Star Wars: The Force Unleashed unleashes on Sept. 16
by Majed Athab 
{ Apr 3rd 2008 at 4:30PM }
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed puts players in the shoes of Darth Vader's secret apprentice whose task is to help the dark lord execute Jedi genocide. This all goes down during the time between the films Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
Also of note, Spike TV will be getting exclusive gameplay footage during their double weekend Star Wars marathon. This will run from this Friday April 4 through Sunday April 6, and next Friday April 11 through April 13. If you're interested in hearing more about that, then read all about it on LucasArts website. We guess that without any PSN updates for the next two weeks, you've just been given a nice alternative activity to keep you busy. Impeccable timing.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jove @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:38PM
darth vader never learned the electricity thing from his hands, he was always loyal to palpatine, now their giving him an aprentice? i think their taking this too far... hope the game is good tho
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:01PM
Ahhh time to let my SW geekiness come to fruition... Darth knew how to use Force Lightning, but he couldn't use it due to the fact that he was covered in sensitive life-supporting electronics. This is also what led to his demise. By taking the brunt of the Force Lightning from Darth Sidious, Vader's life support systems malfunctioned, ultimately killing him. But by sacrificing himself to save his son, he was returned to the Light Side of the Force and was also allowed passage into the Living Force, along with Obi-Wan and Yoda.
the_culture @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:39PM
Can someone explain why the picture shows Darth Vader's evil protege showing back Stormtroopers? Aren't they on the same side (Empire)?
gumby @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:42PM
the_culture -- I believe it has some story line where vader is sending him out behind the emperors back..so he just kills whoever he wants...including storm troopers
True_Darknight @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:53PM
Or or... pay attention to the movies... the Clones were not partly under Darth's rule yet. Look real hard!!! they were fighting along side the Jedi
and this concludes my lesson for the day...
(this post is hmmm from like 3 hours ago!!!!! WTF!!!)
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:01PM
Wrong... Order 66 had already been issued.
EPIC FAIL.
T H @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:38PM
Hmmm sounds like LucasArts gots some 'splainin to do!!
n3rd @ Apr 4th 2008 11:04AM
just fyi
some clones did not obey order 66 on certain planets,
in fact, some clones and the clone makers set up a rebellion at one point during the star wars timeline
lorddshadow @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:55PM
the apprentice is secret so he is supposed to kill anyone who sees him.
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:58PM
First, Darth Vader couldnt due Force Lightning cause, well, he had no hands lol. Its cheap, but thats the reason given, and it makes some sense. Second, the Secret Apprentice, is, you guessed it, a secret. He does fight clone troopers becuase he is not supposed to be known to exist; so he has orders to kill anyone and everyone who sees him, or hears of him.. think of him of a jedi ninja :-)
the_culture @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:36PM
"Second, the Secret Apprentice, is, you guessed it, a secret. He does fight clone troopers becuase he is not supposed to be known to exist; so he has orders to kill anyone and everyone who sees him, or hears of him.. think of him of a jedi ninja :-)"
Sure causes a lot of mayhem for being a secret. :)
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:01PM
please overlook my several typos :-) lol.. i dont know what i was thinking.. but, this game looks awesome. Especially since it has several different engines
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:06PM
I guess I have to be a SW snob today... read my response to Jove.
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:07PM
^ That was meant for Solid_Snake... gdamn posts!
Popfrogs @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:32PM
The internet is hard huh? I still haven't beat the end boss.
Tranando @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:19PM
PS3 lead platform on this title I believe. Nice... We know what version will rock....
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:36PM
Dan, first, I didnt read your comment, second I accept the part of Darth Vader not able to be hit by the Force Lightning because of all the machinery, except, he can deflect it, but that has nothing to do with him using it. Your body doesnt erupt in lightning.. they just force it out through their hands... anyways, thats not the point of this, the point is how much ass this game is going to kick, and I have yet to be disappointed by games from Lucasarts
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:03PM
From http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_vader:
In a final effort of self-sacrifice, Anakin literally overthrew his Master, lifting him off the ground with his great strength, and casting him down the Death Star's reactor shaft to his death. However, it was at the cost of his own life. Anakin was badly wounded in the process by the Emperor's Force lightning, and his breathing apparatus short-circuited. Yet this single act brought him back to the light side.
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:04PM
Also...
