Dec 13 2008
Review: The Force Unleashed
Recently I mentioned a bout of unleashed force against various alien races. Actually, I can’t remember if I wrote that or just said it, but it doesn’t matter anyway because I’m saying it now. For those of you who don’t know, “The Force Unleashed” is a video game developed by LucasArts, a company most notably cited for the epic “Star Wars” trilogy and the pathetic yet still excessively hyped “Star Wars” prequel trilogy. They also produce “Star Wars” games in Lego, design “Star Wars” sound effects and have led the brain dead army of “Star Wars” fan zombies since the 70’s. I don’t really approve of the one trick pony that is George Lucas, but it does make good business sense that, when you find something that works, you milk it until it’s teats fall off.
“The Force Unleashed” is another carton of milk squirted from the raw udders of the “Star Wars” cow and is designed to let the player play around with the incredibly satisfying havok physics of the game world and fling objects and people around with your unrivaled force powers. Luke Skywalker pales in comparison to this kid. I would say he’s even better than Darth Vader, though, when I fought him, I got my ass thoroughly tossed around before a narrow victory over the cyborg Sith lord. The story was sound and the voice acting was adequate, though the script did endeavour to constantly mention destiny, which is writer speak for “I don’t know why he’s doing this thing, so let’s just tell the audience it’s the characters destiny.” Then the executives cheer his literary genius, give him an unreasonably obese check and sell their new force pushing, light-saber wielding, prequel tie in to the fanatic masses.
It’s not a bad game in terms of entertainment value. I had fun yanking stormtroopers around with my mind and shoving force lightning down the throats of anybody in the game who pissed me off, which was everybody. It’s not Orwell in terms of explication, but it’s adequate to drive the games story. I did like the constant betrayals and the fact that you’re a bad ass Sith warrior as opposed to a little goody two-shoes Jedi. It may be a “God of War” game given knew mapping and telekinesis, but that’s great because “God of War” was great and it was fun, as a video game should be. All in all, “The Force Unleashed” is a delightful romp, worth renting and, if you’re a fan of the franchise, a good buy, though I would have given the game a more appropriate title for the experience. It would have been a better sell if they just called it “Star Wars: Telekinetic Asshole.”
