The first details of LucasArts' PS3 and Xbox 360 Star Wars project have finally emerged, from the latest issue of US mag Game Informer.
It's called Star Wars: Force Unleashed and takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, when new Sith on the block Darth Vader is out to wipe the galaxy clean of runaway Jedi.
As Vader's apprentice, you're on a secret mission to dive head-first into the forbidden Dark Side of the force, take out the emperor and rule the galaxy as master and apprentice. Awww.
Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are being developed in-house at Lucasarts, while PS2, PSP and DS duties have been outsourced to another, unnamed developer.
George Lucas reportedly has a lot of input in the project, and even helped design some of the characters.
Force Unleashed uses LucasArts' much-touted Eurphoria engine, which calculates environmental damage such as smashing crates in real-time. One given example of the tech is how a tree will either break in two or splinter realistically depending on how you hit it. Likewise, steel will dent appropriately when damaged your fancy Force powers.
And speaking of Force powers, many of the world-bending tricks from the E3 tech demo are present in Force Unleashed, including the "cannon ball"-like force push, with controls presented in a similar vein to the excellent Psi-Ops.
One scene reportedly has you battling Jedi Knight Shaak Ti in the Jedi Temple, after the galaxy-wide order to exterminate of the Jedi. There's also the suggestion of being able to control your own pack of Rancors, the gigantic beasties that Jabba the Hutt likes to keep under his gaff.
But we all know how Star Wars ends so it's going to be a very predictable cock-up for Vadar's Palpatine-trouncing plans, right? LucasArts promises to shake up the Star Wars lore with alternate endings in Unleashed, where the bad guys really can win.
We'll bring you more details - and hopefully media - as it arrives. Where's the Wii version though? Perfect for the Wii Remote...
Well the Wii probably cant run the Euphoria ....if it cant run the UE3 the Euphoria may be as well out of its capabilities ....
Sure, that's what I thought too, but then remember that there are PS2, PSP and DS versions in development too... So, no, this argument doesn't hold.
The PS2, PSP & DS versions will likely be stripped down - the PS2 version will probably use some kind of Havok Phys engine instead.
I can't wait for this - I'm a complete mug when it comes to Star Wars, I'll shell out for anything. I'm pretty excited about the gameplay implications of Euphoria after seeing those Indy tech demos.
I have to agree that the 'Wii is underpowered' argument holds no weight for me either at the moment.
Factor 5, love or hate their games, can push systems like few other developers- the GCN is a good example, where F5's first generation game Rogue Squadron was doing things many games that were released in the final span of the console still weren't.
In a recent interview Julian Eggbrecht was dumping on all the 'lazy developers' that were using the public perception that the Wii is underpowered to deliver games that are in no way pushing the systems hardware.
I think there is much potential left to come, nothing approaching what the other two consoles will likely see, but given a motivated dev like F5 and we could see some interesting things.
Well the PS2 ,PSP and DS versions have been outsourced so I think we will see much more traditional approaches for those versions and of course devoid of the Euphoria engine ...maybe the Wii could get one of those and put lightsaber fighting .
The Euphoria engine is really exciting, and potentially a fresh thing in the face of the countless games using Unreal Engine 3: so many of those games look the same.
The setting and storyline sound a bit disappointing though - they could easily have done something that would fit into the lore as something that becomes factual to the universe.
Most people want Lucasarts to either produce games way prior to the Saga's timespan, or into the Expanded Universe after Episode VI, and I'm one of them.
From what I previously saw of the Tech Demo, and from also judging by what the original article of this topic says, in my opinion Star Wars: Force Unleashed has potential to be pretty good.
It just all depends on how Lucasart do it really.
My favourite Star Wars games were Jedi Power Battles on the Dreamcast, and then Revenge of the Sith on the PS2.
Revenge of the Sith was quite basic in most aspects, but the overall game was made suitably well. The main boss fights played quite well, and the combo system seemed pretty swish.
Psi-ops is one of my favourite games, and being able to play a Star Wars game on the same style basis as it, seems to me like it could actually work, and maybe help to better the Star Wars franchise as a whole.
Overall, I like the sounds of it at the minute, but I'll wait for more footage and screenshots to turn up, before I make any definitive decisions.
Keep an eye out though guys and gals, this "could" turn out pretty well.
Wow. Lucasarts to create yet another Star Wars cash-in. Get some originality back boys - I can't believe this is the same studio I used to adore 15 years ago.
PC version? Damn LucasArts if they won't port it to the PC as well...
I agree where the hell is the next Jedi Knight PC game? I thought this game was gonna be on PC and new consoles as the next Jedi Knight type of game. The Game certainly looks to play like the Jedi Knight series from the video.
Definitely one to keep an eye on. I love the concept, and am impressed with the tech. Let's hope this is one of LA's better efforts. I'll wait before getting very excited. Lucas sure has screwed the pooch more often then not. But it's about freakin' time we have a Jedi Knight-ish game where you play as a Sith. Talk about overdue.
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