets about this latest Star Wars title. As we all know by now, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed time line happens between Star Wars Episode III and IV, with Darth Vader now training an apprentice he plots to use to destroy the Emperor. The player takes on the role of this said apprentice.

The project leader of The Force Unleashed, Hayden Blackman claims that the team has to work closely with George Lucas, to keep up with the image of the game as “the next big thing”. To keep up with the theme of The Force Unleashed, Blackman explains:

The experience is all about ‘The Force unleashed’. What does this mean? It’s not just about using Force Push to knock over a Stormtrooper or a couple of droids. It’s about hitting that Stormtrooper like he’s been hit by a cannonball – sending him backwards and thrashing through columns and breaking glass and denting metal.

Two new revolutionary technologies were adopted to keep up with this theme: DMM by Pixelux which simulates the physical properties of real-world materials in a molecular level. The second, ‘euphoria’, by NaturalMotion allows characters in the game to automatically take their surroundings into strategic, reactive consideration. A charater will shift his or her footing if the room shakes or tilts.

To better explain these, Activision presented two level demonstrations. One was an encounter in fungal planet Felucia, while the other was a battle at a TIE Fighter construction plant. IGN was amply impressed with the demo gameplay, albeit a bit disappointed at the lack of lightsaber activity. According to the designers, throwing stuff around seems to be more appealing.

What was also exceptional about The Force Unleashed was that the characters’ reactions are all natural reactions to situations, entirely unscripted. Apart from the Apprentice, other new characters were announced. Juno Eclipse is an Imperial pilot ferrying the player on a private cruiser. Shaak-Ti is a Twi’lek warrior, Maris Brood is a Zabrak female with dual lightsabers and General Kota wields a blue lightsaber who fights like a samurai. The requisite humanoid robot has yet to be announced.

This darker, more violent, and more aggressive Star Wars title will be released November 2007 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, and Nintendo DS.