Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 Product Details

Released on 29/10/2010

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II gets Collector's Edition

  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II gets Collector's Edition

  The sequel to the best-selling Star Wars game of all time was always going to be a pretty big deal, so it's probably not surprising that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II will get a nice, juicy Collector's Edition when it hits store shelves on 26th October.

  The Collector's Editions comes in a Steel Book case and includes a dinky Mimobot 2BG USB flash drive shaped like the game's hero, right down to his light sabres.

  On the flash drive, fans will discover a digital art book filled with concept work from the game, a complete script of the story-driven second instalment, written by Haden Blackman, and themed wallpapers to get you in the mood for some explosive Force-powered action.

  Finally, it wouldn't be a Collector's Edition without in-game treats, and The Force Unleashed II has a bundle of them, including three challenge mode levels, a Ralph McQuarrie Dean Starkiller skin, and a light sabre crystal.

  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II is heading for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and you should expect to hear quite a bit more of it during E3 next week.

• Boba Fett will feature in Force Unleashed II

  Everybody's favourite intergalactic bounty hunter will be popping up in the forthcoming game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. The news was announced last night at Comic-Con in San Diego. You can almost hear the cheering all the way across the Atlantic.

  Eurogamer has a little more information, as, yesterday, one of their top quality spies was in attendance at a preview event for the game in London. Here's the scoop:

  "Boba Fett is totally in the game, but you don't get to play him or anything. Darth Vader hires him to hunt down Juno, the love interest from the first game, in order to lure Starkiller's clone into his grasp. Fett's in the game as a response to fans' requests for more iconic Star Wars characters to liven up Force Unleashed's created universe."

  Listening to fans is never a bad thing as far as Star Wars is concerned - and we guess that means you can probably rule out a cameo from Jar-Jar Binx, too. Even without Fett, Force Unleashed II is shaping up to be pretty spectacular, however, with new force powers that allow you to pull off mind tricks on your enemies, and a revamped physics system that leads to the most dazzling carnage we've ever seen in a videogame. Honest!

  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II will be hitting stores in late October, and will be arriving on - deep breath - the DS, PS3, PC, Wii, and Xbox 360, with all the Boba goodness. His backpack's got jets, don'tcha know.

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - Preview

  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

  You could never accuse the Lucasfilm empire of being coy when it comes to sequels and spin-offs based in that galaxy far, far away, so it should come as no surprise that the most successful Star Wars game of all time is getting a second outing.

  Taking the "good ending" of the first game as its starting point, the plot finds Darth Vader cloning his apprentice in the hope of creating the ultimate Sith warrior. Most, unfortunately, turn out to be completely bonkers but you'll be playing as the one that is almost sane. What does that mean for gameplay? More Force powers, and a lot more ways to demolish the scenery.

  As with all ambitious sequels, everything that was slightly wonky first time around seems to have been improved. Melee combat is no longer just a case of bashing away at enemies, but incorporates different attack styles designed to make full use of your character's stylistic decision to wield two lightsabers at the same time. You'll also be slowly filling a rage meter as you fight, which explodes into an orgy of Force destruction when it hits the top.

  It's fitting, then, that the physics which made the original so much fun have been given an overhaul as well. The levels have been designed to maximise the impact that the physics has on the game, with more interactive objects in the scenery beyond the usual exploding barrels, and experience points handed out when you explore your options beyond the obvious offensive combinations.

  Force powers can now be used in tandem, for example, allowing you to mix the likes of Force Push, Force Grip and Force Lightning together for increasingly impressive results. Different enemy types will each have their own reactions to your onslaught, further increasing the potential for unique mayhem The game also introduces the Force power most obviously missing from the first game ? the good old Jedi Mind Trick. Use this on an enemy and they might commit suicide, trigger terrible accidents or even turn their weapons on their allies, providing you with an impromptu and unwitting partner.

  You'll be encountering different enemy types, with Stormtroopers on jetpacks proving particularly fun to battle. Swooping just out of range, leaving trails of beautifully rendered smoke and flame, they're practically begging to be brought down with a carefully aimed piece of scenery. The AT-ST scout walkers, so easily dispatched in the first game with a simple quicktime event, have also been beefed up into more formidable foes, capable of taking you out from afar unless you make a beeline for them first.

  So in terms of action, The Force Unleashed II seems to have everything sewn up. It plays much like the original, only faster, slicker and even more fun. While you probably exhausted the potential of the various Force powers long before the end first time around, there's enough flexibility here to keep you experimenting with different methods of attack right up to the closing credits.

