Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Tags: violence

Plot synopsis:
Set in between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Darth Vader is sent by Emperor Palpatine to destroy a Jedi named Kento Marek who survived Palpatine's Jedi purge and is hiding on the Wookiee homeworld, Kashyyyk. The Force Unleashed begins with the player controlling Darth Vader as he searches Kashyyyk for Marek. After defeating Marek in battle, Vader discovers his child, Galen Marek, who is strong in the Force and raises him to become his apprentice, unbeknownst to the Emperor. When the apprentice (known in the game as "Starkiller", and whom the player now controls) reaches adulthood, Vader sends him to kill the remaining Jedi as training for his ultimate goal: assassinating the Emperor so Vader and Starkiller can rule the galaxy together. Starkiller travels between missions aboard the Rogue Shadow, developing a close relationship with his crew, consisting of lightsaber training droid PROXY and Imperial pilot Juno Eclipse. Starkiller is first sent to defeat an aging Jedi Master that has his own security force: Rahm Kota. In this fight, Kota sees various visions of Starkiller's future before being blinded by Starkiller's lightsaber and falling to the ecumenopolis of Nar Shaddaa below. He is then sent to defeat an insane Jedi Master on Raxus Prime that has animated pieces of metal to create droids: Kazdan Paratus. Paratus and all of his droids are destroyed, including Paratus's mock Jedi Council. Finally, Starkiller is sent to kill former Jedi Councilwoman Shaak Ti on Felucia. Ti has militarised the local Force-sensitive Felucians as well as influenced the local fauna to attack Starkiller. Ultimately unsuccessful, Shaak Ti prophesises that the Sith will always turn on one another before she commits suicide by jumping into the sarlacc pit, becoming a force ghost.
Ti's prophecy comes true immediately. The Emperor discovers Starkiller's existence and forces Vader to kill the apprentice; Vader hurls Starkiller into space, but secretly dispatches droids to retrieve and revive him. Vader sends his apprentice to foster a rebellion among those who resist the Empire, distracting the Emperor so Vader can make his move. Starkiller proceeds to break into various Imperial facilities and recruit several allies, including Rahm Kota, Princess Leia Organa, and her father Senator Bail Organa. In the process, Starkiller learns from Kota about the Jedi way, which ultimately leads him into sparing Jedi apprentice Maris Brood, who had succumbed to corruption by the dark side after Starkiller murdered her master Shaak Ti on Felucia.
Senators Organa, Mon Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis meet on Corellia to plan a rebellion against the Empire, but are interrupted when Darth Vader arrives and arrests them and Kota. Vader attacks Starkiller and reveals that he was never meant to overthrow the Emperor; from the beginning, he was the Emperor's tool to expose his enemies, and that Vader's plans to overthrow the Emperor did not include Starkiller. Surviving Vader's attack, Starkiller uses the Force to ascertain the senators' and Kota's location: the Death Star. Inside the space station, Starkiller duels Darth Vader and manages to defeat his former master. As the Emperor goads Starkiller into killing Vader, Kota attempts to fight the Emperor, but is incapacitated by the Emperor's Force lightning.
If the player chooses the light side, Starkiller fights and defeats Emperor Palpatine, but Kota prevents him from killing Palpatine in hatred. The Emperor renews his attack and Starkiller, whilst absorbing it, sacrifices himself by opening his body to the Force, while Kota and the senators escape on the Rogue Shadow. The Emperor and Vader look over Starkiller's corpse, concerned that he has become a martyr to inspire the newly formed Rebel Alliance. Senator Organa and the others agree to proceed with their rebellion and Leia decides to use Starkiller's family crest as the Rebellion's symbol. Outside, Juno talks to Kota, who tells her that among Starkiller's dark thoughts, Juno herself was one bright spot that he held onto right until his death. This is the ending depicted in the novelization and this was the canonical ending until Lucasfilm rebranded the expanded universe into "Star Wars Legends".
If the player chooses the dark side, Starkiller kills Darth Vader. The Emperor then offers to let Starkiller take Vader's place as his apprentice if Starkiller proves himself by killing Kota. Starkiller instead attacks the Emperor, who effortlessly crushes Starkiller with the Rogue Shadow, severely injuring him and killing Kota, Juno, and the Senators. The story ends with Starkiller's broken body being grafted with armor so he can serve as the Emperor's assassin, though Palpatine assures Starkiller that he, like Vader, will be cast aside when he finds a new apprentice. The Infinities expansion content builds on this ending.

Review: The game is great- it just was slightly less amazing than the initial hype lead everyone to believe.
