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" ...a crushing blow from...the heir to such noble heritage. "
Title: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II by Lucas Arts
Format: Third Person Platformer
Reviewing Monkey: Dunapult
The Force Unleashed was something of a groundbreaking game for the venerable Star Wars franchise. Its story was not only stellar in scope and execution, it was also considered canon--something that no game before it could claim. And though technically flawed--quite severely in some cases--it acted as a new beacon of hope, that Star Wars games could go back to a level best described as "not sucking."The Hype:
What This Monkey Thought...
But, unfortunately, The Force Unleashed II (FU2)
has already managed to break that one-game win streak. Though beautifully modeled
and, quite often, visually stunning, FU2 is a disappointment on almost every
other level.
As anyone who played the first game will tell
you, The Force Unleashed had a number of fairly serious flaws that unquestionably
needed correction. The game was short--typically giving a player less than a
couple of night's entertainment. The combat was fairly juvenile, typically occurring
in one of two modes: requiring you to either mindlessly button mash against
generic storm troopers or use specific powers against enemies that were invulnerable
against everything else. The boss battles were painfully rote and typically
far too frustrating. The targeting, tracking, and camera were abysmal. And the
game frequently tossed set pieces at you that would require you to die repeatedly
until you figured out what, exactly, each little mini-game was expecting of
you.
Sadly, FU2 fixes almost none of these. This version
is even shorter, lasting five or six hours at the most. The average combat--which
is typically composed of a medium number of generic troopers coupled with a
small number of specific attack heroes--is entertaining at first but quickly
becomes tired. The boss battles are still uninspired. And the set pieces are
still as random and unexplained and frustrating as before.
But even worse, the one absolutely exemplary part
of the first game--a gripping, award winning story--is now painfully absent.
Instead all were given is an amateur "made for TV" feeling plot that has Darth
Vader inexplicably, and repeatedly, trying to clone his former apprentice despite
the fact that the original betrayed him and all the clones followed in the original's
footsteps and had to be destroyed. Sadly for ole' Anakin, we take the reins
of the most recent clone who breaks free and goes on the run, making an almost
incoherent journey that parades him past a who's who of nonsensical cameos and
provides little explanation for his jumping from battle location to battle location.
It's a story that would be a disappointment from
any game, but is a crushing blow from one that is the heir to such noble heritage.
Still, despite these many glaring flaws, the game
is not all bad. The graphics are excellent. Unleashing lightsaber and power
combos remains satisfying. The Force usage and leveling system are both improved
and streamlined, and some fun new powers have been added--including the ability
to "Suggest" that enemies either fight on your behalf or feel such despair that
they suicide.
It's just that, unless you're either a die-hard
Star Wars fan or a big advocate of generic platformers, you won't find anything
particularly redeeming in this very short, very trite, very under-imagined title.
The Verdict:
What it's Worth: Rental.
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