Having already wowed Star Wars fans on M&C with its potential to bridge the narrative gap between the close of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope (Episodes III and IV), LucasArts’ third-person action epic Star Wars: The Force Unleashed pops up again this week following a tantalising interview with the game’s project lead Hayden Blackman.
LucasArts' Hayden Blackman talks Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Credit: LucasArts.
While LucasArts is clearly keeping its narrative cards close to its creative chest, Blackman has this week divulged certain details that are sure to spark debate in expectant gamers and Star Wars purists alike.
Specifically, the as-yet unnamed main character in The Force Unleashed – a shadowy secret apprentice of Darth Vader charged with eradicating the last remnants of the Jedi – will also be appearing in a dedicated trade paperback and also a comic book series to further flesh out his existence in the Star Wars universe.
From a gameplay point of view, perhaps the juiciest morsel offered up by Blackman is that the player’s abilities in The Force Unleashed will actually allow them to re-create the jaw-dropping rendered teaser trailer moment when the apprentice downs a mammoth Star Destroyer using only Force powers. Rubber underwear at the ready for that set-piece slab of gameplay.
Also, the game will feature "light RPG elements" that enable the player to choose influential narrative pathways while exploring expansive levels, pursuing secondary objectives, and seeking unlockable features.
Force powers will also be open to ranked evolution – although Blackman is keen to point out that the apprentice will be something of a Force hard-ass from the outset – and players will be able to infuse Force abilities onto a huge selection of attack combos.
And, lightsaber fans are not left out of the action loop either, with Blackman enthusing that gamers will be able to use the deadly blade like never before in The Force Unleashed, even to the point of combining Force powers to their lightsaber for even stronger attacking moves.
Those gamers concerned that gameplay will be far too lopsided in the player’s favour if LucasArts delivers its promised wealth of over-the-top Force powers, need not worry. According to Blackman, Force-wielding enemies encountered throughout the game will also be able to call upon hugely devastating powers that should provide more than enough challenge.
And finally – and this may ruffle a few feathers with hardcore movie fans – but Blackman has also confirmed that a young Princess Leia will play "a pivotal role" in the narrative thread of The Force Unleashed.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will arrive late spring/early summer for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.
Want to know more? Enjoy the following interview segments and let your imaginations run wild... and click the above game link for that Star Destroyer trailer.
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