This game is quite enjoyable because of its gameplay, campaign and how the story links so well to the rest of the saga, especially the last three episodes.
There are many highlights to this game, and a few flaws...but mostly it's one that Star Wars fans should buy because of its freedom in the way you create your character and the way they introduce already-created planets which have not received much attention from those who've only watched the movies.Gameplay - The gameplay is top-notch, the way you are able to move around like a Jedi, jump and fight like a Jedi, and use a variety of memorable Force powers like a Sith.
You really do get the sense that you're this extremely gifted and powerful apprentice who goes around killing Jedi (it's nice to play an antagonist for once), and taking orders from this famous villain who is shown to be cruel and evil.
The Force powers are nicely thought-of, as well as the ability to unlock new moves and upgrade yourself using the Levling system.
There are some originals, like Force Push, Force Lightning and Saber-throw, but there are also a few new ones, like Force Repulse and Lightning Shield which both also have their roles to play.Story - The plot is quite simple, and very much like Assassin's Creed.
Here is by far and away my least favourite of all the Star Wars games that I have played.
It's just this game's structure is enough to make me flip tables.The plot of this game is that Darth Vader killed a Jedi on Kashyyk and takes his son under his wing for Sith training.
As his secret apprentice years later you have to hunt and kill Jedi that survived the "Execute Order 66".
It seems like every time a cinematic plays that they're attempting to get me invested but then is interrupted by having you blow crap up.
It's actually the best I have seen on a Star Wars game.
The title really delivers what to expect in the fact that you can bend The Force to do a lot of interesting and unique things in how you kill people and other things in the game.
Clearly if as much time went into the story as the developers did with the game-play then this could have been the greatest Star Wars game, and considering they're the only decent movie based games that's saying a lot.If anything about the game-play annoyed me it would have to be the final boss.
Apparently there is a completely feasible way out of it.So to sum up, The only reason to get this is the fun game-play.
I guess if you're a die hard Star Wars fan you'll enjoy it but I feel that there are a lot more things they could have done with this, while games like Jedi Outcast had worse game-play - that didn't matter because the story is top notch and you can feel a connection to the characters.
Story is great (with influence and approval by George Lucas himself), fitting saga very good, voice acting is excellent and animations well synchronized with story, sound and music almost at the film quality.Did they got the feeling of being a Jedi right?
It's cool using light-saber, force (abilities develop by collecting points and experiences in battles) and especially light-saber fight with other Jedi.Unfortunately, there are two big flaws: camera and character controls and in this types of game they are crucial for comfortable game-play.Camera sometimes gets weird and makes you feel confused, which doesn't go too well with dozen of enemies in screen.
It's little frustration that you'll notice.Controls are also not good and precise, especially force power that you use to move objects or enemies.
You can see that game developers invested great amount of time in it, but unfortunately it just doesn't work so well.
It looks cool but with time you'll find it more practical to use light-saber and other force abilities and this leaves one segment of the game unused.How do camera and control flaws influence game-play directly?
Well, in Force Unleashed it's not only you but certain amount of luck regarding on controls and camera.However, those problems are not huge obstacle to beat the game so you won't have big problems with that, especially if you're Star Wars fan and story holds you even tighter to the game.
However, although I like Star Wars I didn't have enough enthusiasm to beat it second time.When I look at the game I have feeling it should have been developed a bit longer to correct those flaws that make so much difference in this genre.
Others - try it before you buy it and if you like this genre and have PS2 I'd rather recommend God of War instead, it beats Force Unleashed in every segment (if you still didn't play it, of course).Oh, and what kind of game it could have been..
Great story in a meh game.
This needs 2 separate reviews: As a Star Wars story, and as a video game.As a Star Wars story it was pretty great.
The relationship between Darth Vader and his Apprentice was nuanced and definitely developed over the course of the game.
This game is pretty much what a star wars fan should play.So Darth Vader invades a planet of wookies, he battles a jedi finds out that the Jedi had a son.
Years to come he trains the son to become his apprentice and calls him by the name Starkiller.The actual game play is good, some levels were frustrating but I still got there.The GGI was also good and so was the Mocap from the actors that voiced and motion scoped them.The only thing I didn't like was the ending but overall it was a good game..
Well this is basically the only game for the Xbox 360 that is Star Wars because the Force Unleashed 2 isn't a game.
So here the game-play is cool but bad at the same time.
You get to feel like a Jedi or Sith yet the camera hates the gamer so much it will do everything in it's power to stop you.
The sound is just amazing the score screams Star Wars and the voice acting makes the cut scenes that much better.
