A Look at 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'
posted September 15th, 2008 10:29 PM CDT by arn in $9.99, Action, Reviews, iPhone games, iPod touch games
As we reported earlier today, THQ Wireless Inc has released the iPhone version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed [$9.99, App Store].
The iPhone version of The Force Unleashed is a smaller companion game to the full featured video game that is arriving for gaming consoles such as the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. The full version of the game offers an impressive physics engine (trailer) with a focus on using The Force.
The mobile version of the game (including the iPhone version), however, is "very different" and uses a much more limited engine which incorporates the use of specialized gestures that correspond to different Force attacks and defenses.
We've posted screenshots of the game including the control instructions with our announcement article. The game makes good use of the iPhone's touch screen to allow you to draw gestures on the screen that correspond to specific attacks or defenses.
The game is played by invoking these gestures at the right time in order to defeat your enemies. Your character, however, moves from scene to scene without your direct control. Over time you do build up an arsenal of additional gestures that can be used at will. Some enemies must be defeated with specific powers, while others can be defeated with any choice.
The game provides a Story mode (with lengthy dialog/transitions), Chapter Mode (to replay Chapters from Story Mode), and Survival (where you play for a high score). This embedded video shows the first Chapter in the story, after the initial training is complete. Following the Chapter (including the Boss fight), you can see the next level of training which introduces new attacks.
The entire Story can be played in one sitting of about 2+ hours. There are 6 Chapters total in the story intertwined with a lengthy plot line. If not for the plot line dialog and transitions, the game could be completed in an even shorter time period.
The actual game play is quite enjoyable and tie-ins to the Star Wars franchise certainly help. Who hasn't wanted to fling storm troopers into a wall with the flick of a finger? But the actual "puzzles" presented are incredibly simple, making the game just a paint-by-numbers sort of experience.
After you complete the 6 levels, it's difficult to imagine that you'll want to play the game again (especially with the un-skippable cut scenes). As a result, I think this game may only be worth it for the die-hard Star Wars fan, and even then with the understanding that your $9.99 will not get you long term replayability.
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September 15th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I guess they didn't teach Box Dodging in Jedi school.
September 16th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I agree with everything you said. I'm having a good time with it, though.
September 16th, 2008 at 12:05 am
I amended the article to make it a full "review". Since I was able to finish the game since I posted it.
I enjoyed the during. I do enjoy the Star Wars tie ins. I think price conscious people, however, won't like it enough to justify the $9.99 price unless you are just a big Star Wars fan.
arn
September 16th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I feel ripped off. Can't believe i just dropped $10 on a game that I played through in 1 and 1/2 hours. Wait a few hours and spend your money on the full version. BOOOO!
September 16th, 2008 at 1:22 am
Yes after reading this review I will probably wait for the XBox version.
September 16th, 2008 at 2:26 am
And I'll wait for my pre-ordered Wii-Version and a huge Pricedrop on this one. I think 2,99 would be okay.
George
September 16th, 2008 at 3:55 am
Brilliant - another 'magic number' app. It is simply amazing how many developers feel their games are worth $10.
Vote with your dollars, folks.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
In a word CRAP!!!, i love all things star wars but this game is simply a very poor cash cow and at $10 they are really taking the cake.
Judging by the engine they could have easily made it a proper 3rd person game with the tilt controls handling movement and the touch screen handling the guesture setup they have now, doing that would have made the game vastly better.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Yeah I bought this game as well and the only thing I am disappointed at is the price and length of gameplay (which really are two deciding features) otherwise I had a lot of fun with this game it is unfortunate that it was so short though.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hey everyone, how do you beat the plant thing on the second level? I've tried a billion combinations…
September 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
this game is so BORING!!! you don't get to walk. You just swipe your finger and the game plays it's self. Where are my lightsaber battles?
DON"T BUY THIS GAME!!!!!
September 17th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
i would not take this game if it was FREE!!!
September 17th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Steve please don't spam, and yeah you will get this game if it was free, stop lying.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
i got this game for free somehow.i pressed download with no money and it downloaded. its a good game especially for free! : )
September 25th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Looks boring…