Any nerd, geek or fan of celluloid has long dreamed of brandishing a light saber and harnessing the force to tear through storm troopers in defense of the Republic.  Many of those same people even dream of that light saber and using it to massacre Jedi and anyone that gets in their way.  Well maybe not but the dark side of the force sure is tantalizing and in the “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” (XBOX 360/PS3) you get to fulfill some of your nerdest fantasies … well kind of.  

STORY

Set between Episodes III and IV of the “Star Wars” saga tells the story of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice codename “Starkiller.”  (for those not in the know Anakin Skywalker’s original last name was Starkiller)  In the first level you are Darth Vader himself slicing and dicing through Wookies on their home planet of Kashyyyk.  While hunting down Jedi in the Wookie Protection Program The Dark Lord comes across a gifted child (Starkiller)  that is so powerful he is able to strip Vader of his light saber.  After years of training in the ways of the dark side Starkiller is sent out to hunt down and kill the remaining Jedi after Emperor Palpatine orders them to be purged from the galaxy.  

THE GOOD

Over nine missions through sprawling levels your force powers are dealt out allowing Starkiller to kick a lot of butt and have fun doing it.  At the beginning of the game you get what I consider to be the most fun out of the force powers force grip and force push.  These powers allow you to pick up and send anything that isn’t tied down twirling through the air.  Picking up Storm Troopers and tossing them through windows and down into the bowels of starships will leave you with the tingly satisfying feeling that Vader must have felt after tossing the Emperor down a shaft.  

The other force powers such as tossing your light saber around like a boomerang and shooting large arcs of lighting from your hands into your foes are awesome as well.  Like most games certain force powers are better suited for tasks than others.  For instance I found that it was easiest to kill an AT-ST by circling it’s feet to avoid blaster fire and then jumping up to unleash lighting blasts at it rather than using force grip and push.

The story explains many unexplained events that occurred between Episodes III and IV such as the rise of Darth Vader as well as the state of the galaxy after the demise of the Jedi witnessed in “Revenge of the Sith.”  The story is engrossing and exciting for “Star Wars” fan boys as some light is shed on popular “Stars Wars” characters from “A New Hope.”   

THE BAD

The games combat system is amazing and allows you to take advantage of every force power imaginable, but not all the time.  Even after Starkiller gets upgrades in his force abilities the game suddenly gives enemies immunities to certain attacks.  While I understand that video games are suppose to increase in difficulty as you go along some of these new hurdles that are set forth are near impossible to deal with such as snipers picking you off from great distances which leaves you nearly defenseless.  

There is not too much to not love about “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed,” but is it worth nearly 60 for nine levels of dark side mayhem?  Maybe and maybe not it really depends on how patient you are.  If you can be patient and wait a few months used copies of this rather short title will be pop up everywhere, and you will be able to score it a copy for well under the going rate for a new copy.  If you are one of those people that is impatient and has already purchased the 20 different versions of each “Star Wars” movie that George Lucas has hacked up I am sure you have already made your decision.

VERDICT

Using the force is mostly everything you thought it would be and the graphics are pristine, but you would be best served to if you can hold on for just a little while longer and pick up a used copy at a greatly discounted price.

GRADE

7.9 out of 10