Now the story is down right one of the best in the the world of Star Wars this was better then some of the newer movies this story made you just to want to watch the cut scenes.
The problem is this isn't a movie the game-play drags this game down far.
So in the end rent this game it is still fun just has some flaws that you just don't want or need to deal with..
It tells the story of Darth Vaders secret apprentice - known only as 'Starkiller'.
Most star wars fans will know the irony of that name - it being the original screenplay name for 'Skywalker', before Lucas changed it.
- No starkiller is not related to Vader before anyone thinks it - its just a cool in-gag!
Starkiller is a powerful force user, corrupted and sworn to Vader, in the hopes that Vader and his apprentice will overthrow the Emporer.
The story of Starkiller hunting Jedi is quite simple, but where it gets interesting is the point where 'you decide your own destiny' - especially with the Sith betraying one another.
Its great - I was never sure if it was all Starkillers own masterplan for himself against Vader and the emporer, was he legit, was he working for Vader!?
Some parts players may seem far fetched and a bit of a let down with key characters, especially when the game ends.
The Star Destroyer force level is great - albeit it could of been explained a little better - as I wasn't sure where I was going with it the first time round!Story 8/10 Vader discovers a boy with an incredible connection to the force.
Years later, Vader sends his apprentice 'starkiller' to hunt and destroy surviving members of the Jedi Knights.
The destructive environments are cool.Sounds 10/10 Perfect star wars music throughout, from episodes 1-6, plus a whole load of new tracks.
Starkiller is well done.Gameplay 8/10 Fun to walk around, blasting, electrocuting, throwing, sabering enemies about.
The parts where you can slice an ATST vertically in two is great, and you can take on Rancors with a little more ease - the way you would think Sidious, Dooku, Vader, Mual etc would if they were there.
But the time you invest in playing and the shear fun of blasting enemies through walls, slicing ATSTs in half, duelling with Vader and Darth Maul (yes thats right) and being a Sith lord and the good story, its a worthy game to play.
Don't expect to be playing this in weeks to come thinking there will be something new - as once you seen all there is, thats everything!
But to return to a galaxy far far away, - and with Vader, the Empire as the villains again - it was great - like visiting old friends - and blasting them through walls before frying them!.
From what I can see there are two possible outcomes when played on the Wii console, only one of which could be considered as coming close to fitting in with the already somewhat shaky continuity of the new Star Wars universe.
If you haven't played the game to the end stop reading because I'm about to tell you why the two outcomes don't really work other than as Expanded Universe material.
I was also wowed by the fact that we had just been told that the birth of the Rebellion was actually pushed into being with the help of a plot by Vader and his secret apprentice to "out" the would-be rebels.
(And the use of the name Starkiller was also a nice nod to old, concept-Star Wars material that didn't quite make it into the film...the name was at one time even the last name of Luke!) But then after playing it through a second time I realized that something didn't quite fit.
The fact that Vader finds out that Bail Organa, Leia and Mon Mothma are all rebels prior to the events of Star Wars A New Hope in which Leia and her family reveal their allegiance by stealing the plans for the Death Star doesn't work well in terms of continuity and theme.
But in the Force Unleashed the Emperor commands Vader to go out and hunt the now exposed rebels mercilessly.
If the game had made some excuse as to why the Emperor and Vader would have to contain their anger and try to expose the rebels some other way, say perhaps that they are embarrassed and thought that a loss of power through fear would be the outcome if they had to admit they were defeated by a young apprentice and the escaped rebels, then it would almost work.
Or perhaps the game should not have allowed Vader to see who the rebels were and instead the apprentice protects them and confronts Vader before he finds out their identities...but having brought together the Rebellion nonetheless.
Also, to complicate things, Lucas has always said that the Star Wars radio dramas are considered canon and in those it is made quite clear that though the Organas are suspect they are still far from being exposed as rebel sympathizers.The second possible outcome is most definitely NOT canon.
If you choose to obey the Emperor and attack Vader to finish him off you end up wounded and reconstructed as a new, ninja-like Vader and the rebels you assume have all been slaughtered with perhaps no hope that Luke is ever contacted on Tatooine.
I don't think that game designers were in any way the trying to make this alternate ending fit in with the films, it was just another way to end the game.The game play on the Wii is great!
