Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)

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This article is about the video game. For the multimedia project, see Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Developer(s) LucasArts (PS3, X360)
Krome Studios (PS2, PSP, Wii)
n-Space (DS)
Universomo (N-Gage)
Publisher(s) LucasArts
Engine Ronin
Platform(s) Consoles: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Handhelds: Nintendo DS, N-Gage, PlayStation Portable
Release date NA September 16, 2008
EU September 19, 2008
AUS September 17, 2008
Genre(s) Action, Fighting
Mode(s) Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
Media Blu-ray Disc, DS game card, Dual layer DVD, UMD, Wii Optical Disc
Input methods Gamepad, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, touchscreen

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (TFU) is an upcoming video game, part of a future multimedia project developed and published by LucasArts along with Dark Horse Comics, Lego, Hasbro, and Del Rey Books.[1] The game will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii,[2] PlayStation Portable,[3] Nintendo DS,[4] second-generation N-Gage,[5] and PlayStation 2.[3] The game is expected to be released in North America on September 16, 2008; in Australia on September 17, 2008; and in Europe on September 19, 2008.[6]

Contents

[edit] Development

The 20 to 25 early concepts included making the game the third entry in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series, or to have the character play as a Wookiee "superhero," Darth Maul, a bounty hunter, a smuggler, or "the last Skywalker".[7][8] In April 2005, after "several months" of planning, the LucasArts team received Star Wars creator George Lucas' encouragement to create a game centered on Darth Vader's secret apprentice in the period between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, "trying to draw the two trilogies together".[9][8][7][10] Krome Studios is developing the PS2, PSP and Wii versions of The Force Unleashed, while n-Space is developing the Nintendo DS version.[11] LucasArts opted not to develop a personal computer version of The Force Unleashed because doing the game well would be too processor-intensive for typical computers.[10] Some gameplay elements were not ported to all platforms because of each platform's differing features -- for example, the Wii's "social experience" led to the design of that version's two-player duel mode.[12]

The Force Unleashed is the first game on which LucasArts and Industrial Light and Magic have worked since they both relocated to the Letterman Digital Arts Center.[13] Development of the Xbox 360 version came first; PlayStation 3 development started when the production team had enough development kits.[7] The game is based around LucasArts' proprietary "Ronin" game engine but also integrates third-party technology: Havok for rigid body physics, Pixelux Entertainment's "Digital Molecular Matter" (DMM) for dynamically destructible objects, and NaturalMotion's Euphoria for character animation and artificial intelligence.[7] LucasArts' programmers had to overcome technical hurdles to get Havok-, DMM- and Euphoria-coded components to interact.[14] Developers also had to strike a balance between realistic and entertaining physics.[14]

To give the game a more cinematic presentation, intended to make players think they are "actually, finally, in a Star Wars movie," developers used face- and motion-capture equipment during stage actors' voice and physical performances of their lines.[7][14] Mark Griskey, who composed the music for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, composed TFU's score.[15] LucasArts music supervisor Jesse Harlin said the music matches the game's themes of redemption and bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope;[15] said Harlin:

We had to make sure that the game’s score started off rooted within the Prequel Trilogy feel of ethnic percussion and sweeping themes that spoke to the nobility and grandeur of the old Jedi Order. As the game progresses, however, the Empire gains more control, the Jedi are hunted, and the ordered control of the Prequels gives way to the more romantic temperament of the Original Trilogy.[15]

The game's soundtrack will include material composed by John Williams for the films in addition to material created specifically for The Force Unleashed.[15] The 90-minute soundtrack was recorded by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra and mixed at Skywalker Sound in September and October 2007.[15]

