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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a third-person action title for the Nintendo Switch. If you\u2019ve heard of this one before, that\u2019s because it\u2019s actually a 2008 game that did the rounds across almost every possible platform at the time. Now the tale of Darth Vadar\u2019s secret apprentice is ready to unfold on the humble Switch.<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time The Force Unleashed has appeared on a Nintendo system, with Wii and DS versions previously available. It\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess as to what prompted this latest port \u2013 14 years doesn\u2019t seem like a particularly noteworthy anniversary. It\u2019s also a missed opportunity to package the game with its sequel in one fell swoop to satiate fans \u2013 everyone loves a combo deal. The Switch port probably has more to do with the hybrid console\u2019s popularity than anything else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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That greedy sentiment aside, even after 14 years, The Force Unleashed is an entertaining ride. The highlight is its standout narrative, complete with brilliant voice work. Set between Star Wars movies Episodes III and IV, this is the untold story of Vadar\u2019s continuing quest to rid the universe of jedis. Along the way, he secretly recruits an apprentice to assist with this dark task.<\/span><\/p>\n

The story begins with a prologue of sorts, showing us how Vadar found his very young apprentice. This gives players the chance to walk in Vadar\u2019s shoes, which is a treat in itself and the perfect introduction to the game. Vadar is one of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy and embodies pure terror. The developers conveyed this feeling by creating a strong, almost invincible character who stalks through each scene with purpose. He doesn\u2019t run or use stealth; he doesn\u2019t need to. His menacing presence and glowing laser sword are enough to slash his way through any enemies foolish enough to resist.<\/span><\/p>\n

After discovering and defeating a hidden jedi on the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk, Vadar takes a surviving youngling under his wing, training him in the dark side of the force. This new recruit is kept secret, even from Vadar\u2019s own master \u2013 you can never trust a Sith, after all \u2013 and this is how we\u2019re introduced to the game\u2019s main protagonist, Galen Marek, also known as Starkiller.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Starkiller moves differently to Vadar. He\u2019s faster and more agile, which makes sense because he\u2019s younger and less robotic. He also lacks the sheer presence of Vadar, that fear factor I mentioned earlier. Despite his dark upbringing, his humanity is evident. Without getting into spoilers for anyone who hasn\u2019t played it before, Starkiller\u2019s loyalties will be put to the test. He\u2019s an interesting character and a great addition to the Star Wars lore, even if this game is no longer considered canon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Starkiller continues Vadar\u2019s mission to hunt down and destroy the remaining jedi. This leads him to many locations, from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to the jungle planet of Felucia. This variety is appreciated, with a range of enemies to conquer, including some interesting boss fights and satisfying lightsaber battles. Since Starkiller himself is meant to exist only in the shadows, everyone is basically his enemy, from jedis to stormtroopers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being a 2008 game, the graphics have dated a little. It still works well overall, with many varied and colorful planets to explore, but on a large TV screen, it\u2019s hard not to notice that these are graphics from another decade. Things fare better in handheld mode, to the point where I was fully immersed in the environment and didn\u2019t notice the semi-retro look nearly as much. We\u2019re not talking about blocky 64-bit graphics, though, and overall it\u2019s aged pretty well. A full graphical overhaul (in a combo package!) might have been a nicer treat for fans and a more justified release, although that would also result in a heftier price tag.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The story and voice work more than make up for these dated graphics. The writing is easily the best part of the game, creating the feel of a lost movie \u2013 Episode 3.5, if you will. The terrific story should satisfy any Star Wars fan, with new and old characters brought to life via excellent voice work. The music is also fantastic, which is perhaps unsurprising given the source material. Most tunes are based on the movies, however some original tracks help add to the overall experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Force Unleashed is not a particularly hard game, which can be seen as a pro or a con depending on what you\u2019re looking for. I personally enjoyed the linear gameplay for what it was; it felt like I was playing through an interactive movie. If I wanted something more open-world, well, there are many other titles to scratch that itch. As a genuinely fun and unique Star Wars experience, this hit the spot for me, but it\u2019s worth noting that this story won\u2019t have you playing for more than 8-10 hours, despite the presence of collectibles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an old game that\u2019s back for another round on the Switch. If you\u2019re a Star Wars fan who hasn\u2019t previously enjoyed this title, I can highly recommend giving it a go. The engaging story and excellent voice work help bring it to life, despite the slightly dated graphics and relatively simple gameplay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a third-person action title for the Nintendo Switch. If you\u2019ve heard of this one before, that\u2019s because it\u2019s actually a 2008 game that did the rounds across almost every possible platform at the time. Now the tale of Darth Vadar\u2019s secret apprentice is ready to unfold on the humble […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/purenintendo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/star-wars-the-force-unleashed-hero.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[576],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nintendo"],"yoast_head":"\n