First of all let me say this;Force Unleashed is good,not great,not amazing,its just good.Let's start of with the story.You start as Darth Vader on Kashykk looking for one of the remaining jedi that survived Order 66.This mission just like the rest is OK.Its just feels bland and repetitive too damn soon.Vader feels basic,absurd,and powerless.He only walks;he can't run.He only has 4 saber combos,a quick force choke,force grip,repulse,and lightsaber throw.If you think the A.I. in this game is going to react differently on each encounter just like LucasArts promised you're mistaken.They all look the same,act the same,do the same attacks and patterns.The only reason they kill you is because every time you get hit you lose a quarter of your health.Once you kill wookies again and again for 25 to 30 minutes;you finally fight Starkiller's father.Boss battles are just to damn easy and scripted.The boss will basically only do 3 to 4 attacks again and again,until you die.The only two good things about the boss fights are the QTE=which stand for quick-time event;which are the finishers of the game.They're cool and pleasing to the eye;except when it its for mini-bosses because you end up fighting mini-bosses a lot and all die the same way.AT-ST's get cut in half.AT-CT's get crushed into a little ball.Rancors get either stabbed multiple times then get electrocuted to death or get stabbed multiple times then get cut in the feet and die.Cutscenes are amazing;they're amongst the best ever devised for a video game.The basic story is Vader find a boy who is extremely strong in the force.Then 16 years later,Vader tests the boy to see if he's ready to try and kill the Emperor with Vader;so he sends him to kill jedi.Then Vader betrays Starkiller.He says the reason he betrayed him is that way Sidious would believe he is dead.Then he says they would a distraction for the emperor to catch him off guard.So he tells Starkiller to make a alliance of rebels to fight the empire until the emperor was worried.So Starkiller recruits General Kota,the jedi who you supposedly killed in the first mission.Then Kota,tells Starkiller to go find his friend from the senate.Then you go to Kashykk again.You help Leia free the wookies;then you go to Felucia to get Senator Bail Organa out of there,but he is being held captured by Maris Brood;Shaak Ti's former apprentice,who is holding the senator because she thinks that by doing that Vader or Starkiller would try to find him.Then you defeat her,take the senator with you,and then he says that he will try to recruit others to your cause.Then go tho Raxus Prime,to destroy a shipyard which a key structural point of the empire.Destroy it,thena Star Destroyer appears,then you have to pull it out of the sky which sucks badly.No really it sucks real bad.Take down the Star Destroyer.Then,more later,you have a meeting with the senators and your were about to form the rebel alliance but Vader interrupts,captures them,tells you that he only used you to get the emperor enemies at hand,and he alone would kill the emperor.Then you go to the Death Star,Juno kisses you,you go around like a moron doing stupid objectives,then you fight Vader,kick his ass,and then you have to choose to either kill Vader or Save Kota whose being electrocuted to death by Sidious.savin Kota is the original ending which results with Starkiller dying,and the senators escaping and forming the rebel alliance thanks to you.the other ending the alternative one results with Vader dead,Sidious killing the senators,and putting Kota on the verge of death,Sidious then tells Starkiller to kill Kota,but Starkiller try to attack the emperor which results in Juno dead,and Starkiller nearly killed;who turns into like a Vader-type of person barely kept alive by machines.So its good,but repetitive,the story,music,cutscenes,graphics,physics,and sound are awesome.I recommend renting it not buying it,ok.7.75/10.
Ahhh, yes, another entry into the ever-growing and seemingly endless canon of Star Wars related video gaming and all of its hit or miss nature.
It's kinda just there.The plot is actually the only driving force behind this game once you get past, say, the first five levels.
Vader and his secret apprentice Starkiller (which was Luke Skywalker's original name  surrogate son, anyone?) are continuing the work of Palpatine in hunting down and exterminating all Jedi under Order 66 post-Episode III.
The reason you're a secret apprentice goes with what Yoda says in Episode I about "Always two there are, a master and an apprentice, no more, no less", and mostly because if Palpatine found out he'd kill both Starkiller and Vader Air-knee-way, Vader tells Starkiller he wants his help in overthrowing the Emperor so the two of them can rule the galaxy, yada, yada, yada and you are sent out on several missions to help train you in taking on the biggest baddest Sith of them all via many, many Jedi encounters.You naturally start off with very little power and a whole lot less skill.
But as with most Star Wars games, the more you play, the more you unlock and the more powerful you get.
Force Lightning, Grip, Throw, Pull, Repulse, and so on are all very entertaining unlockables but the game seriously lags as soon as you play past the first few levels.
The graphics bring the Star Wars universe to life brilliantly and there are some great parts to this game such as the teaser trailer Star Destroyer sequence you get to play out, some of the more elaborate combo moves and Force powers, but at the end of the day this feels like a rushed draft more than anything.
Although the revelations in the plot which are canonical to the film series make it worth finishing just so you can enjoy some pleasant ironies on the Empire's behalf.Apart from that, it's a one-play game.