  What's harder to get a handle on is where this story can lead to. It's still squeezed into the time period just before Episode IV, but while the first game did a surprisingly good job of incorporating its narrative into the wider Star Wars universe without treading on any sacred toes, we'll have to wait and see if a second riff on the same material can do the same. What we do know is that you'll be visiting some key planets from Star Wars lore, including clone planet Kamino and Yoda's Dagobah hideaway. Perhaps more interesting are the moments when the game moves away from the expected fan service and shows us a side to Star Wars that we haven't seen before. One memorably creepy section in a drifting armada of abandoned starships adds an eerie horror tone that is very refreshing.

  Expect The Force Unleashed II to start making mystical wavey hand movements later this year.

• Star Wars - The Galaxy Where Every Kind Of Game Is Played

  
  

  

  

  "The Force will be with you, always..."

  Obi-Wan's words at the end of the original Star Wars arcade game have certainly proven to be true - and then some. The release of Kinect Star Wars on Xbox 360 - and the accompanying Limited Edition R2-D2 console - proves that we're still enjoying Star Wars video games today.

  The motion-based controls of Kinect Star Wars shows just how far the franchise has come since the 8-bit action of The Empire Strikes Back on the Atari 2600 and Intellivision back in 1982.

  Which got us thinking - over the past 30 years, Star Wars has appeared not only in a great number of games, but in all kinds of game. From side-scrolling adventures, to first-person shooters to flight simulators, there's almost no genre that has not visited that galaxy far, far away...

  
  

  

  The First Person Shooter

  Dark Forces (1995) took the first-person tactics of Doom and transported them to the Star Wars Universe, adding then-revolutionary features like multiple floors and "looking up and down". Along with its Jedi Knight sequels, gamers were hooked on the adventures of Kyle Katarn and his discovery of the Dark Trooper Project , and the series is notable as the first "Expanded Universe" adventures to be embraced by more mainstream fans.

  First person shooting would return in the Star Wars Battlefront series almost a decade later, with the chance to play as StormTroopers, SnowTroopers, Rebel Soldiers or all kinds of troops and online skirmishing for the first time. We saw the last chapter of this series in 2009 - and are eagerly anticipating its return!

  
  

  

  The Classic Arcade Game

  While not the first Star Wars game, it was certainly one of the most memorable, and indeed laid the foundation of so much to come. Simulating the Death Star attack from the original movie, but with a bigger goal of avoiding enemies rather than shooting them in order to survive, the action played out with glorious wireframe graphics and - in a notable first for games in general - featured digitised voices and sounds from the original movie. It may seem simple by today's standards, but it set the bar for everything that was to come.

  
  

  

  The Combat Flight Simulators

  Arguably the first step in the 90s resurgence of Star Wars was the X-Wing series on PC. A WWII dogfight engine was given a 3D-graphic makeover and used to power the X-Wings, Y-Wings, TIE Fighters and more as the series moved through the events of the original trilogy. For many, these games really cemented just how good, and how versatile, Star Wars could be as a video game property.

  Rogue Squadron picked up where X-Wing left off. The series favoured arcade-style scoring on individual missions over the larger campaign-style approach, and took a much faster-paced approach to match the new power and possibilities offered by the N64 and GameCube. Rogue Squadron II is fondly remembered for its cinematic graphics, helping to usher Star Wars into the 21st Century

  
  

  

  The Side-Scrollers

  In the 90s, PCs had the X-Wing and Jedi Knight series, but Sega and Nintendo's consoles also had their share of Star Wars action. Games like Star Wars on the NES and Master System, Super Star Wars on the SNES and Shadows of the Empire on the N64 were more literal, adventure-driven adaptations, giving the chance to play as Luke, Han, Leia and the gang in ways that had never really been done before, and wouldn't again until the fun and frolics of the LEGO games. For all the fun that the 'Expanded Universe' offered, it actually made a change to just play out the movies!

  
  

  

  The Racing Games

  For all of the Phantom Menace's faults, one thing many agreed was that the Pod Races were cool. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer for the N64 attempted to recreate that coolness, with interesting and inventive tracks that took you off Tatooine and into the wider Star Wars galaxy. But what made it particularly cool was the option to use two N64 controllers as the dual controls of your racer and really feel like little Anakin.

  Star Wars also went down the kart racing route in Super Bombad Racing. It was aimed primarily for children to play, and while it was not the most well-received game that the franchise has offered, it had some fun gameplay and a fun visual style. If nothing else, proved that Star Wars could be adapted to pretty much any style of game.

  
  

  

  The Real Time Strategies

  The Star Wars universe seems an obvious canvas for strategy games, but the results have been mixed. Rebellion, Force Commander and Galactic Battlegrounds all gave it a try and had some interesting campaigns, but never really excited the way Star Wars should.

  Empire at War intended to end all that. A new engine was built from the ground-up, the need to build and acquire resources was removed, and the battles became much more realistic. The game was set between the end of the prequels and the beginning of the original trilogy, was chock full of well-known planets, vehicles and characters, and featured both Rebel and Imperial campaigns, including a scenario where the Empire actually wins! It was the RTS fans had been waiting for, and, thanks to a vibrant mod community, was also the RTS fans could make their own.