[edit] Gameplay and features

The game's developers wanted each platform to offer players a distinct, "unleashed" experience of "kicking ass with the Force".[11][10] The Wii version will use the Wii Remote to simulate the ability to wield a lightsaber, while the Nunchuk attachment will simulate Force power use.[16] In addition to duel mode, the Wii version also includes five levels not included in the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions.[16][17] The PlayStation Portable version will feature an exclusive "historic mode" that allows players to reenact five battles and events from the Star Wars films as well as multiplayer for up to four players.[11][18] The Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions will allow the player's character to participate in Jedi trials, encountering the spirits of long-dead Jedi.[11][12] The N-Gage version will use a "CellWeaver" gesture system: each enemy will have a symbol above its head that corresponds to a "gesture," or button combination, that will result in the player's character using a Force power to attack the enemy.[19] The Nintendo DS version will allow players to use the stylus to input a chain of lightsaber effects combined with Force powers.[11]

Although the story, characters, locations, story structure, and cinematics will be consistent across all platforms, specific details vary between platforms.[10] For example, the opening level on Kashyyyk will be a daytime attack on the Xbox 360, while the Wii, PSP and PS2 depictions happen at night with different levels.[10]

[edit] Plot

Lucasfilm claims the game will "unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy" with a theme of "redemption".[13][10] The player will control Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Starkiller (voiced by Sam Witwer).[20] Darth Vader (voiced by Matt Sloan) sends Starkiller across the galaxy to destroy the remaining Jedi;[14][21] the game also will involve the creation of the Rebel Alliance and feature Princess Leia Organa playing "an important part of the story".[14][10] During the first level, the player will control Darth Vader, searching Kashyyyk for a surviving Jedi whose son goes on to become Starkiller;[14][22] other locations depicted in the game will include the Jedi Temple on Coruscant,[10] Nar Shaddaa,[10] Raxus Prime,[22] Darth Vader's Super Star Destroyer,[22] and a TIE fighter factory.[10]

Starkiller himself will become "even more powerful than Vader".[10] Although the player's character initially will carry out Vader's orders, "things aren't going to be the same" when the game ends.[10] Starkiller's actions throughout the game will influence which of several endings the player experiences at the game's conclusion.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Overview. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. LucasArts. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  2. ^ LucasArts to Unleash the Force on the Wii in Spring 2008 (2007-09-18).
  3. ^ a b Games by Platform. LucasArts. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  4. ^ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  5. ^ THQ Wireless, Lucasfilm Ltd., and LucasArts to bring Star Wars: The Force Unleashed(TM) to N-Gage. Nokia (2007-12-03). Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  6. ^ Berardini, César A. (2008-04-03). Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Dated. Team Xbox. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  7. ^ a b c d e GDC '08: LucasArts prioritizing PS3 dev, unleashing Force. Gamespot (2008-02-22). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  8. ^ a b Blackman, W. Haden (2007-03-22). The Force Unleashed: From Concept to Console. Star Wars: Gaming. Lucasfilm. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  9. ^ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Webdoc #3. Gamespot (2008-01-25). Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Gandhi, Mayur (2008-05-16). The Force Unleashed: Interview with Dan Wasson. NZGamer.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
  11. ^ a b c d e The TFU Experience. Lucasfilm. Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
  12. ^ a b Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Interview 1. GameSpot (2008-05-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  13. ^ a b Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Continues the Star Wars Adventure. Star Wars: Gaming. Lucasfilm (2007-02-14). Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  14. ^ a b c d e f DiGiacomo, Frank (04 2008). The Game Has Changed. Technology. Vanity Fair. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  15. ^ a b c d e Star Wars: The Force Unleashed -- Orchestra Recording Session at Skywalker Sound. Music 4 Games (2008-04-14). Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  16. ^ a b Ogden, Gavin (2007-09-18). Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - on Wii. Computer and Video Games.
  17. ^ Hicks, Chris (2008-01-28). Wii gets exclusive Force Unleashed levels. Computer and Video Games.
  18. ^ Roper, Chris (2008-01-25). Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Impressions. IGN.
  19. ^ The Force Unleashed on N-Gage. Nokia (2007-12-04). Retrieved on 2008-03-11.
  20. ^ Gandhi, Mayur (2008-05-15). Exclusive The Force Unleashed Information!. NZGamer.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-17.
  21. ^ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Official Website. LucasArts. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  22. ^ a b c Ramsay, Randolph (2008-05-16). Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Updated Impressions. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.

[edit] External links

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