The Switch version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an okay time for Star Wars fans. It looks quite rough and has some wonky design, and I question this port compared to porting the PS3/360 version, but the Force powers are fun and the voice work is exceptional. If you’re a huge franchise fan, this might be worth grabbing on sale. Otherwise, hold out for a better version to be ported.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Developer: Krome Studios, Aspyr
Price: $20
Platform: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
As the “Star Wars guy” of MonsterVine, it should come as no surprise that I was up to review The Force Unleashed. I read the books, have obsessively watched the films, and I’ve played nearly all the games – including the original Force Unleashed. I played it on PS3, so I never tried the Wii version, which this remaster is a port of. I was excited to try this alternate version of one of the most over-the-top Star Wars games, and while it does have value on its own, I think it’s the inferior version – even in this remastered form.
In The Force Unleashed, you play as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice, Starkiller (aka Galen Marek.) Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, your job, in the beginning, is to hunt down living Jedi for your dark master alongside PROXY the droid and Juno Eclipse, your pilot and obvious love interest. Though you start as a dark enforcer, certain situations begin to make Starkiller doubt the way of the Sith, leading to deep conflict. It’s not the deepest story or anything, but it’s an enjoyable romp through the galaxy as an interesting and ridiculously overpowered character. There are even different endings depending on if you go Light Side or Dark Side in the end, adding a bit of replayability.
Gameplay is the real difference between versions, as this take on The Force Unleashed feels admittedly less smooth than its PS3/360 counterparts. Your lightsaber doesn’t feel especially powerful, which is also a problem in the other versions, making it more of a baseball bat than an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. Jumping is fun but platforming is a bit janky and uncomfortable, and larger enemy attack patterns can be very repetitive and bothersome – which is an issue when you fight so many large things. I’m also not huge on all the quicktime events at the end of boss battles, but they don’t ruin the experience or anything.
“As is, even Sam Witwer’s steely good looks are hampered by the smudgy graphics on display.“
Using Force powers is the highlight of the experience, as you get some pretty slick abilities. Lightning and Force Push are the most fun, as they can be used to decimate groups of enemies. You can upgrade your powers and learn new abilities that combine them as the game goes on, leading to awesome attacks like a huge Force Push/Lightning bomb. I used Force abilities for most of the combat in the game, because it was just so fun. Plus, picking up and throwing a boss face-first into a wall as they monologue is just hilarious.
There’s a fair amount to unlock in The Force Unleashed as well. Lightsaber hilts, crystal colors, and a vast array of costumes and skins are all available, in addition to concept art found through Jedi Holocrons. If you find yourself enjoying the game, you could get a lot of replayability out of the collectibles and Duel Mode. The Duel Mode lets you be all sorts of famous Star Wars characters as you duke it out using a wide array of Force abilities and lightsabers. It’s a neat little addition that is exclusive to this version of the game, so that’s a nice touch.
Unfortunately, The Force Unleashed looks pretty bad on the Switch. I get that there’s only so much you can do to spruce up the original Wii visuals, but the textures are quite shoddy and the models range from okay to ugly. I think going for a more cartoony style, as the Ghostbusters game did on Wii, would’ve helped the visuals to age immensely better. As is, even Sam Witwer’s steely good looks are hampered by the smudgy graphics on display.
The voice acting and music are top-notch though. Sam Witwer is incredible at screaming and infusing a real urgency and frustration into his lines, while Matt Sloan (the voice of Chad Vader, if you remember that gem) is wonderful and imposing as Darth Vader. As for the music, it’s Star Wars music. You know, the best soundtrack ever made? Prequels and Original Trilogy tracks run throughout the game, and they’re as epic as they’ve ever been.
The Final Word
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is pretty okay, as it’s an adequate port of the less great but still fun version of this title. The visuals aren’t very good and the gameplay can be janky, but there’s fun to be had for Star Wars fans without access to the PS3/360 version of the game. Let’s hope that a better version and Force Unleashed II get ported next!
MonsterVine Rating: 3 out of 5 – Average