It should be noted that Darth Vader, despite being a powerful Sith Lord, was unable to generate or deflect Force lightning. This was due to his cybernetic implants, and any attempt by Vader to generate it would cause it to backfire, electrocuting his life-support systems, causing it to short-circuit and kill him. This is ultimately how he was killed, as his act of redemption in saving his son caused him to be bombarded with the Emperor's lightning. Because Vader's Sith powers were limited due to his artificial limbs, Darth Sidious found him less than satisfactory as his heir to the Sith legacy, despite the effort Sidious spent for more than a decade to recruit Skywalker. Upon the discovery of Luke Skywalker, Palpatine concentrated on turning him to the dark side.
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:09PM
The Apprentice was sent on secret missions to kill Jedi who escaped Order 66. Vader was also grooming him to be his number two, once he overthrew Sidious. Hence, he is shown effin up Stormtroopers.
ComicShaman @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:24PM
Is that the cover art? It looks... kind of dippy.
I'm kind of psyched for this game, but we'll see. I have kind of a lukewarm experience with Star Wars games (get it?), and I'm hoping this one is better.
ICON[o]clast @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:37PM
September 16th? Dammit!! That's too far for me >_<
i was expecting some time around August..
where i read it somewhere.. >_>
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:19PM
Sorry Dan, it seems if your going to result to wikipedia, your in correct..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_lightning
"Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, despite his vast power in the Force, is unable to generate or deflect Force Lightning after his cybernetic transformation in Episode III. Before then, he could conceivably have done so (and did in some instances in the Expanded Universe); however, Force Lightning requires an intact hand to direct and generate." ...
and I dont think that is the box art.. i've seen several images with The Force Unleashed mentioned. The box could have no picture for all I care.. this is a definite buy for me :-)
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:39PM
Hmmm... my source comes from "Wookiepedia", yours from "Wikipedia"... which one do you suspect is more accurate? Hmmm.....
Seriously though, never thought I'd get into a pissing match about Force Lightning!
Dan Davis @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:51PM
Besides, I hardly think crediting your sources is "result(ing) to" anything at all.
OK, here is my last attempt at an explanation:
From http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Force_lightning ("Wookieepedia", not "Wikipedia")
"When Anakin Skywalker redeemed himself and seized the Emperor, hurling him away from his son, his life support circuitry was critically damaged, leaving him a heavy and lifeless quadriplegic. The electrical output was probably multiplied exponentially by the shock of the former Sith Lord's assault against his master, and the lightning made very short work of Anakin's systems. Because Force lightning required a living conduit for the energy to be channeled, Vader was NEVER ABLE TO EMPLOY THIS POWER, as all his limbs were prosthetics."
Christian @ Apr 3rd 2008 9:24PM
The Wii version is gonna be sick. Can't wait for lightsaber controls!
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:23PM
thats cool.. im not saying that the electrical burst can short circuit vader.. but the reason why he can't use force lightning or deflect it, is because he doesn't have any real hands. This is shown in several books which take place before Revenge of the Sith. The only difference is him not having hands. He cannot create anything through the force without his hands, he can only manipulate the force with his hands.. thus the reason why he can force choke.. cheap explanation, but whatever.. its also the same story when you go to starwars.com .. they have a databank with all the characters and you can mess around.. i only found out because I worked at a Barnes and Noble, and we used to sell a book that had all the characters, their history, abilities, and why they can/cannot do things
Solid_Snake @ Apr 3rd 2008 11:28PM
also, your own "wookiepedia" goes on to say ...
"Though a powerful Sith Lord, Darth Vader's usage of Force lightning was suppressed, due to the prosthetic arm he had fitted to replace a hand lost in battle with Count Dooku, and after the disastrous confrontation on Mustafar (although his trademark use of Force Choke more than compensated for this lack). " down where it talks about Users of the ability
Dan Davis @ Apr 10th 2008 2:04PM
OK, after much discussion with my fellow Star Wars geek friend, we determined that you and I are BOTH correct. Vader could not use Force Lightning due to not having "live" limbs AND the fact that his life-support systems were extremely sensitive to electrical fields. I apologize for dismissing your point.
One thing we can BOTH agree on: this game is going to be hotter than a Mustafarian BBQ!
Marc McBurney @ Apr 7th 2008 1:12AM
I can't wait to use the force in the PS3.
Answerman @ Apr 13th 2008 5:56PM
I have a VERY important question, I saw a lot of cool features for the Wii and Ps2, like 5 new classic missions for the Ps2 and Duel Mode for the Wii. But what about the Ps3 and Xbox 360? What are the cool features about them? I wish they would've have Duel Mode too. Anything new for those 2 consoles?