Monday 29 Sep 2008

The Force has been Unleashed on just about every gaming platform around, including the PSP. Is this the version to get? No, not quite. But PSP-owners looking for a quality handheld action title will find that the Force is pretty strong with this one.

The PSP version of Force Unleashed is one of the three developed by Krome Studios (rather than LucasArts). As such it is not a port of the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions, but rather a somewhat scaled down version of the Wii and PS2 iterations. Krome has done a commendable job of creating a game that plays to the platform’s strengths, and the result is one of the finest 3D action games available on the PSP.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The Force Unleashed has received much attention for its story. As the first Star Wars videogame to carry the honour of serving as official canon, there was much trepidation among series fans regarding how effectively the game narrative would bridge the gap between the two film trilogies. Fortunately, the game has an excellent narrative that will satisfy both long-time devotees and casual fans of the franchise.

The game follows the story of Starkiller, a child strong in the Force who is discovered by Darth Vader, who proceeds to raise him as his secret apprentice with the ultimate purpose of overthrowing the Emperor. As he reaches adulthood, Starkiller is sent on a series of missions to track down and kill the last remaining Jedi on Vader’s behalf. Starkiller is assisted in his missions by Proxy, a droid assistant, and Juno Eclipse, a pilot. During the course of the adventure, several established series characters make cameo appearances, and many interesting and colourful newcomers are also introduced to the series. Naturally, this being Star Wars, there is also at least one major plot twist along the way.

The sharp narrative is given life through excellent writing and superb voice acting, particularly from Sam Witwer (of Battlestar Galactica fame) as Starkiller. Players will find themselves firmly gripped by the story and genuinely caring about the characters. I personally found the story to be better written or acted than any of the three prequel films, but more hardcore Star Wars fans might disagree. The story in the PSP version is naturally the same as that of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, although it does follow a slightly different sequence of events and includes a few narrative snippets not found in the HD versions.

Use the Force

When the game was first unveiled to the public, the developers stated that their primary purpose was to create a game where players would “kick ass with the Force.” And that is perhaps the best description of the core gameplay. Starkiller is immensely powerful – more so than even the Jedi or Sith appear in the films. With a generous helping of different Force powers, including Grip, Push and Lightning, players will run through level after level delivering deliciously decadent and over-the-top carnage. From blasting open massive doors, to electrocuting droids, to throwing luckless Stormtroopers clear across entire levels, the game is sure to satisfy any gamers’ cravings for high-calibre action.

As Starkiller is a Sith apprentice, he is obviously armed with a lightsabre as well. The game’s lightsabre combat system is not quite as robust as the Force power system, nor as rich or deep as what you’d find in other action games, but it gets the job done through some basic but fun combos which are unlocked as you progress through the game. It must be said though that the game was clearly not designed to be played with the lightsabre as one’s primary tool of destruction. While it needs to be used fairly often, especially during boss fights, the main gameplay focus is most definitely on the Force powers.

The PSP version does not feature the exact same gameplay systems as those of the HD versions. Obviously the handheld platform does not pack the power needed for the much-hyped physics and AI systems found in the two main versions, but Krome Studios still did a fantastic job of bringing the experience to the PSP. Through smaller-scale battles and more streamlined gameplay, players can expect to “kick ass with the Force” from beginning to end. Boss battles typically take the form of duels, where lightsabre combat is a bit more important.

Some have complained that the game gets very repetitive, with mostly easy enemies and little variety in the battles. This could be true, depending on one’s style of play. The game rewards experimentation and creativity. Combining Force Powers and lightsabre combos in new and interesting ways, coupled with the fair degree of environmental interaction possible, can make for a rich gameplay experience that keeps delivering. Sticking to the same basic approach with most battles, however, will make for a repetitive and ultimately unsatisfying game. The control scheme is mostly spot-on, making good use of the PSP’s inputs, but the lack of any kind of manual camera control does make for more than a few frustrating moments.

Apart from the story mode that is shared among all versions of the game, the PSP release comes with some unique extras. The Force Unleashed mode is basically a series of Jedi duels where gamers can play as (or against) not only most of the characters from the game, but also characters from the broader Star Wars universe. A worthy PSP-specific inclusion is a ‘Historic’ mode where players can play through several scenes inspired by the films. The PSP version also includes a four-player multiplayer mode, although sadly I did not get to try this out. Coupled with the number of collectables to be found in the main campaign, these additions bring some welcome long-term replay value.

A Forceful design

It is in the game’s level design that the differences between the HD versions and the Krome Studios ones are most apparent. The levels here are, simply put, completely different. While assets have obviously been shared between the development teams, the environments in the PSP version bear little to no resemblance to the ones on PS3 or 360. Level designs are generally a lot more linear, with smaller environments making for smaller-scale battles. While this might be a problem in, say, the Wii version, it’s an approach that serves the handheld version well. In the PSP version, players will also visit the Jedi Temple several times, while this environment was not at all included in the HD releases.

The game is brought to life through a rich and technically impressive presentation. Both graphics and sound quality are great for the system, making for a Star Wars experience that is not only engrossing but also pleasing to the senses. Unfortunately load times can become an issue, sometimes lasting up to a minute. This is exacerbated by the fact that often during actual combat, the action would pause in order to load. This can be a jarring experience in an otherwise immersive game.

In closing, I would strongly recommend The Force Unleashed to PSP owners. While this particular version might not be as impressive as the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions, it stands as an excellent handheld game and one of the most enjoyable action experiences on the platform.

Pros: Excellent story; Force Powers make for some truly satisfying combat.

Cons: Frustrating camera; long load times; better version of the game available on the HD platforms.

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Contributor:	Mark

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