Reviews// Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

If power corrupts, playing Star Wars The Force Unleashed corrupts absolutely. In my mind Star Wars invented the term 'franchise'. Before the original movie's 1977 release, movies were just movies, and games were just two lines moving up and down the side of the screen. Now, 30 years later, both the movie and the game series continue to prosper, with a steady stream of new versions and cash-ins. The latest of these is Star Wars The Force Unleashed, a third-person arcade action game in the vein of walk-and-slash style swordplay games such as Ninja Gaiden. Indeed Force Unleashed is a franchise all itself, comprising as it does a video game, a tie-in novel, action figures, a comic book, a reference book and a role-playing game supplement.

In the game you play Darth Vader's secret apprentice, Galen Marek, who carries the catchy nickname of Starkiller. Since quality narrative is central to all things Star Wars related, the opening level of this game establishes the story. In it you control Darth Vader as he makes his way through a level full of rampaging Wookies. This level serves as training for the game, and as you progress useful tips are displayed on screen, telling you how to use your weapons: the famous red lightsabre, and your shiny black gauntlets from which you unleash the power of (the dark side of) The Force.

The movies always hinted that the power of The Force is almost infinite, tapping in as it does to the very life energy of every creature in the known universe, and perhaps that of those in the unknown one(s) too.

From this game it is clear that in the original trilogy, Darth Vader was only paddling near the very shallowest reaches of this vast ocean of untapped energy. In Force Unleashed, he's not so coy with his mystical magical powers. Instead of the odd bit of parlour game telekinesis, in The Force Unleashed Darth wantonly tosses friend and foe aside, using only the power of his mind. He uses his Force Blast to throw rocks at trees, to cast trees at Wookies, and to smash Wookies into Storm Troopers (Oh, they're on our side now... oops!).

Eventually Darth comes across a renegade Jedi, and they have a fierce duel to the death. This duel is the first level boss, and gives you an opportunity to combine all of the moves and techniques you have learned during the level. You better hope it's to the renegade Jedi's death, or you'll be going back to a convenient save point and trying again. If you do emerge victorious, you'll find that finishing the battle requires some Dragon's Lair-style, interactive cut-scene timed button pressing.

Failing to pay attention, or to know your red button from your blue one won't lead to your untimely death though, it'll just let the renegade Jedi escape your grip and give him another chance to best you in free combat. Once the Jedi is dead-eyed, you enter a building where Darth discovers a child with powerful 'The Force' skills, and in an uncharacteristically nurturing move, takes him under his giant black be-caped wing.