  
  

  

  The Beat 'Em Up

  In what seemed another obvious step, Masters of Teras Kasi took Star Wars into the beat 'em up arena on the original PlayStation in 1997. It mixed established stars like Luke and Chewie with lesser-known EU characters like Jodo Kast, giving each an individual style like the fighters of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. But unlike those games, Masters of Teras Kasi had an inferior fighting engine, and the combination of obscure characters and the use of Lightsabers as little more than clubs did little to win over either casual or committed fans. Darth Vader and Yoda would go on to appear in SoulCalibur IV, but otherwise Masters of Teras Kasi was the first - and last - foray into the beat 'em up.

  
  

  

  The Action/Adventure

  Much like Shadows of the Empire a decade before, The Force Unleashed was part of a massive multimedia campaign to create an exciting new chapter in the Star Wars saga. It introduced 'Starkiller', Darth Vader's secret apprentice, but also introduced Star Wars adventuring to the current generation of consoles - and was the first chance to use a Wii controller to wield a Lightsaber! While it didn't quite live up the 'next big thing' hype surrounding it, the plot, visuals and gameplay won over enough fans to warrant a sequel.

  
  

  

  The RPGs

  Set 4000 years before the events of the movies, Knights of the Old Republic hit PC, Mac and Xbox in 2003. Choosing to play as Jedi or Sith, the pre-movie period setting allowed for a large-scale and versatile universe without having to worry about the established characters and storylines. The intricate plot featured twists and turns with a major shock twist coming at the end of the first game, still talked about as one of the best in gaming history.

  Things expanded with the release of MMO The Old Republic. Bioware promised a larger focus on story than usual for MMOs, a sensible step as the allegiances and politics of the Star Wars universe is more defined than the likes of Azeroth. The Jedi/Sith choice remained, with different classes available to both sides, and the opportunity for player vs player combat in the wider Star Wars universe was more than welcomed by players all over the world - nearly 2 million of them!

  
  

  

  And the rest

  There are plenty of Star Wars games we've not mentioned here - there simply isn't room to write about them all! But we hope this has been a fun trip around the Star Wars Universe, and one that shows just how versatile that universe is.

  If we've missed your favourite, or you have any other Star Wars gaming memories you want to share, feel free to add your comments below. And May The Force Be With You.

  Published: 03/04/2012

• LucasArts unveils new Star Wars game.

  We've been waiting for an announcement on the brand new Star Wars franchise teased by LucasArts recently, and the cat is finally out of the bag. Star Wars 1313 is the name of the third-person adventure game being cooked up by the studio.

  The collaboration between a diverse array of Lucas's companies which include Lucasfilm Animation, Skywalker Sound and Industrial Light & Magic, Star Wars 1313 will result in a mature, 18-rated game. Taking on the role of a bounty hunter, LucasArts is promising "a dark and mature" gaming experience powered by the Unreal Engine.

  A statement from the developer outlined the grand vision for this new adventure:

  "Named for Level 1313, a ruthless criminal underground deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant, the game puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy," it read.

  "Star Wars 1313 emphasizes epic set pieces and fast-paced combat with a hero who uses human skills and gadgets, rather than supernatural Force powers, to make his way through this dangerous world."

  According to LucasArts president Paul Meegan, we can expect to find out much more about the game at next week's E3 gaming extravaganza in Los Angeles.

  "We're excited to share one of the projects LucasArts has been hard at work developing," he said.

  "Star Wars 1313 dives into a part of the Star Wars mythos that we've always known existed, but never had a chance to visit. We are committed to bringing the best gameplay experience and visual fidelity to life and I truly believe the work we are showcasing at E3 will speak for itself."

• Star Wars Game License Acquired by EA.

  When Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars universe, following the purchase of George Lucas's LucasFilm, many fans were left wondering what it would mean for the future of videogames set within the epic franchise.

  Well, it turns out that Disney has decided to license out the property to EA for multi-platform console development, while keeping social, online and mobile opportunities for itself. Frank Gibeau, EA Labels President, confirmed that Dead Space and Battlefield studios Visceral and DICE respectively would be creating games in the franchise - and so will the creators of the Knights of The Old Republic series, BioWare.

  "Every developer dreams of creating games for the Star Wars universe," began Gibeau.

  "The new experiences we create may borrow from films, but the games will be entirely original with all new stories and gameplay. Powering it all will be the Frostbite 3 development engine - guaranteeing incredible graphic fidelity, environments and characters."

  Well, if the publisher's looking for any suggestions, both Knights of The Old Republic 3 and Battlefront 3 have been clamoured for by fans in recent years, and would surely put the massive publisher back into gamers' good books, following the troubled release of SimCity.
  

  Published: 07/05/2013

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