The first “real world” Star Wars game for Wii has arrived. Does the Wiimote make a worthy lightsaber? Is the game any good? Read on and find out. I have waited ever since the Wii’s release for LucasArts to release a game that would let me use my Wiimote as a lightsaber. The desire was somewhat satisfied with the Lego Star Wars series, but still I waited for a “real world” Star Wars game for Wii. But, the wait is finally over. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has arrived.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed takes place in the largely unexplored time period between Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) and Episode IV (A New Hope). That means that the Emperor has just risen to power and Darth Vader has just been unleashed. The Jedi Purge is nearing it’s end as Vader continues to hunt for the remaining survivors. You play as the Secret Apprentice of Darth Vader. It is explained that you are the child of a Jedi that Vader kills on Kashyyyk. The boy is taken by Vader and trained in the ways of the Dark Side, all wothout the knowledge of the Emperor. The boy has remained hidden from the Emperor and must continue to be so, because the Sith Rule of Two forbids Vader from taking an apprentice, a fact which is made perfectly clear early on in the story.

The game’s prologue takes place on Kashyyyk, the home planet of the Wookies, where you play as Darth Vader. You are hunting a survivor of the Jedi Purge. At this point, you have access to all of the Force powers, except lightning. According to Star Wars canon, Vader cannot use Force Lightning due to the fact that his hands are not organic. But, Force Push. Force Grip and Force Choke are still available, in addition, of course to Vader’s red bladed lightsaber. All of the powers look incredibly cool and there is something truly depraved about the joy you will feel obliterating all resistance as Vader. Wookies of all shapes and sizes fall before you. At the end of the level, you face off against the father of the Apprentice, who is a jedi. After his defeat, Vader notices the son and the scene shifts forward several years and the Apprentice is now kneeling before Vader. Vader tasks him with eliminating a Jedi who has taken over a TIE Fighter Construction facility. As you enter the hanger bay, you are introduced to two characters who will be your constant companions for the remainder of the game: Your sparring droid: PROXY and your pilot: Juno Eclipse.

Once you assume control of the Apprentice, you discover that you have the ability to use all of the Force Powers, including lightning, but only at a basic level. To attain the maximum mastery of the different Force powers and abilities, you have to collect Force Points. This is easy enough though, as you require them by dispatching enemies. And enemies, in this case, refers to both Imperial and Rebellion forces. Throughout the fame, you will also find three types of Holocrons. Jedi, which unlock production art, Sith, which extend your life bar, and Force, which etend your Force Bar, which automatically refills after being depleted.

The game is played using the Wiimote and a connected Nunchuk. All of the Force Powers are controlled with the Nunchuk, while the Wiimote controls your lightsaber. This control scheme is sensational and takes very little time to get used to. Force Lightning is mapped to the C Button, Force Grip to the Z Button. To use Force Push, you thrust the Nunchuk forward, and turn it upside down to use Force Choke. To use the lightsaber, it’s as simple as slash with the Wiimote. The lightsaber control is extremely responsive and has turned out to be everything I’d hoped for. Periodically, during Boss fights, you will have to win either “saber locks” or “force locks”. These are won by tilting the Wiimote (saber lock) or Nunchuk (force lock) so that it matches the picture in the corner of the screen. If you take too long, you lose the standoff amd your enemy regains some health. Also, at the end of the battle, to finish off an opponent, you are required to go through a series of gestures witheither the Wiimote or Nunchuk, depending on the prompt onscreen.

The locations are varied, spanning well known worlds from throughout the Star Wars Universe. In addition to Kashyyyk, you will travel to Felucia, The Jedi Temple ruins on Coruscant, Cloud City, Corellia and ever The Death Star itself. Even though this is a Wii game, I will confess myself quite impressed by the graphics and sound quality of the game. The graphics are incredible detailed, given the system’s limitations and the sound is excellent. The game of course features the incomparable John Williams’ music and some well done voice acting, including one or two recognizable voices. I would also like to say, just as a side note, that the guy who does Vader’s voice is amazing.

However, the real attraction of this game, for Star Wars fans, besides the ability to cut loose with the Force like never before, is the story. The story of this game has been authorized as Star Wars Canon by George Lucas, which the events of this game are now an official part of the saga. And, oh, what events they are. Over the course of this fame, you will learn, among other things, the true fate of Shaak Ti and the events that led to the birth of the Rebel Alliance. I guarantee you will be shocked when you learn how the Rebel Alliance REALLY started. And be advosed, the game has TWO endings: Light Side and Dark Side. The Dark Side ending actually changes the plot of the ENTIRE SAGA!

Lucasarts made this game for every platform. Since they had to cut some levels out of the Wii version. however, they decided to create a really cool Wii-only Duel Mode. You take one of several Jedi or Sith characters, most of whoch are unlocked playing the main game, and face off in a 1-on-1 Duel in one of several differnt locations, such as Hoth. It’s a really cool bonus for Wii players and it satisfies everyone’s Wiimote lightsaber fantasies.

I have really only been able to come up with two flaws in this game. One, there is no permanent death. Every time you “die”, you come back to life at the beginning of the last area the game auto-saved you in. I hate this because it eliminates the need for me to try really hard to finish an area, as I know that, if I die, I’ll just be give one chance after another until I get it right or get so annoyed that I can’t do it that I turn off the game. There’s nothing to work for and no sense of accomplishment is you get it right after your fifteenth try in a row with no penalty. Second, although most of the voice acting is very good, the voice of the Emperor is not quite right. It sometimes reminds me of the Star Wars Episode of Robot Chicken.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a great game. It’s one of the ganes the really shows off the true novelty and promise of the Wii. I just wish there had been more of a challenge and a risk involved. It never took me more than three times to beat any part, including the last boss. But enough of my nitpicking. The Duel Mode is awesome, the controls are tight and the game is fun. That’s all any Wii-owning Star Wars fan could possibly ask for. The Force is Strong with this game, go out and get it.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed gets 4 blasts of Force Lightning out of 5.