Details unleashed for Wii version of The Force Unleashed

by David Hinkle { Apr 2nd 2008 at 4:00PM }

GamePro had some time to check out the Wii version of upcoming Lucasarts game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. During their time with it, they managed to sink their teeth into the robust PVP aspect (called Duel Mode, it allows for one-on-one combat between 27 different characters from the Star Wars universe) of the game, as well as provide details on how the motion controls will work. They even took time to compare the two versions of the game graphically, showing the difference in character detail and textures between them. But, who cares about graphics? The controls are where it's at, right?

For the chart containing the game's controls on Wii, click here or head past the break.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Tags: control-scheme, controls, lucasarts, star-wars, starwars, the-force-unleashed, wiimote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:22PM

Looks good enough for me, and a really comprehensive control scheme to boot. The parts that should rely on motion controls do, the parts that shouldn't, don't

LucasArts did their research on this one, I am impressed

Mike D @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:44PM

Holy crap this looks amazing. DO WANT

mian @ Apr 2nd 2008 4:44PM

Whenever I hear someone say, as gamepro did, that the Wii ("apparently") isn't powerful enough to handle the sort of physics we see on 360, I get skeptical.

1) as powerful as the 360 is, I doubt it's being pushed to processor capacity on the physics issue alone--meaning what they're doing right now is probably within our grasp and 2) has anyone on Wii brothered trying to push Wii to its capacity? On resolution and infinite shades of brown, the Wii is what it is. But it feels like physics have gotten tossed out with the bathwater.

Avoli @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:36PM

Being its Lucasarts, you would think they'd be pushing the Wii until they melt. I'm on board with you in this. I wonder if we'll ever see it happen really.

I'm hoping though that his will be one of those games that look better in motion. At least its not a waggle fest.

James @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:18AM

The thing is, have you seen the tech demos for Force Unleashed's physics engine? It's crazy. It looks like the rooms are constructed from *real* objects, every stray box or chair or tiny piece of metal seems to move as you'd expect it to, and when you "Force Repulse", thousands of shards of whatever it is go flying. I strongly suspect that the Wii version will simply have less debris, to lighten the load on the processor (which is, in fact, quite a bit less grunty than the 360's/PS3's).

I'm OK with that, though. If I wanted to run insane tech demos, I'd buy a quad-core PC with three graphics cards. If I want to play a game that's *fun*, give me good controls. I'm not saying the controls on the PS3 version won't work well -- I might even like them better if I spent an hour with each, since the Wii controls might tucker you out after a while. But I think the Wii version deserves a fair shot.

s.mario @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:02PM

"saber throw"?

I see that being misinterpreted very quickly resulting in another rash of broken TV's....

other than that, I'm on board, it looks pretty damn good!

Roger Wilco @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:02PM

There goes all of my disposable income.

And who says third party titles won't fly on the wii.

Link @ Apr 2nd 2008 5:55PM

Thats going on my must have list

Adam @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:31PM

Honestly, this is a game im buying on my other system. If anyone here has read about the goals of this game in terms of technology and physics should realize that it can't be achieved in the same way on the wii. True the game sports some very well thought out wiimote controls but that leads to a different game experience all together, not necessarily worse but different. To me this game is really about the the this high level of hardware to execute this new engine. Nintendo in creating the wii decided to separate itself by using lower grade hardware on the system itself, tho the wiiremote is very well designed. This unfortuatly leaves some games unable to be made onto it. An example is assassins creed. The developers have stated that they could not make this game on wii. hell, if a developed says coming to next gen system that doesn't even mean the wii anymore. Originally this game wasn't coming to wii either. Obviously they changed their minds but I still feel as if this game isn't going to be the same experience as on the other next gen consoles. Clearly nintendo did not want to be left out of the " the next part of the star wars saga." anyway, good use of controls but i feel that this game will be inferior to the "true" next gen interpretation. Sorry nintendo.

JangoGod @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:21PM

GAH! I feel torn...I want to use the fun Wiimote controls, but now I have a 360 and want to play the game on better hardware...

Ben @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:52AM

why does the lightsaber control image have two hands? do they really expect us to keep two hands on the "saber" while using our third hand to move around?

honestly. who throws a shoe.

Joe Cart @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:52AM

Ahh here we go again, for the millionth time:

Gameplay > Graphics

End of story. The game will look slightly better on 360, but will play and feel WAY better on Wii, just like many other games have. Point made

Fanatism @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:17AM

@Joe Cart

Agreed, but is physics part of graphics or gameplay? That's mostly the point of this game for the box and ps.

Adam @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:25AM

this is more than graphics people. the engine drives the game and makes it what it is. (lol pun) anyway if you look at the interviews with game informer about the concept of the game, i feel the wii may fall short. But if you only have a wii then this is a great way to experience the game, better than the handhelds at least lol.

And what games have been better on wii than other next gen consoles for multi-platform release?
Seriously which ones?

Joe Cart @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:47PM

Most of the sport games... madden, mlb 2k8, possibly nba 2K8, and there will be more (star wars *cough*)... but my money says that people care more about gameplay than graphics.. well, at least adults do.. young teens and kids tend to fall for pretty graphics

Adam @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:13PM

This is gonna be my last post on this topic cause we are going around in circles here, but it was a cheap shot to say adults care more about gameplay. Um yea cheap shot and its a miss. second all those games you listed I believe got worse reviews on the wii than the other consoles (unless you read nintendo power). As i final note the controls do look amazing on this game and hopefully will work very well in gameplay. I hope more games come out with good controls on the wii.

Kris @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:46AM

I am torn as well. I have both the Wii and the 360. I think I will stick with Wii only games for the Wii and get this for the 360. Physics is an integral part of this game.

guttertalk @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:47PM

I understand the focus of the game design for the PS3 and 360, but truly, when has dynamic lighting and the physics engine enhanced the gameplay? I get the immersion aspect. So far, all anyone talks about is how objects fly more realistically. While cool, how does that substantially change how I play the game? The fact that storm troopers are grabbing each other in dynamic, unpredictable ways, does that really affect how I play the game?

Based on what's been said, it seems that the strategies for using force powers won't be any different between the Wii and 360/PS3 versions.

Now, how well I can use the light saber and force powers will be different because of the controls. As we've seen, some multiplatform games suffer because of poorly implemented controls while for others (PES 08), the Wii provided better game controls.

Monk @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:00PM

well you know that Lucas Arts isnt making the wii version, ps2 version,and psp version right? so they arent going to push it to the fullest compacity i mean seriously look at red steel it was a goodlooking game and the phyisics in that game and the controls were good (1:1 with the gun) just improve those aspects attach them to Force Unleashed and you should have a great game.

Stanton Honour @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:02PM

plus the game is still in development so we still dont know what could happen.

Stanton Honour @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:20PM

also the developers for the other systems created there own physics engine similar to the one on the PS3 and 360 but not as robust.

Stanton Honour @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:44PM

here is some details
http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/wii/games/previews/173588.shtml

CJLopez @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:01PM

'll be getting this game for the Wii and the PS3. I want to experience the full jedi style control but also see the OMFG real physics on the PS3

Tom @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:42PM

I'm geting it for the wii. There'll be less crap to throw around, but I don't care. Those controls are going to be amazing!!!!

Avoli @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:02PM

Inferior, sure. Fun to play still? I'm sure. If I owned another system (PS360) I would buy it on that one also to get the different experience. Either way, a must buy I hope.

As for someone mentioning Assassins Creed, I rack that up to laziness. I mean come on, it's on NDS of all other things.