I rather enjoyed the first Force Unleashed, enough that I even purchased the insanely overpriced expansions and add-ons that made my ultimate investment in the game probably near 100 dollars. However, I'd be remiss not to admit the game's many flaws. From a clumsy targeting system to lightsaber combat that felt more akin to swinging a baseball bat, TFU had some issues that kept it from being the stellar slam dunk it should have been. Still, there was much to appreciate, including a well-acted and decently executed ancillary narrative set in the Star Wars mythos along with some truly inspired, force-infused combat. The original was plenty of fun and suggested that a sequel, if done correctly, could evolve into something exceptional.
Based on the demo, now available on XBL and soon to be on the PSN, that looks to be precisely what is forthcoming.
Beware that some minor spoilers follow.
The game takes places on what appears to be the first level, with Starkiller being trained by those same holodroids seen in the first game that can take on the dimensions of various enemies. Initially I was worried that this demo might be short and contained to this relatively boring intro but this brief tutorial merely serves to re-orient gamers with the basic mechanics of combat while propelling the narrative forward. Starkiller is unable to strike down the likeness of Juno Eclipse, his squeeze from the previous game, and Vader informs him that the imperfection of the accelerated cloning process has rendered Starkiller useless and thus marked for execution. Upon recalling his previous death, he blows open the side of the room and flees.
The entire level takes place on the cloning facility of Kamino, expertly replicated from Attack of the Clones. From the very outset, you are treated to a heady, glorious freefall that forces you to dodge and weave through obstacles or blow through them via the force, eventually landing moments later like a bomb, sending enemy storm troopers careening in every direction. From this point onward, the demo is reminiscent of the original in terms of core gameplay but with the added benefit of an extra layer of polish that is immediately felt in both the mechanics and combat. The targeting, perhaps the greatest flaw of the original, has been tightened considerably and while I wouldn't claim it is perfect it comes close, with only a few instances during the entirety of the lengthy demo where it didn't work precisely. The developers have clearly addressed this improved targeting in interviews and the fruits of those labors are felt within the construct of the game.
Lightsaber combat has also enjoyed an overhaul and the venerable weapon no longer feels like the equivalent of a lighted baseball bat but rather now slices and eviscerates with the appropriate, violent grandeur. This combat is further punctuated by a dismemberment system that allows the limbs of enemies to be severed, including copious (and commonplace) decapitations, which leaves plenty of limbless, cauterized enemies in your wake. The dual-wielding Starkiller simply feels more fluid this time around, with plenty of elegant flourishes underlying the sheer brutality of each strike, all of which can be chained into force powers for even more devastating results.
Speaking of force powers, they return here with gravitas. The new and improved targeting system makes them feel far more effective and the addition of mind control is a pleasant, classic Star Wars-infused power that will either make your enemies turn on their own comrades or commit suicide. Lighting and push return, along with Force Fury, which temporarily imbues your force powers with even more damaging properties. Ultimately, the demo delivers a familiar notion of what the previous game offered but with a healthy dose of tweaking and polish that makes for a more satisfying experience.
Visually, TFU2 is stunning, running at a smooth framerate while maintaining a beautifully detailed world. The set pieces are vast and replete with both grandiosity and minutia, with rain dripping off every structure even as monoliths crumple and fall around your head. The entire game has a vibrant, clean look, deftly emulating the aesthetics of the films, and the lighting is equally impressive. This amazing graphical sheen is further buoyed by excellent use of Euphoria, assuring that the animations of fallen foes never repeat and that every force toss looks painful and resonates with the proper, weighty thud.
The demo was hefty, polished and fun to play and if the rest of this game fares as well I expect we'll see significant praise when it releases later this month. As it stands, I walked away incredibly impressed with what I played: yet another sequel that completely buries its predecessor.
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